Survey Says…

Recently, our partners at Capterra published an industry survey called The Membership Management Technology Landscape. We’re sharing a condensed version of the all-encompassing data into a brief blog post for our readers. Enjoy!

Membership Management Software User Research Report

In early 2015, over 400 organizations of all shapes and sizes were surveyed to compare what types of membership management software they actually use.

"Before membership management systems, life was hard."

Member information was saved in spreadsheets overrun with tiny boxes of critical information. New members had to apply by hand with application pages barely held together by staples. Someone had to lick all those envelopes stuffed with membership communication.

And then software came in to overhaul the whole process, for membership-based organizations such as professional associations, as well as for other groups like clubs, event planners, and charities.

To better grasp the power and proliferation of membership management software, users were surveyed to find out who they are, what the buying process was like for them, how they use their systems, and how they feel about their member management software.

Key Takeaways

Membership management software users came from a wide range of industries, but most work in nonprofit/public service or professional association spaces.

• Fully 57% of users said their software made a significant impact on their membership's satisfaction and engagement rates.
• The top most desired features for a membership management system were mobile app functionality and the ability to accept donations.
• A massive 84% of users were satisfied or very satisfied with their current membership management software.
• Most (59%) respondents were not using a different membership management system before buying their current software.
• For those replacing their old system with a new one, “features” rang out as the biggest reason for a change. 20% said they switched because their previous software didn't have the right features for them.
• A lack of quality support and difficulty of use were two other common complaints that led to switching.
• Over 25% of respondents said ease-of-use was the most important factor in the decision to buy a system.
• Most (54%) did two demos to test out the options before making their choice. 21% did one demo, and 7% tried out four or more systems.

When it comes to what respondents are using their membership management software for, there weren't many surprises.

Email communication was highest, with 63% using the feature. Other standard membership needs like database systems and new member sign-up ability scored well.

48% of respondents are utilizing website integration/content management, and 47% use file sharing features. More robust membership systems carry these features in addition to the common components.

The ChamberMaster team is pleased to see that the most sought after and highest ranking features are standard offerings within our system. If you are evaluating member management software, download a free copy of our Member Management Software Buyer’s Guide. It’s got everything you need to make an informed decision, including what criteria to look for and all the questions you need to ask. Thank you to Capterra, the experts in helping organizations find the software that will allow them to improve, grow and succeed.