How to Make the Most of
Beacon’s AMS Showcase
May 14, 2026 | Virtual Event | Live on Zoom | Starts at 10am ET
THE BEACON AMS SHOWCASE
If you are taking time out of your day to watch AMS demos, make it count.
The Beacon AMS Showcase is built to help your association compare platforms in a more consistent, useful way.
Every vendor is working from the same demo script, which makes it easier to evaluate what matters and spot the differences that actually matter.
Here are a few ways to get more out of the day ↓
Come in with the right mindset
One of the easiest mistakes to make during an AMS search is judging every new system by how closely it matches the one you already have.
Instead, use the Showcase to think about where your association wants to go. Look for platforms that support the future you want, not just the habits your current system created.
A few things to keep in mind as you watch
- Do not measure every vendor against your current AMS
- Think about your next few years, not your last few years
- Stay open and curious as each demo unfolds
- Pay attention to what is missing, not just what looks polished
- Trust the format, since every vendor is walking through the same scripted tasks
The demo structure is there for a reason.
It helps you compare more fairly and avoid getting pulled too far off course by presentation style alone.
Know your budget tier before you arrive
The AMS Showcase is organized into three tracks based on the typical implementation costs of each vendor.
That gives you a better way to focus your time and narrow your attention to platforms that are more likely to fit your association. Before the event, take a few minutes to decide which budget range is the most realistic for your organization. That will help you spend your energy in the right place.
TRACK 1
Lower cost / budget-conscious
Average implementation
Under $50K
Presenting vendors:
TRACK 2
Mid-range options
Average implementation
$50K-$90K
Presenting vendors:
TRACK 2
Higher investment / enterprise-oriented
Average implementation
Over $90K
Presenting vendors:
A great demo from the wrong price category can send your team down the wrong path.
The goal is not to find the most impressive system.
The goal is to find the right fit for your association.
Tips for evaluating vendors
Preparation
Before the Showcase
Put together a short list of questions you want answered. Keep it practical. Focus on what impacts your day-to-day:
- Staff usability & reporting
- Member experience
- Integrations & communications
- Events and finance
- Engagement Tracking
Execution
As you watch each demo
- Keep the Beacon AMS Scorecard open
- Use the notes field in real-time
- Record thoughts for every scoring category
- Score vendors while details are fresh
- Write down follow-up questions you may want answered later
It will help you rate each AMS showcase demo as you watch it
Your scorecard is your receipts. Every impression is documented, every vendor is measured on the same scale, and when leadership asks how you chose your shortlist, you’ll have the answer.
From Showcase to Decision
Once the event is over, the real value starts to take shape.
You’ll have a clearer sense of what feels like a fit, what does not, and where your current system may be holding your association back.
From there, the next step is turning what you learned into something useful for internal discussion.
Your Next Three Steps
- Take the AMS Readiness Quiz to strengthen your case for change
- Share your scorecard and quiz results with internal stakeholders
- Build a shortlist of two or three vendors worth a deeper look
Don’t Try to Pick a Winner in One Day
The Showcase is designed to help you narrow the field, not force a final decision by the end of the event.
By the end of the day, your goal should be to leave with:
- A better sense of what is possible in today’s AMS market
- A clearer view of which vendors fit your budget and direction
- Notes strong enough to share with leadership
- A shortlist of vendors worth pursuing further
One day. Six vendors. The clarity it would otherwise take months to reach.
Join us on May 14, 2026 at 10am Eastern
Choose the AMS demos you want to see and simplify your search.