Membership organizations stand to benefit in big ways by moving to the cloud.
Given the added convenience, accessibility, flexibility, and savings cloud platforms have to offer, it’s no wonder this trend has taken off among associations and non-profits. But like most things, the migration process comes with its pros and cons and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Is your membership organization thinking about cloud adoption?
Determine your readiness by considering these five questions:
1. Will remote work arrangements be part of your organization’s future?
If your teleworking schedules are continuing in some way, shape, or form, or if you have staff who travel frequently, you’ll want to make the cloud part of your plans. When you need to give employees the ability to access your AMS securely anytime and from anywhere, cloud-based solutions are the way to go.
2. Is 24/7 web access for your members and employees a priority?
Today, the bar is set high for the capabilities and availability of corporate websites. People have come to expect superb user-friendliness and accessibility at all times, from every device. When your on-premise AMS is down, your website and/or member only area of your site isn’t accessible and it creates a less-than-stellar member experience. A major advantage of cloud hosting in today’s competitive membership environment is that it allows for the consistent delivery of higher levels of availability, reliability, and quality of service.
3. Has IT support been an organizational nightmare?
For many membership organizations, one of the biggest benefits of adopting cloud based solutions comes in the form of additional IT support and technical resources. Routine tasks like updates, patches, and fixes are handled by the cloud provider. Having someone seamlessly keep your infrastructure up-to-date provides enhanced security protection and helps eliminate many IT issues. Unlimited storage becomes immediately available, so there’s no need to purchase expensive equipment when you update your infrastructure. It also offers a greater ability to keep up with the ever-changing IT landscape. This expert training, support, and guidance is key to ensuring future organizational growth.
4. Is data security a concern?
Millions of records are compromised via data breaches every day and these numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate. In 2020, the World Economic Forum rated cyber attacks as one of the top five risks to global stability. Herjavec Group estimates that businesses will fall victim to ransomware attacks every 11 seconds this year.
Data issues like these reduce revenues, impair trust, and create costly legal liabilities for organizations of all types and sizes. And for membership organizations engaged in industries with increased compliance oversight such as healthcare, government, and financial services, the risk is even greater. It’s more important than ever to create proactive mitigation strategies and employ robust tools to safeguard sensitive data. Cloud-based solutions and tools are typically more compliant than on-premise solutions and they carry the added benefit of removing the burden from overtaxed IT departments whose focus may not be on data security.
5. Are you seeking better ways to contain your bottom line?
Once you’ve made the transition to the cloud, simplified access to your organization’s data saves time and money. Because it’s a subscription price and you no longer need to pay an IT expert or vendor for upgrades, you can better predict your cost of ongoing usage and maintenance. It results in reduced overall costs, improved efficiencies, and greater returns. And don’t forget about savings in human capital. Membership organizations and associations often have limitations on their internal resources and the day-to-day maintenance of on-premise solutions can be burdensome.
Do you want to learn more about what a cloud-based AMS can do for your membership organization? We’re here to help! Our team of tech experts will answer your questions and guide you through every step of the process. Please contact IBC’s friendly professionals to get started.
About IBC: At IBC, we have a deep understanding of the critical business needs and processes specific to associations, non-profits, and unions. We ‘get’ your culture, your goals, and what drives you, too. Focused exclusively on and dedicated to delivering the most effective AMS, LMS, and Virtual Event Solutions for our clients, we’re well-versed in identifying and applying the integration techniques that will save you time and money. Since 2001, our cutting-edge products, unparalleled responsiveness, and award-winning services have helped organizations like yours increase their operational and financial performance by leveraging best practices and proven solutions. For more information about IBC, please visit the website atwww.ibconcepts.com or call 443.603.0215.
