For many associations, an Association Management System (AMS) is the backbone of daily operations, helping to manage memberships, events, communications, and finances. However, as organizations grow and evolve, they may find themselves relying on custom code to make their AMS work the way they want it to. While custom code can seem like a quick fix to address unique needs, over time, it can create more problems than it solves. In this blog post, we’ll explore why an AMS bogged down with custom code can be a major roadblock for associations, and how it impacts scalability, cost-efficiency, and system integration.
Custom Code Creates Complexity and Technical Debt
One of the biggest issues with custom code in an AMS is the technical debt it creates. Custom code is essentially a workaround designed to fit a specific need or solve a particular problem. While this might seem like an efficient solution at first, it can lead to a tangled web of code that is difficult to manage, especially as the system grows.
Over time, the accumulation of custom code can make it increasingly complex to understand and maintain. New employees or developers may struggle to work with the code, resulting in longer development cycles and costly troubleshooting. What’s more, as your association’s needs evolve, the custom code may need to be updated or rewritten entirely, requiring even more time and resources. This growing complexity can create a heavy burden, leading to delays, errors, and inefficiencies.
Inability to Scale and Adapt
Another major downside of custom code is its impact on scalability. As your association grows, so do its needs—more members, more events, and more data. AMS platforms that rely on custom code often struggle to scale efficiently. Custom solutions may have been built to handle smaller volumes of data, but they’re not always equipped to scale up without requiring significant rewrites or additional workarounds.
This lack of scalability becomes a major roadblock as your association tries to expand or adapt to new technologies. New features or integrations may not be possible without more custom coding, which is time-consuming and expensive. As your needs evolve, the AMS may become slower and less efficient, ultimately hindering the ability to serve your members effectively.
Difficulty Integrating with Other Systems
Custom code can also make it extremely difficult to integrate your AMS with other systems, whether that’s a CRM, financial software, email marketing platform, or event management tool. An AMS that relies heavily on custom code is often disconnected from the rest of your tech stack, resulting in siloed data and inefficient workflows.
Integration with third-party systems often requires custom-built solutions or middleware, which can be expensive and prone to errors. Over time, the lack of integration can result in duplicated efforts, manual data entry, and an increased likelihood of errors. This is especially problematic when your association needs to share data seamlessly between systems to maintain accurate, up-to-date information.
High Costs of Maintenance and Upgrades
An AMS burdened with custom code is expensive to maintain. Regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches may require specialized developers who understand the custom code, but finding and retaining these experts can be costly. Moreover, each time a new version of the AMS is released, you may need to update your custom code to ensure compatibility, adding to the ongoing costs.
The need for constant maintenance and the difficulty in upgrading the system also means that your AMS will become outdated faster. Without an efficient upgrade path, your organization may find itself stuck on an old version, missing out on important new features or security improvements. The constant drain on resources and budget can make it hard for your association to invest in other critical areas, such as member engagement or program development.
Limited Flexibility for Future Changes
As your association evolves, your needs and goals will change as well. Whether it’s expanding into new markets, launching new services, or improving member experiences, your AMS needs to be flexible enough to accommodate these changes. Unfortunately, AMS platforms burdened with custom code are often not designed for long-term flexibility.
Every change to the system, whether large or small, may require significant effort to implement. This lack of agility can leave your association stuck with a system that no longer fits your needs, forcing you to either continue patching up the old code or undertake a costly rebuild. In today’s fast-moving technological landscape, the inability to quickly adapt to new tools and innovations can put your association at a competitive disadvantage.
Finding a Better Solution
If your AMS is bogged down with custom code, it may be time to explore other options that allow for greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. Modern low-code platforms, like MemberVerse AMS, are designed to meet the needs of associations while minimizing the reliance on custom code. These solutions allow you to scale easily, integrate with other systems seamlessly, and adapt to changes with minimal effort.
By moving away from a custom-coded AMS and adopting a more flexible solution, you can reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and create a more future-proof technology infrastructure. Rather than continuing to patch a broken system, investing in the right solution now can set your association up for success in the long run.
Conclusion
While custom code in an AMS might seem like a viable solution in the short term, it can create a host of problems for your association down the line. From difficulty scaling and integrating with other systems to high maintenance costs and limited flexibility, a heavily customized AMS can hinder your organization’s growth and efficiency. To ensure your association is ready for the future, it’s essential to evaluate whether your current AMS is holding you back and explore solutions that offer the scalability, flexibility, and ease of use that today’s associations need.
How Systems Rewired Can Help
At Systems Rewired, we understand the challenges associations face when their AMS is bogged down with custom code. As a trusted Salesforce partner, we specialize in helping organizations transition to more scalable, flexible, and efficient solutions. Our team works closely with associations to assess their current AMS setup and recommend a path forward, whether it’s optimizing an existing system or implementing a more streamlined, low-code solution. With our expertise in Salesforce and a deep understanding of association needs, we help associations reduce technical debt, improve integration with other platforms, and ensure their AMS can grow and evolve as they do.
MemberVerse AMS: A Low-Code AMS Solution Built for the Future
MemberVerse AMS is a cutting-edge, low-code AMS solution built natively on the Salesforce platform. Unlike older legacy AMS solutions—whether built on Salesforce or other platforms—MemberVerse AMS leverages the latest technology to provide a scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solution for associations. With its low-code approach, MemberVerse AMS minimizes the need for custom coding while offering powerful features that can be easily customized to fit the specific needs of your association. By reducing the complexity and cost associated with traditional AMS systems, MemberVerse AMS empowers associations to manage their operations more efficiently, allowing for faster implementation, simpler upgrades, and greater adaptability as your organization grows.