From better reporting to improved member engagement, iMIS product integrations for associations can unlock new levels of efficiency and insight.
Data is the lifeblood of associations. From engagement to fundraising and beyond, every member interaction has the potential to generate valuable insights. If your data isn’t accurate or if it stays siloed, your ability to serve members and make the best strategic decisions is hindered.
That’s where iMIS comes in. A purpose-built Engagement Management System (EMS), iMIS offers a powerful platform to centralize and streamline operations. To tap into its full potential, thoughtful integration with third-party tools is key. Intuitive Business Concepts (IBC) has helped countless associations extend the power of iMIS through smart, strategic product integrations.
Whether you’re integrating a finance system, learning management, or any other system, here are six best practices for doing it right.
1. Set clear goals.
Before getting into the technical specs or selecting vendors, think about what you want to achieve through the integration. Are you trying to simplify workflows? Provide a better member experience? Improve financial transparency? Too often, associations begin integrating products without a well-defined goal. That results in costly solutions that don’t respond to needs.
Best practice: Define your vision up front. That helps ensure each integration is purposeful, efficient, and scalable.
2. Gain internal buy-in at the outset.
Even the smartest integration plan can fall flat without support from internal teams. IT may be stretched too thin. Leadership might be concerned about the cost. People need to know how the integration will make their jobs easier and what’s required of them during the process.
Best practice: Involve stakeholders early in the process. Gather input from across departments, identify current pain points, and show how product integrations will solve real problems. When people understand the value and their involvement in the rollout, they’re more likely to support and adopt the solution.
3. Find the right tools for the job.
Custom-built integrations might sound appealing, but they come with some drawbacks, including expense to maintain and challenges during upgrades. Fortunately, iMIS has a robust ecosystem to reduce this burden. The iMIS Marketplace provides users access to more than 150 proven, pre-built connectors and third-party apps. From mobile engagement to online learning, these integrations are reliable, scalable, and built for the long haul.
Best practice: Whenever possible, use trusted, supported tools from the iMIS Marketplace. They accelerate implementation, reduce development costs, and remove maintenance headaches.
4. Make life easy with Single Sign-On (SSO).
Give your members and employees the seamless digital experience they expect and deserve. If your integrated platforms require multiple logins or constant switching between systems, engagement and productivity can suffer.
Best practice: Implement iMIS Single Sign-On (SSO) to streamline access across all connected tools, such as your event portal, member community, LMS, and others. With SSO, users log in once and gain secure access to everything they need, improving usability and reducing support issues.
5. Don’t overlook reporting and insights.
Integrations aren’t just about connecting systems—they’re also about making your data more useful. If your tools aren’t feeding clean, consistent data back into iMIS, you’re missing out on one of the biggest benefits: better reporting.
Best practice: What kind of insights you want to get from your integrations? Are you tracking event engagement? Campaign performance? Make sure the data flows are set up to support those goals. With the right structure in place, iMIS can help you identify trends, measure impact, and share clear, actionable reports with your leadership team.
6. Partner with iMIS experts.
iMIS is known for its flexibility and ability to connect with other systems, but that doesn’t mean product integrations are turnkey. Even with a robust platform like iMIS, successful integration requires more than just technical setup. It demands a strategic understanding of how third-party tools should align with your goals, data model, and member experience.
Best practice: It’s important to work with a partner who understands the nuances of iMIS. An experienced integration partner can help you avoid costly missteps and build solutions that are scalable, secure, and sustainable. IBC specializes in helping associations extend iMIS with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re adding new tools or optimizing existing integrations, we’ll help you make the most of what the platform has to offer.
iMIS product integrations for associations can transform your operations, but only when they’re approached with expertise and the right support. With these six best practices in place, you’ll be positioned to reduce complexity, eliminate silos, and get more value from every tool you use.
Ready to get the most from your iMIS investment? Whether you’re mapping your first integration or refining an established environment, IBC is here to help! Reach out today to schedule your complimentary consultation and start building smarter with iMIS.
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 Cloud Financial Software 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 at www.ibconcepts.com or call 443.603.0215.
