Do you dread using your current software? Does it lack key features, integrations and reports that you need to successfully run your organization? Learn about when it's time to start looking for new software, and how to conduct a successful search. You will learn: • How to identify the signs that it's time to make a switch. • The importance to understanding the foundation you have now, and how to build on it for the future. • What to ask members, and how their needs should have an influence on your software selection. • Top questions to ask vendors, and what's even more imporant than the technology itself.

1. By Chad Stewart
SmartThoughts
@smartnonprofit
Top 10 tips to ensure
Smart Software Selection Success!
www.smartthoughtssolutions.com
#softwareselection

2. When do you know it's time?

3. Before your mad as hell, the signs
Dread using
Help is your friend
Not everyone using
Disparate systems
Spreadsheets mania
Not updated
Can't segment
Can't integrate
Can't report

4. Learn More
Open Here

5. Before you jump in to the Search, you
need to.....

6. Top Tips for a Smart Software
Selection Search

7. 1. Look at yourself in the
mirror!

8. Strategy
Vision
Requirements
1. Look at yourself in the
mirror!

9. 2. What does the foundation of
your house look like?

10. Infrastructure Overall
Integration Requirements
Cloud vs. On Premise
2. What does the foundation of
your house look like?
Data Quality
Staff Resources

11. 3. Don't forget how you pay the
bills! Money is everything.

12. Know your processes
Know the level of
integration with GL
Cash or Accrual? Ask.
3. Don't forget how you pay the
bills!

13. 4. Survey your Members Needs!

14. 4. Survey your Members Needs!
Services you provide
Membership Structure and
Types? Calculations? Document!
Use with Vendors to show!

15. 5. Look at Attendee Experience!
Services you provide
Membership Structure and
Types? Calculations?
Document!

16. 5. Look at Attendee Experience!
How critical are events to
you? Don't settle.
Do you have special needs?
How complex? Abstracts?
Mobile Applications?
Gamification? What do you
use now?

17. 6. Support is the key to success!
Website CMS, Email, Blog,
Forums, Mobile?
What tools can be
replaced?

18. 6. Support is the key to success!
Equally as important as
technology!
Call references
Other options? Partners?

19. 6. How do you communicate?
Services you provide
Membership Structure and
Types? Calculations?
Document!
How critical are events to
you? Don't settle.
Do you have special needs?

20. 6. How do you communicate?
Website CMS, Email, Blog,
Forums, Mobile?
What tools can be
replaced?
Segmentation and Search!

21. 8. What is the budget short and
long term?

22. 8. What is the budget short and
long term?
Software
Services
Staff Time? Training?

23. 9. Go to the Community!

24. 9. Go to the Community!
Like Minded
Review Sites
Caution: Your still unique.
Not a silver bullet.

25. 10. The Search
Find an expert nonprofit software consultant smartthoughts

26. 10. The Search
Google is great but...
Time:
Average search is 3 months
Resources: Experience and
Leadership Required

28. Bonus: Don't do this! Remember!
Make it about Technology
Fall in Love with Cool
Demo
Randomly Look at Demos
Buy on Price Alone
Forget to Call References
Test Support during Trial
Prepare your data for
migration
You won't have changes

29. Bonus: Key Questions
What is included in price?
Software/Service/Implenta
tion/Reports/Training
Are product updates
included, or must you
upgrade?
Where is the system
hosted? Is it a SaaS or
OnPremise?
Can I export data? Create
Reports? Customize?
Does the system have an
open API?
Can you handle Accrual
and Cash basis
accounting? Show me!
What is the retention rate
with your clients?
What happens at
cancellations?
Schedule Call Today, Click Now!

30. @SmartNonprofit
www.smartthoughtssolutions.com
#SoftwareSelection
Now!