Simplifying Membership, Data, and Digital Experience with iMIS
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Sector: Regulated membership association, New Zealand
Challenge: Legacy database, siloed systems, manual processes
Solution: iMIS (CRM + website + member portal)
Implementation time: Under 6 months
Partner: Zephyr Consulting
A national peak body membership association representing providers in a regulated sector in New Zealand supports its members through advocacy, communications, and access to sector‑specific information. To better serve its stakeholders, the organisation sought a modern membership management system that could unify its data, communications, and digital presence. As a membership-based organisation, it relies heavily on accurate data, efficient internal processes, and a strong digital presence to serve its stakeholders.
The Challenge
The organisation identified several limitations in its existing systems:
A legacy database that functioned more like a “glorified spreadsheet,” holding data but offering very limited ability to:
Segment members
Analyse trends
Target communications
Heavy reliance on manual processes, including exporting data and manipulating spreadsheets to complete basic tasks
An outdated website platform, both technically and visually
A member‑only portal hosted separately, resulting in a disjointed and confusing experience for members
Limited ability for members to self‑manage their information, creating unnecessary back‑and‑forth for staff
Staff were spending time on tasks that should have been automatic, exporting data, reformatting spreadsheets, and handling member update requests that the system couldn't accommodate itself. Members, meanwhile, were navigating separate logins and a disjointed experience between the website and portal. As the organisation grew, these friction points compounded, constraining both operational efficiency and the quality of the member experience. The team recognised the need for a more cohesive, modern platform that could support current needs while providing room to evolve.
Why iMIS
After exploring several membership management software options, including bespoke approaches, the organisation chose iMIS for several reasons:
It is purpose‑built for associations and membership‑based organisations
It offers a powerful, configurable database without the overhead of a fully bespoke solution
It combines CRM, website, and member portal capability into a single, integrated platform
It provides flexibility and scalability without introducing unpredictable maintenance or cost risk
The Solution - A Unified Platform
Zephyr Consulting, a New Zealand iMIS implementation partner, partnered with the organisation as their iMIS implementation provider, working closely with internal staff throughout the project. The project progressed from initial discovery through to go‑live in under 6 months.
The organisation implemented iMIS as:
Its central member database
Its public website platform
Its secure member portal
This removed duplication, simplified governance, and created a cohesive user experience.
Smarter Access to Data
Staff can now:
Easily segment members by region, role, or membership type
Access real‑time data without exporting spreadsheets
Build and refine queries independently, with Zephyr’s support as needed
What initially felt intimidating quickly became one of the most valued tools in the system.
Improved Member Experience
Members now benefit from:
A single login to access member‑only content
The ability to update their own organisation and contact details
Immediate updates flowing directly into the database
This has dramatically reduced manual handling and email back‑and‑forth for staff.
Tailored information for the organisation
The organisation worked with Zephyr to configure:
Dashboards showing the information most relevant to their day‑to‑day work
Streamlined organisation and individual profile pages
Clear distinction between organisations, contacts, and related entities
This ensured staff saw meaningful, usable information rather than generic screens.
Website Performance on the iMIS Platform
Following go-live, the organisation built and launched their public website independently using the iMIS platform. Despite migrating the annual conference information to a dedicated external site, which had previously been a significant traffic driver, overall website views grew from 31,000 to 33,000 over the reporting period.
User interactions increased by 81%, page and screen interactions grew by 57%, and landing page views increased by 81%. Average engagement time per user also increased substantially, suggesting visitors were spending significantly more time actively engaging with the site.
These results reflect the organisation's team's ability to independently build and manage an effective digital presence using the tools iMIS provides.
Impacts for the client
Since going live, the organisation has reported:
Reduced manual processing and better data visibility
Improved confidence in the quality and completeness of member data
Positive member feedback on the portal experience and self‑service capability
Better insight into recurring member queries through notes and categorisation
A platform that enables proactive, targeted communication
Measurable improvements in website engagement, with users spending significantly more time actively interacting with content
With the right implementation partner, iMIS can transform both internal operations and member experience — without requiring a bespoke rebuild. Zephyr Consulting specialises in helping organisations make that shift clearly, confidently, and collaboratively.
