Presented at Events by Design Small Staff Association Superhero Workshop, October 16, 2012

1. Events by Design
Marketing |Registration | Event Management
Eric Davis
Develop the Knowledge to Know a Good
AMS from a Evil AMS

2. No Secrets!
 Save your time and the vendor’s time
 Budget
 Current issues
 Needs in a new system (based on current issues)
 Integrations
 Requirements from each department
 Prioritized
 Essential
 Desired
 Phase 2
 Five year cost evaluation***

3.  Be open to solutions
 Third-party integrations/solutions
are not evil
 Content Management Systems
(CMS)
 Included vs not included
 Open Source vs .NET
 Spreadsheet your requirements
 AMS needs
Be Flexible  Include third-party solutions
currently in place
 CMS needs
 Prioritize

4.  First round demos
 Get an overall feel (1 hour)
 Second round demos
 Department specific
 Scenario specific
 Meetings
 Membership dues and renewals
 Accounting
Show Me Your
Editing/creating fields
Superpowers! 
 Queries
 Import/Export***
 5 References
 Using support over one year
 Membership + Certification?
Accreditation?

5.  Why?
 Requirements based on one
Sales Reps Villain system
 Shiny objects***

6. Hire a Consultant
 NO CONSULTANTS THAT PROVIDE DATABASE SERVICES
 DelCor Technology Solutions
 Information Technology Advisory Group (ITAG)
 Effective Database Management
 Information Systems Consulting Group (ISCG)
 Management Advisors Inc. ?
 American Technology Services ?

7. Questions?
Eric Davis
eric@eventsbydesign.com
703-579-1496 ext. 103
www.eventsdesigner.com