associations through technology
DESCRIPTION
Presented at the Florida Association of Realtors AE SeminarTRANSCRIPT
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Associations Through Technology
Michael Cutlip
Product Manager, RAMCO AMS
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Associations Through Technology
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Free Yourself from Paper
• Future Paper
– What can be digitized?
– Paperless Billing
– Digital Signatures
– eFax Solutions
• Past Paper
– Scanning and OCR
– Document management and retrieval
– Ex: DocStar
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Storage and Backup
• Centralized Storage
– File server or NAS (Network Attached Storage)
– Redundant drives for reliability
– Lower cost of ownership
– Additional functions beyond storage
• Centralized backup and recovery
– Hardware appliances
– Software backups to the cloud
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Major Benefits
• Access data from anywhere
• Synchronization across platforms
– Files
– Settings
• Security
• Data storage and backup
• Lessen onsite IT requirements
• Easier integration with other tools and
services
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Major Drawbacks
• Access to data during outages, etc
• Feature comparison
• File format lock-in
– Migration from one cloud to another
– DataLiberation.org – Google service detailing
how to get data in and out of Google services
• Support
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Cost Analysis
• Cloud
– Low to zero upfront cost
– Constant updates
– Costs rolled into predictable recurring amount
• Local
– Higher initial costs
– Perpetual ownership
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Legal Considerations
• Ownership of the data
• What if data is compromised / stolen
– LOLs (not the funny kind) – Limitation of
Liability
– Have your attorney read the Indemnification
clause(s) carefully
• Who pays, and how much, if the SaaS vendor is
breached or hacked? Is that amount limited by the
LOL?
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Legal Considerations
• Compliance with state or federal law
• What if data is subpoenaed
• Return of data at the end of the
relationship
• What happens if the software vendor
disappears
• Review the Terms of Use regarding
deletion of data
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Storing Data in the Cloud
• Store files in the cloud
• Sync files across multiple PCs
• Access files via an app on Android, iPhone
or Windows Phone devices
• Free storage, pay for more
• Share files and folders with other users
• Generally sync only one folder
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Storing Data in the Cloud
• Major Consumer-Focused Services
– Dropbox • Original “easy” sync tool. 2GB free
– Google Drive • Used to store Google Apps and Google Docs files
• Save and browse Google files locally. 5GB free.
– Windows Live Mesh and Skydrive • Live Mesh may sunset; most functions rolled into Skydrive
• Remotely view all files on the PC, not just those in the sync
folder.
• Integrated deeply into MS Office 15. Offers 7GB free
– iCloud
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Productivity and Collaboration
• Collaborate and create in realtime
• Examples
– Zoho
– Google Docs and Google Apps
– Office 365
• Project management solutions
– Basecamp
– Central Desktop
– Wrike
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Engaging Leadership
• Webinar / Web Conferencing
– Webex • Florida AoR has discounts on Webex accounts
• Up to 25 attendees, or upgrade to enterprise level
– Adobe Connect • Up to 99 attendees, add “seminar” rooms for more.
• Free trial available
– GoToMeeting • Simplest to use, 25 users in a meeting or upgrade to
“Webinar” version. Free trial available
– Google Hangouts • Free. Up to 9 simultaneous video feeds with sharing and
conference calling.
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Engaging Membership
• Education Opportunities
• LMS (Learning Mgmt System)
• More effort, more reward
– Moodle.org
– Free and Open Source platform
– Build your own content
• Less effort, less reward
– Partner with existing LMS vendor
– Ex: Kaplan, Dearborn, Learning Library
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Getting the Word Out
• Get a reliable email tool
• Convio
– Save your own email server from blacklists
– Free to state and local AoRs
– Syncs with NRDS
– Metrics on your marketing efforts
– Advocacy (Call for Action) capabilities
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Community and Engagement
NAR MAR
Local Board
NAR State Board Local Board
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Secure Community
• Threaded discussions
• Harness the power of the membership by
listening to them
• Metrics of engagement
• Social media integration
• Email delivery
• Example: Higher Logic, Inc
TheLanding.net
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Resistance to Change?
• Make it a requirement of membership on
the board or committee
• Don’t play to the least technologically-
capable denominator
• Lead by example
• Reward good behavior
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Utilization
• Billing – Paperless payables
– Paperless receivables
• Courses and classes – Online delivery
– Send handouts to students as digital files
– Online forums where instructors and students can
communicate
• Engaging Leadership – Committee meetings via online meeting. Recording
and archiving.
– BoD online voting
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Utilization
• Pro standards management – Task tracking and deadlines / project management
– File management
– Digital signatures
• Communications and engagement – Email (better email)
– Online communities
– Social media
• Member analysis and predictions – CRM and Communities
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Overcome Your Own Fear
• Don’t be afraid - Technology doesn’t byte
• Have to be willing to learn and experiment
• A carrot and a stick
• Test Test Test
– Required feature set
– Free trials
– If no trial option, pay a single month of service
• Staff buy-in
• Technology expertise
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You Improve Your Association…
Technology is a means to that end…
