For associations, choosing whether to switch an association management system is never a simple decision. iMIS has been the backbone of thousands of organizations, powering membership renewals, event management, donations, communications, and reporting. But with new systems emerging on the market, it’s natural to ask, is it time to move?
Before making a leap, it’s important to understand why many organizations continue to rely on iMIS. The answer isn’t just history, it’s about stability, efficiency, and the member experience.
1. Integrated Platform for Seamless Operations
Think about how many systems your organization touches daily. Membership, events, donations, communications, reporting, each plays a critical role in operations. iMIS brings all these together under one roof.
Imagine trying to replicate this integration with separate systems. Each platform requires its own setup, maintenance, and training. The risk of disconnected data and fractured workflows increases dramatically. Staying with iMIS keeps operations streamlined and data centralized.
2. Proven Reliability
Reliability is more than uptime. It’s confidence that renewals process correctly, donations are recorded accurately, and events run without hiccups. Associations rely on iMIS to keep critical processes running smoothly every day.
Switching systems often introduces uncertainty. Even minor glitches during a transition can ripple across departments, creating frustration for staff and members alike. Remaining with iMIS preserves that sense of operational stability.
3. Advanced Reporting Capabilities
Reporting is how decisions are made. iMIS pulls data from across the organization, giving teams insights into membership trends, event attendance, donations, and engagement.
Switching platforms often means rebuilding reports from scratch. It’s not just a technical exercise, it can impact leadership’s ability to make timely decisions and disrupt long-term tracking of KPIs. iMIS allows organizations to maintain continuity in reporting without losing historical perspective.
4. Established Workflows
Over time, associations develop workflows tailored to their unique operations. Automated reminders, membership renewal cycles, event registrations, donation processes, these aren’t just functions, they represent years of refinement.
Migrating to a new system requires re-creating these workflows. This isn’t just time-consuming, it carries a high risk of mistakes and inefficiencies. Staying with iMIS means workflows continue to operate as intended with minimal disruption.
5. Security and Compliance
Data protection isn’t optional. Associations handle sensitive member information, financial transactions, and organizational records. iMIS includes robust security measures and compliance standards that have been tested over years of use.
Switching systems requires ensuring that the new platform meets the same rigorous standards. For many organizations, this is a major consideration in deciding to remain with iMIS.
6. Customization and Flexibility
iMIS allows organizations to tailor the system to their needs. From custom fields to automated workflows and integrations, these configurations are the result of careful planning and experience.
Recreating these customizations elsewhere is complex, costly, and time-consuming. Staying with iMIS preserves the flexibility organizations rely on to manage operations efficiently and respond to changing needs.
7. Cost and Resource Considerations
Migration isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a resource challenge. It demands significant time, energy, and budget. Staff may be pulled away from mission-critical work to manage the transition. Unexpected complications can delay timelines and inflate costs.
Remaining with iMIS allows teams to focus on the work that drives the organization forward, rather than being consumed by system migration logistics.
8. Member Experience
Members notice every interaction. Smooth renewals, easy event registrations, timely communications, these all contribute to satisfaction. A system change, even if well-executed, can introduce delays, confusion, or glitches that negatively impact the member experience.
iMIS provides consistency. Members know what to expect, interactions are reliable, and trust in the organization is maintained.
9. Vendor Support and Community
iMIS users aren’t alone. Organizations benefit from vendor support, documentation, and the National iMIS Users Group (NiUG), which offers training, best practices, and community knowledge.
This network allows associations to solve problems quickly and share insights with peers facing similar challenges. The support ecosystem surrounding iMIS adds value that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
10. Continuous Innovation
iMIS isn’t static. The platform continuously evolves with updates, new features, and integrations designed to meet changing association needs. Staying ensures organizations benefit from enhancements without sacrificing stability or requiring a full migration.
From streamlined workflows to improved reporting and integrations, continuous innovation allows associations to stay current without the disruption of switching platforms.
Conclusion
Switching systems is a major undertaking, and iMIS offers more than just legacy value, it delivers operational continuity, efficiency, and reliability. Integrated workflows, consistent reporting, robust security, and a strong support network make it a solution that aligns with the evolving needs of associations.
For organizations committed to smooth operations, member satisfaction, and growth, staying with iMIS is often the most strategic choice. Before making any decisions, it’s worth weighing the operational impact, member experience, and long-term benefits. In many cases, the smartest move is staying put, preserving stability while continuing to empower staff and members alike.
