Cheap Analytics: Use the Tools You Already Have

Getting started with business intelligence and analytics doesn't have to come with a high cost. As Chantal Almonord, CAE, of ISPOR - The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research noted in her session at the ASAE Annual Meeting Expo Hall's DEFINE Theater, there are a number of free or low-cost programs that an association can use as an entry to gain knowledge or leadership buy-in before embarking on a larger analytics program.

Almonord explored the pros and cons and compared features of four platforms - an AMS, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, and QlikView - but she emphasized that no matter the program your association is using, you must evaluate it based on your own needs, including pricing, scalability, user interface and visualization, data sourcing capabilities, training and resources, and security. With your requirements in mind, she recommended following these four steps:

1. Determine your association's goals and objectives.
2. Check your current AMS offerings and capabilities.
3. Understand your current tech stack and any new platform's compatibility.
4. Plan for growth and scalability.

Before entering into any business intelligence or analytics program, it's important for your association to understand where your data comes from and how clean it is. With strong data as a foundation, and a champion staffer or department to lead the charge, your association can make better informed decisions in no time.