Wow, a lot has changed in the world of 高等教育 (and nonprofits) CRM. In particular for those institutions seeking to begin the process of selecting and implementing their “Next Generation” CRM. As we begin to wind 2021 down, many organizations are thinking about their outdated CRM. 具体地说, 那些用于进步的, 的基础, 校友会, 及相关专业. Whether this gnawing feeling is triggered by your recent end of a campaign or you simply know that you and your team have outgrown your current technology, this is a topic that is top-of-mind for most institutions (and non-profits alike).
Let’s be authentic – your institution needs to engage alumni in a personalized and contemporary manner. And if you don’t, another organization or cause will.
Based on what we consistently hear, organizations fall into 1 of 3 categories:
- Have, in the past few years, converted to a new system
- In the process of implementing their new system
- Watching those intuitions in groups 1 and 2 to see how they are faring
We are in a most remarkable time and space for advancement systems – unlike I’ve ever seen. Perhaps because one of the major CRM vendors is announcing “end of life” for their system. 或者, 带着新的承诺, 基于云计算的系统, many organizations are giving serious thought to replacing their aging systems that are often 20+ years old.
The problem is there are not a lot of options. The landscape is further complicated by a workforce, which expects everything to be Amazon-like in its delivery – easy to use, 无缝的, 不需要培训. As a result, we have little patience for anything else. At the same time, we are asking our advancement systems to be more than just a “system of record”. Our systems need to personalize outgoing 沟通s, 为决策提供有意义的数据, 同时尽可能地提高效率.
Today, there is a clash of viewpoints regarding an age-old question in the advancement world. 核心数据库, is a system of record for biographic information, 赠与及质押交易, 联系人报告的存储库, 对应, 和其他文档. What’s exciting about today’s landscape is that you can overlay the core database with a whole host of tools. 这有助于个性化, 沟通, 分割, 关系管理, 报告, 和数据分析. These are powerful software tools to conduct business in the way in which is important to you.
One way we think of advancement system needs is in the form of 马斯洛需求层次理论:

澳博app下载需要像服务器这样的基本功能, 互联网, 身份验证, and security before we can think of anything else. 核心数据需求, such as biographic data and what is done with that biographic data, 意味着较低的接触. Belonging needs, or beginning engagement, include gifts, pledges, and research. Esteem needs or substantive engagement involve stewardship and prospect management. Self-actualization is realized with predictive modeling and artificial intelligence that may result in increased personalization and improved engagement.
Tools overlaying a core database create an ecosystem. 如果您有正确的集成工具, you can swap out old tools once new ones are developed, 或者随着业务需要改变. 然而,, 你们可以想象, this means there are multiple products involved and it is common today to see products such as MuleSoft, 戴尔Boomi, and others move data from one application to another.
The following diagram has the nickname the “layer cake” diagram at TSI:

在这种生态系统中, we can do more to take advantage of technology and be nimbler to react to constituent and business needs. Some vendors are doing fascinating, good work in this space. And if you are open to this type of advancement systems ecosystem, you can more readily take advantage of this exciting time in advancement.
正如你现在可能已经得出的结论, the difficulty arises in deciding which tools to employ, 以及以什么顺序. You also must decide which ones are best aligned with your needs, 文化, 预算, 和当前的挑战. TSI可以帮助您明确这个问题, 客观地评估业务案例, 帮助评估和选择一个新系统, 以及管理实现. Since so many other consulting firms have a relationship with software vendors, 有洞察力是非常重要的, 全面的, and forward-looking while selecting external help. Please give us a call; we’d love to be a resource for your team. 澳博app下载!