{"id":8522,"date":"2019-02-05T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T09:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/?p=8522"},"modified":"2019-02-20T18:47:29","modified_gmt":"2019-02-20T18:47:29","slug":"ams-implementation-frustration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/ams-implementation-frustration\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent AMS Implementation Frustration"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/i>\n\t\t\tFrom Nate: Want to listen (in the car, on a jog, while folding laundry) to this info? Download the archived version of our webinar, AMS Implementation Doesn’t Have to Be a PITA<\/a><\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0hosted by\u00a0ReviewMyAMS<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Naylor Association\u00a0Solutions<\/a><\/strong>. I cover best practices and tips to ensure your next AMS implementation isn\u2019t a pain in the association (PITA).\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n

More than once, we have heard from associations that they hate their association management software<\/a> (AMS) but they would never change it. One of the main sources for this statement stems from fears about AMS implementation. Through leading hundreds of implementations, the team at Naylor Association Solutions has seen it all. Here are some best practices to\u00a0draw\u00a0upon when you consider launching your first AMS\u00a0or when you make the move to a provider that can help your association reach longer term growth goals.<\/p>\n

Implement a new AMS with an open mind<\/h2>\n

One of the first\u00a0steps is to\u00a0not assume that the implementation and use of a new AMS will be the repeat experience of a past technology implementation fail or fiasco.\u00a0This is certainly easier said than done, but going in with a clean slate and an open mind will allow you and your team to plan accordingly and pull from past experiences to help mitigate risks.<\/p>\n

Assign a project manager<\/h2>\n

Secondly,\u00a0as a \u201cProject Management 101\u201d staple, we recommend\u00a0that your AMS implementation process should have\u00a0a clear project manager. The right leader for the job is thinking about both a Plan A and a Plan B to help mitigate risk and avoid failure while focusing on major milestones to ensure an on-time implementation. This is the person who coordinates AMS needs across your organization, and identifies all the potential pain points of the implementation and how your team can work through them. Planning your team\u2019s reaction to potential obstacles early in the planning process can help avoid additional implementation snafus down the road.<\/p>\n

Identify AMS needs vs. wants<\/h2>\n

Additionally, it is essential to identify needs versus nice-to-haves an AMS should include for your association. To do\u00a0this, involve team members from across your association<\/a><\/strong> to generate staff buy-in for a switch from day one. Think about who your everyday users are and what they will need from\u00a0your AMS. Secure\u00a0executive support from the start. Potential roles to include span IT, membership, education, marketing, events, and all levels of management. If a department might touch your AMS, their input is valuable as you do a\u00a0comprehensive evaluation\u00a0of different needs from staff and member perspectives. Gather as much information up front in terms of user needs as possible then map out priorities. Knowing your users\u2019 database and reporting needs will\u00a0 \u00a0better focus the time you spend on AMS demos and help you get past the standard vendor presentation to the parts that matter most to your association.<\/p>\n

Set a realistic implementation timeline<\/h2>\n

It almost goes without saying, but we can\u2019t stress it enough: Go in with a plan for finding and implementing new association management software, but be a little bit flexible! Think about your AMS implementation in terms of milestones or smaller projects,\u00a0where each section builds off of the preceding section until you reach your goal of everyone at your association competently using a new AMS. Some associations will benefit from starting with their goal launch date and then working backward, while others might want to start from the beginning and work the project forward from day one to completion. Both practices are worthwhile as long as you and your team are realistic about the amount of time it might take to complete a section, especially when it involves your selected vendor building out customizations for your AMS.<\/p>\n

Share your project timeline with your AMS vendor upon selection to confirm that your allotted time projections are achievable. Being transparent about your expectations will help tremendously in terms of working towards a successful AMS implementation and building trust between your association and your vendor.<\/p>\n

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About The Author<\/h3>\n\t\t\tNate Brown is a director of business development for SaaS solutions<\/a> at Naylor Association Solutions.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Best practices for a smooth, painless association management software (AMS) implementation that can help your association reach longer term growth goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":8523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,6],"tags":[650,1420,652],"class_list":["post-8522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-technology","tag-ams","tag-ams-implementation","tag-association-management-software"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Prevent AMS Implementation Frustration - Association Adviser<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Best practices for a smooth, painless association management software (AMS) implementation that can help your association reach longer term growth goals.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/ams-implementation-frustration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Prevent AMS Implementation Frustration - 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