Case Study: Application Development – Member Management Solution

The Client:

A large metropolitan chamber of commerce

The Business Challenge:

Links was asked to design, develop, and provide ongoing support for a membership management application that the chamber of commerce would be able to use for all of its membership services.

The Solution:

Links designed and developed a solution that exceeded the client's expectations and offered a fast return on their investment. Links continues to host and provide ongoing technical support to the application. The final solution incorporated a sizable SQL database leveraging C# and .Net technologies.

Since the application's deployment, new and existing membership listings now include complete, detailed information on the following:

  • Business contacts
  • Publicity (such as member in the news)
  • Job postings
  • Transportation initiatives (both local and state-wide)
  • Legislative affairs
  • Tracking of event attendance (by both member companies and by individual)
  • Summary of chamber utilization

Links' solution surpassed the client's requirements by enabling the chamber to develop advanced, automated, and timely business intelligence reporting which gives its staff an opportunity to contact companies who are not regularly attending meetings and personally invite them to future events. This strategy has resulted in a membership renewal rate of 90% versus the average rate for chambers of 75% nation-wide.

The new web site accepts online registration for all events, allows new companies to join the organization, completes database searches, and provides an administrative support section which makes updating the chamber's home page (and subsequent pages) simple enough for non-technical personnel to do.