Empowering Associations with Microsoft Copilot: A Game-Changer for Efficiency and Impact
September 22nd, 2023 By Hannah Shankle As a young marketing professional, I have grown up in a world of constant technological advancements. However, the recent explosion of AI is something different, and truly defines a start to a significant shift. AI is not just a buzzword but a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize how associations operate and engage with their younger members. The Copilot Effect The recent announcement of Copilot in Windows 11 is just the tip of the iceberg. With first a beta expansion into Dynamics 365, and now into Windows 11, . AI’s role in our daily lives is evolving. It’s no longer a standalone tool; it’s a digital companion, a personal assistant at our fingertips, enhancing our efficiency. For associations, Copilot offers endless possibilities. It simplifies complex tasks, such as document creation and data analysis, catering to Gen Z’s tech-savvy expectations. It delivers data-driven insights, automates member engagement, and streamlines multitasking. This level of productivity aligns perfectly with Gen Z’s expectations. The integration of Copilot into Windows 11 signals a significant shift, making AI an indispensable companion in our digital lives. Its potential to enhance productivity and provide valuable insights holds promise for associations looking to engage Gen Z effectively. Member Engagement Tailored for Gen Z As a marketing professional, I live and breathe member engagement. AI takes this to a whole new level. It doesn’t just analyze member behavior, it predicts their needs, and suggests tailored engagement strategies. It’s like having a full research team tells you how to attract members and keep them actively involved and happy. With the help of Copilot’s Query Assist feature in Dynamics 365 for Marketing, associations can effortlessly create segmented audiences. This simplifies the market segmentation process, enabling the association to tailor campaigns specifically for Gen Z. This not only saves time but also ensures that the messages resonate with younger members, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. Data-Driven Decision Making I may be young, but I’ve come to understand that data is the backbone of successful marketing. AI doesn’t just collect data; it turns it into actionable insights. And let’s face it, being data-driven is no longer an option; it’s a necessity in today’s fast-paced world. An association can harness Copilot to analyze member data in real-time. Copilot can provide insights on specific member characteristics, preferences, and purchase behavior. It helps us understand what’s working and what’s not, enabling us to make intelligent decisions tailored to Gen Z preferences. In this case, an association can use Copilot to compile data from younger members to create highly personalized campaigns. In turn, boosting engagement and retention among younger members. AI’s Limitless Potential The beauty of AI lies in its boundless potential. Whether it’s optimizing virtual events, offering personalized content recommendations, or enhancing the recruitment process, AI is a game-changer for associations. Copilot extends its prowess to applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It comprehends and responds to user input, simplifying tasks and making engaging with Gen Z a breeze. AI is accessible to everyone. Its user-friendly nature ensures that professionals of all ages can harness its power, making it a valuable asset for associations seeking effective engagement with younger generations. What’s Next? In conclusion, AI is reshaping associations’ member engagement strategies. With Copilot’s integration into Microsoft tools, we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in the digital landscape. AI has evolved from a standalone tool into a trusted companion that simplifies tasks, provides valuable insights, and enhances productivity. This transformation aligns perfectly with the expectations of tech-savvy Gen Z members who demand seamless and data-driven experiences. As a young marketing professional, I’m excited about the limitless potential of AI in reshaping how associations attract and engage younger generations. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a powerful tool that promises a brighter future for associations and their Gen Z members! Comments For the Author Name Email Tell Us Your Thoughts Tell us what you think of this blog Send
Navigating the Pumpkin Patch of Association Management Software
September 22nd, 2023 By Hannah Shankle As a young marketing professional, I have grown up in a world of constant technological advancements. However, the recent explosion of AI is something different, and truly defines a start to a significant shift. AI is not just a buzzword but a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize how associations operate and engage with their younger members. The Copilot Effect The recent announcement of Copilot in Windows 11 is just the tip of the iceberg. With first a beta expansion into Dynamics 365, and now into Windows 11, . AI’s role in our daily lives is evolving. It’s no longer a standalone tool; it’s a digital companion, a personal assistant at our fingertips, enhancing our efficiency. For associations, Copilot offers endless possibilities. It simplifies complex tasks, such as document creation and data analysis, catering to Gen Z’s tech-savvy expectations. It delivers data-driven insights, automates member engagement, and streamlines multitasking. This level of productivity aligns perfectly with Gen Z’s expectations. The integration of Copilot into Windows 11 signals a significant shift, making AI an indispensable companion in our digital lives. Its potential to enhance productivity and provide valuable insights holds promise for associations looking to engage Gen Z effectively. Member Engagement Tailored for Gen Z As a marketing professional, I live and breathe member engagement. AI takes this to a whole new level. It doesn’t just analyze member behavior, it predicts their needs, and suggests tailored engagement strategies. It’s like having a full research team tells you how to attract members and keep them actively involved and happy. With the help of Copilot’s Query Assist feature in Dynamics 365 for Marketing, associations can effortlessly create segmented audiences. This simplifies the market segmentation process, enabling the association to tailor campaigns specifically for Gen Z. This not only saves time but also ensures that the messages resonate with younger members, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. Data-Driven Decision Making I may be young, but I’ve come to understand that data is the backbone of successful marketing. AI doesn’t just collect data; it turns it into actionable insights. And let’s face it, being data-driven is no longer an option; it’s a necessity in today’s fast-paced world. An association can harness Copilot to analyze member data in real-time. Copilot can provide insights on specific member characteristics, preferences, and purchase behavior. It helps us understand what’s working and what’s not, enabling us to make intelligent decisions tailored to Gen Z preferences. In this case, an association can use Copilot to compile data from younger members to create highly personalized campaigns. In turn, boosting engagement and retention among younger members. AI’s Limitless Potential The beauty of AI lies in its boundless potential. Whether it’s optimizing virtual events, offering personalized content recommendations, or enhancing the recruitment process, AI is a game-changer for associations. Copilot extends its prowess to applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It comprehends and responds to user input, simplifying tasks and making engaging with Gen Z a breeze. AI is accessible to everyone. Its user-friendly nature ensures that professionals of all ages can harness its power, making it a valuable asset for associations seeking effective engagement with younger generations. What’s Next? In conclusion, AI is reshaping associations’ member engagement strategies. With Copilot’s integration into Microsoft tools, we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in the digital landscape. AI has evolved from a standalone tool into a trusted companion that simplifies tasks, provides valuable insights, and enhances productivity. This transformation aligns perfectly with the expectations of tech-savvy Gen Z members who demand seamless and data-driven experiences. As a young marketing professional, I’m excited about the limitless potential of AI in reshaping how associations attract and engage younger generations. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a powerful tool that promises a brighter future for associations and their Gen Z members!
How AI Can Help You Attract More Gen Z Members – A Gen Z Perspective
September 22nd, 2023 By Hannah Shankle As a young marketing professional, I have grown up in a world of constant technological advancements. However, the recent explosion of AI is something different, and truly defines a start to a significant shift. AI is not just a buzzword but a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize how associations operate and engage with their younger members. The Copilot Effect The recent announcement of Copilot in Windows 11 is just the tip of the iceberg. With first a beta expansion into Dynamics 365, and now into Windows 11, . AI’s role in our daily lives is evolving. It’s no longer a standalone tool; it’s a digital companion, a personal assistant at our fingertips, enhancing our efficiency. For associations, Copilot offers endless possibilities. It simplifies complex tasks, such as document creation and data analysis, catering to Gen Z’s tech-savvy expectations. It delivers data-driven insights, automates member engagement, and streamlines multitasking. This level of productivity aligns perfectly with Gen Z’s expectations. The integration of Copilot into Windows 11 signals a significant shift, making AI an indispensable companion in our digital lives. Its potential to enhance productivity and provide valuable insights holds promise for associations looking to engage Gen Z effectively. Member Engagement Tailored for Gen Z As a marketing professional, I live and breathe member engagement. AI takes this to a whole new level. It doesn’t just analyze member behavior, it predicts their needs, and suggests tailored engagement strategies. It’s like having a full research team tells you how to attract members and keep them actively involved and happy. With the help of Copilot’s Query Assist feature in Dynamics 365 for Marketing, associations can effortlessly create segmented audiences. This simplifies the market segmentation process, enabling the association to tailor campaigns specifically for Gen Z. This not only saves time but also ensures that the messages resonate with younger members, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. Data-Driven Decision Making I may be young, but I’ve come to understand that data is the backbone of successful marketing. AI doesn’t just collect data; it turns it into actionable insights. And let’s face it, being data-driven is no longer an option; it’s a necessity in today’s fast-paced world. An association can harness Copilot to analyze member data in real-time. Copilot can provide insights on specific member characteristics, preferences, and purchase behavior. It helps us understand what’s working and what’s not, enabling us to make intelligent decisions tailored to Gen Z preferences. In this case, an association can use Copilot to compile data from younger members to create highly personalized campaigns. In turn, boosting engagement and retention among younger members. AI’s Limitless Potential The beauty of AI lies in its boundless potential. Whether it’s optimizing virtual events, offering personalized content recommendations, or enhancing the recruitment process, AI is a game-changer for associations. Copilot extends its prowess to applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It comprehends and responds to user input, simplifying tasks and making engaging with Gen Z a breeze. AI is accessible to everyone. Its user-friendly nature ensures that professionals of all ages can harness its power, making it a valuable asset for associations seeking effective engagement with younger generations. What’s Next? In conclusion, AI is reshaping associations’ member engagement strategies. With Copilot’s integration into Microsoft tools, we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in the digital landscape. AI has evolved from a standalone tool into a trusted companion that simplifies tasks, provides valuable insights, and enhances productivity. This transformation aligns perfectly with the expectations of tech-savvy Gen Z members who demand seamless and data-driven experiences. As a young marketing professional, I’m excited about the limitless potential of AI in reshaping how associations attract and engage younger generations. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a powerful tool that promises a brighter future for associations and their Gen Z members!
How Associations Benefit with Microsoft Blog Series: Outlook
Enable end-to-end capabilities between Microsoft Office and your Microsoft CRM. Why Altai Systems, built within the Microsoft Power Platform is the right fit for associations. Email has changed our lives. And while it can be a distraction, it’s also where a lot of work gets done. Consider how often we’ve all walked out of a meeting or closed a Zoom or Teams video thinking that an email would’ve been so much more efficient. Because that’s what email can be – an effective and economical tool to convey information. But what if you’re not harnessing all that it could be. Think about how often you communicate with your members. You get an email from a leader about material prep for an upcoming meeting or you get a complaint from a member threatening to drop. What if you could see key information without toggling to your CRM. Or update data like job titles and contact info directly from the email. With Microsoft, you can do just that. Microsoft’s Power Platform connects its suite of functionality including Microsoft’s CRM and Outlook to work for you seamlessly. Microsoft is turning the tools you use into a collective Customer Engagement ecosystem that will sustain your work now and into the future. Features that you don’t want to miss out on include: Linking email messages and meetings to a record in your Microsoft CRM. This connection allows your colleagues the opportunity to understand past interactions to ensure consistent, engaged customer service. In addition, studies have shown that this synchronization saves the average user 30 minutes per day from copying/pasting. Syncing contacts between Outlook and the CRM. Do you regularly email your leaders directly? You’re likely to get a contact update before it’s updated in the CRM. Now you can sync the data so everyone can send timely information to the right address. Add email templates to share valuable content when you create an email message or set up a meeting. You want your messages to feel authentic and maintain a personal touch. But you also want to make sure your team remains on point. Email templates from the CRM can be accessed in Outlook to do just that. Contact lookup. Can’t remember a contact’s phone number. Allow outlook to search Dynamics, find the right contact, and display his/her contact information without having to leave Outlook or log into the CRM separately. Send group messages to the right people in the group. As people are added and removed from certain groups, Committee members, for instance, the two solutions can synchronize those contacts for you so that the right people are always immediately reachable. Assigned Tasks for your team are also synced with Outlook’s Tasks so that nothing slips through the cracks. Outlook even works with the CRM when you are offline. The system will sync when you come back online. Contact us to learn more about how we can incorporate Altai and Microsoft’s functionality into your Association.
How Associations Benefit with Microsoft Blog Series: Power Automate
Why a system built on the Microsoft Platform is the right fit for associations. We’re introducing a new series about Microsoft features and how Altai Systems has adapted them for associations. Automate the Mundane. Altai champions this phrase to all of our prospects and clients. So do lots of other people based on how many hits you get when googling the phrase. But what does it really mean? And how can it help associations and you move your mission forward, better serve your members, and help your career development? Altai talks about automating the mundane because not only do we think that technology frees you to spend time on directly serving your members, but it also opens up new opportunities to leverage the system you’re using in new and different ways. So how can you turn your repetitive tasks into automation that works for you? Microsoft has solved this by using low-code/no-code technology that can not only automate your tasks but make you a citizen developer! Really, that’s just a fancy way of saying that it’s built with the user in mind. Just as you want to be productive by automating these repetitive tasks, you also want to be productive without waiting for resources to build your automation. Microsoft’s Power Automate uses “flows” to make it happen. A Flow puts the proper steps in place to determine what happens during the automation process. Event-Driven Flows. Do you want to create an automatic update to a member’s record when they update their job title in LinkedIn? Do you want to automatically forward an email to the right department? Event-Driven Flows are designed to be trigger or time-based so you can set it and forget it. Business Process Flows. These are flows designed to guide you through a process. Are there repeated steps you follow to save a canceling member? Creating a business process flow will guide any staff to follow your win-back process to save the member. By having the system lead you through the steps, your staff can be confident the most effective steps are being taken. Desktop Flows. Do you have a process that is unique to you or a small group of staff? Documenting processes are important but time-consuming and often get de-prioritized. With Desktop Flows, you can record your actions for the flow to be triggered to repeat those actions. Altai uses each of these flows to make Altai’s Association Business Platform your Association’s Platform. By building on Microsoft’s Power Platform, we’re able to leverage the latest technology tools to keep our functionality up to date – and to future-proof your solution. And best of all, Power Automate is now free with Windows 11. Contact us to learn more about how we can incorporate Altai and Microsoft’s functionality into your Association.
How Associations Benefit with Microsoft Blog Series: Teams
Why a system built on the Microsoft Platform is the right fit for associations. We’re introducing a new series about Microsoft features and how Altai Systems has adapted them for associations. Odds are that you – or someone close to you – is using Teams. That may not have been the case 18 months ago. Microsoft saw a growth of 233% of Teams users since April 2020. That’s right. Triple-digit increase from 75 million users in April 2020 to 250 million users in July 2021! Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella was not exaggerating when he said that we’ve seen ‘two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months.’ But that’s old news now, right? You’ve been on Teams. You’ve adapted. You’ve embraced it. It’s changed how you work with your colleagues in real and tangible ways. But what if there’s more? Teams can extend beyond your internal communication. Associations are about collaboration. Sharing of content and information. Networking. Building a community. What better way to collaborate with your members than with the tool you’re already using to collaborate with your co-workers? And with Microsoft Teams you can do this. Everyone has different collaboration needs. Your Board or other leadership committees need extensive conversations and shared access to develop materials, discuss policy changes, or vote on action items. By extending the collaborating tool you’re already using to team up with your members, you’re eliminating one more distraction to your day with another tool. One productivity study showed 52% of workers’ time is spent dealing with distractions – including using multiple tools for meetings and searching for information from colleagues. By bringing your leadership into the Teams fold, your network of resources becomes centralized and less distracting. That’s where Altai can help make that connection even easier. Altai’s system is designed to leverage the data in your CRM to create automated workflows to populate designated Teams appropriately. Creating a new committee in your CRM to oversee your next annual meeting? We’ll create a Teams for it. A new term for your board of governors? We’ll add and remove members from the team based on their roles. Worried that these members aren’t in your Active Directory or don’t have a Microsoft email? No worries, Microsoft has solved for that. Community has become more important than ever in these evolving times. And that can mean different things to different people as we adjust to a ‘new normal’. But the days of not prioritizing online collaboration are gone. Online conversation, real-time document sharing and updating, and leveraging the tools your members are already using are here to stay. By turning to Teams for your collaboration tool, you’re not only extending the tool you’re likely already using – you’re extending the tool your members are likely already using as well. Talk about no learning curve needed! And to further entice you, here are just a few Microsoft Teams features you and your members will benefit from: Meeting recordings and transcriptions (Perfect for those minutes that your bylaws require!) Share an email to the Teams channel directly from Outlook (Whether you’re sharing a compliment from a satisfied member or troubleshooting a response to the latest fire you’re putting out, you don’t even have to leave your email.) Create tasks lists for your working committee (The organized team member will love this and the unorganized team member will quickly be a convert!) Move the conversation to breakout rooms (Has your committee turned into multiple subcommittees? You can still start and end in the same place and leverage the breakout rooms in between.) Speaking of breakouts, Teams has a channel for that. (Those subcommittees will inevitably last longer than just a breakout room session, right?) Set your status. (You want to be available, but maybe not always available? The Do Not Disturb status is your friend.) SharePoint creates your library of resources. (Libraries have been around for centuries because they work. SharePoint creates that library at your fingertips.) We’re committed to Microsoft Teams because it works. And we’ve built our integrations to our web portal and our platform to make it work for your association as well. Contact us to learn more about how Altai can personalize your Teams experience.
