Consider a Best-of-Breed AI Strategy Over AMS Integrated AI
In the association space, adopting artificial intelligence (AI) is still a relatively new concept. While AI is transforming industries like retail, finance, and healthcare, many associations have yet to integrate AI-driven features into their Association Management Software (AMS). For associations using AMS products that are not built on leading platforms like Salesforce or Microsoft, the integration of AI can be more complex and less seamless. But what happens if your association decides to leave your AMS provider? Will you lose access to the valuable AI features that were integrated into the system? Let’s explore this question and why it might make more sense to choose a best-of-breed AI strategy instead of relying on the AMS vendor to provide AI integration capabilities.
The Challenge of AI Integration in AMS Solutions
Most AMS vendors outside of those built on platforms like Salesforce or Microsoft don’t offer native AI functionality out of the box. Instead, they may decide to integrate third-party AI solutions into their AMS solution. While this can bring some AI-driven features into your system, there is a risk associated with relying on the AMS vendor.
If your association ever decides to switch to a new AMS—whether it’s due to changing needs, cost concerns, or the desire for better functionality—what happens to the AI features? Because the AI tools (they partner with) will be tied to the original AMS, switching to a new solution can lead to disconnection from those AI features. This could result in a frustrating process of restarting your AI initiatives, which can be costly and time-consuming.
The Case for a Best-of-Breed AI Strategy
One way to avoid this issue is to adopt a best-of-breed AI strategy. Instead of depending on your AMS provider to integrate AI tools, consider using a dedicated AI solution(s) that operates independently of your AMS. This approach offers several key benefits:
- Independence from AMS: By using a third-party AI tool, your AI capabilities are not tied to a specific AMS vendor. This means that if you decide to migrate to a new AMS in the future, you can continue to leverage your existing AI tools and data, ensuring a smooth transition.
- Data Ownership and Flexibility: With an independent AI solution, your association has greater control over its data. Storing your data in a centralized data lake, like Salesforce Data Cloud, allows you to consolidate data from all your third-party solutions—including your AMS—into one accessible repository. This makes it easier to connect all your tools, including AI, regardless of which AMS you are using.
- Simplified Migration: When your data is stored in a data lake, migrating to a new AMS becomes less complex. Since the data is already structured and available, integrating your new AMS with your AI tools becomes quicker and more cost-effective. There is no need to start over from scratch, as the data and AI models can be quickly reconnected to the new system.
- Future-Proofing: As AI becomes more mainstream in the association space, adopting a best-of-breed AI solution ensures that your association remains ahead of the curve. You can integrate the latest AI innovations into your operations without being limited by the capabilities of your AMS provider.
Why Data Lakes Matter for AI Integration
A data lake serves as a centralized hub where all your association’s data can reside, regardless of the source. Whether it’s data from your AMS, event management systems, or email marketing tools, the data lake keeps everything in one place. This unified data structure is essential for successful AI integration, as it allows AI models to access and analyze data from all of your systems, rather than just the AMS.
When your data is stored in a data lake like Salesforce Data Cloud, you can ensure that your AI solution has continuous access to fresh, relevant data. Furthermore, this approach allows you to easily switch AMS vendors without the need to reimplement your AI tools. Your AI models, built on your stored data, can continue to operate seamlessly, regardless of which AMS you use.
The Bottom Line: Future-Proof Your AI Strategy
While many AMS solutions will start to integrate AI features, it’s important to understand that the future of AI in the association space may require more flexibility than what AMS vendors can provide. By leveraging a best-of-breed AI solution and centralizing your data in a data lake, you can future-proof your AI strategy. This will allow your association to seamlessly migrate between AMS systems without losing valuable insights or disrupting your AI-driven operations.
For associations that are just beginning to explore AI, this approach offers a smoother, more scalable path forward—one that doesn’t tie you to a specific AMS vendor and provides flexibility as the technology evolves.
While AI adoption in the association sector is still in its early stages, it’s important to plan for the long term. Relying solely on your AMS vendor for AI integration might seem like the easiest route, but it introduces risks if you decide to migrate away from that vendor. By using an independent AI tool and storing your data in a centralized data lake, you can ensure your association has the flexibility, control, and scalability it needs to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Disclaimer: Since AI integration in AMS solutions is still in its early stages, it is not yet clear if an association replaces their association management software, whether AMS vendors will allow customers to fully retain and migrate the AI tools they have integrated into their new systems. As the technology and offerings evolve, this aspect may change, but associations should carefully consider the potential risks involved in relying solely on an AMS vendor for AI integration.