Beacon Blog

Most AMS searches begin because your staff has finally hit the wall and simply can’t take the frustration of a broken system any longer. It could be that your current system is slow. A specific report takes three days to pull. The integration with your event platform broke again. Staff members are vocal about how…

Why AMS Decisions Need More Than Good Advice Most AMS searches begin with friendly advice. A peer could recommend a system they are satisfied with. A consultant could reference an implementation that went well. A vendor could point to organizations that appear comparable and report some positive outcomes. This information is not irrelevant or useless.…

What’s important to understand is that while choosing an AMS is still a serious, high-stakes decision, the environment surrounding that decision has recently changed in many positive ways. The market looks different. The tools available to associations are different. And the process no longer needs to follow the same exhausting path it once did. What…

For some associations the process starts like this: “We know our needs. Let’s just figure out the AMS search internally.” It sounds sensible. Responsible, even. You gather requirements. Set up a spreadsheet. Crowdsource options. Build a demo script. And for a moment, it feels like real progress. But then reality shows up not long after.…

If your association is considering a new AMS, we understand there could be a strong temptation to simply ask ChatGPT or another AI tool “Which AMS is best for us?” It feels fast. It feels efficient. It feels like skipping the messy parts of selection. But here’s the truth: It could get you half way…

If your AMS is five or more years old, the ground has shifted under your feet. And it’s time to make a move.  The old playbook of building out a giant feature spreadsheet, sitting through slick vendor theater, and customizing your way out of trouble just simply no longer works.  The good news: today’s AMS…