Top 10 Tips for Smart Software Selection Success Before the Search

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Do you dread using your current software? Does it lack key features, integrations and reports that you need to successfully run your organization? Learn about when it's time to start looking for new software, and how to conduct a successful search. You will learn: • How to identify the signs that it's time to make a switch. • The importance to understanding the foundation you have now, and how to build on it for the future. • What to ask members, and how their needs should have an influence on your software selection. • Top questions to ask vendors, and what's even more imporant than the technology itself.

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By Chad Stewart

SmartThoughts @smartnonprofit

Top 10 tips to ensure Smart Software Selection Success!

www.smartthoughtssolutions.com

#softwareselection

When do you know it's time?

Before your mad as hell, the signs

Dread using

Help is your friend

Not everyone using

Disparate systems

Spreadsheets mania

Not updated

Can't segment

Can't integrate

Can't report

Before you jump in to the Search, youneed to.....

Top Tips for a Smart SoftwareSelection Search

1. Look at yourself in themirror!

Strategy

Vision

Requirements

1. Look at yourself in themirror!

2. What does the foundation ofyour house look like?

Infrastructure Overall

Integration Requirements

Cloud vs. On Premise

2. What does the foundation ofyour house look like?

Data Quality

Staff Resources

3. Don't forget how you pay thebills! Money is everything.

Know your processes

Know the level ofintegration with GL

Cash or Accrual? Ask.

3. Don't forget how you pay thebills!

4. Survey your Members Needs!

4. Survey your Members Needs!

Services you provide

Membership Structure andTypes? Calculations? Document!

Use with Vendors to show!

5. Look at Attendee Experience!

Services you provide

Membership Structure andTypes? Calculations?

Document!

5. Look at Attendee Experience!

How critical are events toyou? Don't settle.

Do you have special needs?

How complex? Abstracts?Mobile Applications?

Gamification? What do youuse now?

6. Support is the key to success!

Website CMS, Email, Blog,Forums, Mobile?

What tools can bereplaced?

6. Support is the key to success!

Equally as important astechnology!

Call references

Other options? Partners?

6. How do you communicate?

Services you provide

Membership Structure andTypes? Calculations?

Document!

How critical are events toyou? Don't settle.

Do you have special needs?

6. How do you communicate?

Website CMS, Email, Blog,Forums, Mobile?

What tools can bereplaced?

Segmentation and Search!

8. What is the budget short andlong term?

8. What is the budget short andlong term?

Software

Services

Staff Time? Training?

9. Go to the Community!

9. Go to the Community!

Like Minded

Review Sites

Caution: Your still unique.Not a silver bullet.

10. The Search

Find an expert nonprofit software consultant smartthoughts

10. The Search

Google is great but...

Time: Average search is 3 months

Resources: Experience andLeadership Required

Bonus: Don't do this! Remember!

Make it about Technology

Fall in Love with CoolDemo

Randomly Look at Demos

Buy on Price Alone

Forget to Call References

Test Support during Trial

Prepare your data formigration

You won't have changes

Bonus: Key Questions

What is included in price?Software/Service/Implenta

tion/Reports/Training

Are product updatesincluded, or must you

upgrade?

Where is the systemhosted? Is it a SaaS or

OnPremise?

Can I export data? CreateReports? Customize?

Does the system have anopen API?

Can you handle Accrualand Cash basis

accounting? Show me!

What is the retention ratewith your clients?

What happens atcancellations?

Schedule Call Today, Click Now!

@SmartNonprofit

www.smartthoughtssolutions.com

#SoftwareSelection

Now!