What Chamber of Commerce Management Software Actually Costs
Indirect costs are costs that are not directly accountable to something (e.g., a particular project, facility, or product). A robust membership management software system can result in great long-term ROI for chambers of commerce.
On the other hand, sub-par chamber membership software can be inefficient. A chamber of commerce depending on outdated member management software can be saddled with unanticipated indirect costs
In a recent blog post, Wes Trochlil of Effective Database Management addressed direct costs vs. indirect costs regarding member management software. Trochlil is an expert on member database management software.
The direct costs are clear—the amount spent on the software itself. The indirect costs, however, can quickly add up. A subpar member database system can result in wasted time, missed opportunities, staff headaches, etc.
Indirect costs are seldom taken into consideration when calculating expenses; they are difficult to quantify, so they are ignored or unnoticed. When shopping for member management options, reading online reviews about the best chamber software can be helpful. Use a web link to find a chamber software review.
See how to compare your membership management software
for chambers with
The Chamber Member Management System
Comparison Workbook.
A noteworthy excerpt from Trochlil’s blog:
A client told me she was having trouble with staff turnover, especially with younger staff. When I asked her about her technology, her eyes got big, and she said: “The last staffer who left me told me in her exit interview that she was leaving in part because the technology we had made her job so hard to do.”
His client’s experience is the very definition of indirect costs of the wrong member solution.
A member solution that appears as less expensive often costs more than a robust, fully functional product. Cheaper isn’t always better.
“It is very rare that cheap decisions will make great impact.”
― Jonathan Heimberg
See Also: ChamberMaster vs. Excel Spreadsheets: An Unequal Battle
Editor's note: This article was originally posted on April 16, 2019. It has been updated.