With dozens of online registration companies to choose from Qadree Ollison Falcons Jersey , selecting one is not an easy task. We recently went through several sites and found ourselves somewhat frustrated and confused.
We want it to be easier for you to select an online registration provider because you have a lot to gain from making the switch. In this paper we will help you understand what to look for and which questions to ask when selecting an online registration provider?
What do I look at first?
First impressions say a lot about a company. If it is easy to obtain and understand information about their service, then it is more likely that their product and company are easy to work with. If it takes too much up-front effort on your part, then it may be a sign of what's to come.
How responsive were their sales people to your calls or emails? Did it take hours or days to hear back? Did you like interacting with them? How clear were their features and pricing? Did you get straight answers, or need to really dig to get to the bottom line? As much as you are buying technology, you are buying the people who make the technology and their ability to make your life easier.
How do I determine which system will be easiest to use?
Most providers will talk about their ease of setup and use. Depending on your technical aptitude and the complexity of your event John Cominsky Falcons Jersey , you may or may not agree with their claims. Something to consider: the simpler a system seems at first, the less likely it is to have advanced functionality that you may quickly hunger for. When you look at a system, it's important to consider both simplicity and functionality. If you go with a very simple system for eases sake, you may miss out on some important functionality or vice versa.
The best way to truly understand ease-of-use is to play around with the system yourself. Most companies have a demo account where you can log into their system and setup or play with a registration form. When you do this, ask yourself? Is the interface intuitive? Can I figure out how to do most of what I want to do with it? Would my coworkers be able to understand and use this system? Sometimes you can also get a sense of the system through their live online demos. It's best to see the live application in use Kendall Sheffield Falcons Jersey , versus a PowerPoint, to show you how the system works.
If you have relatively complex registration needs, you will need a system that is more robust and therefore may appear less simple. In this case you will want to pay greater attention to their training and support (which we will cover later).
What is the easiest way to figure out if they really have the functionality I need?
An easy way to check if their functionality fits your needs is to fax your current registration form to the salespeople. Make an additional list of your management and reporting needs and identify them as either ?have to haves? or ?would like to haves?. Ask the salesperson to walk through it with you and tell you what their system can and cannot do.
A great way to confirm their claims is to ask for and call references that have events that are similar to yours. This way, you can talk through how they used it and compare it to your own needs. Ask the references what functionality is missing and how easy it is to use.
Most systems cover the basic functions like collecting information, sending confirmation Kaleb McGary Falcons Jersey , reminder, and notification emails, processing credit cards, and producing basic reports. However, it's the advanced features that are important to identify and compare. Some of these include wait listing Chris Lindstrom Falcons Jersey , hotel blocks, custom reporting, mass emailing, surveying, and series meeting management. Within each one of these categories Vic Beasley Jr Falcons Jersey , there are a host of increasingly specific functions to consider.
If a provider is close, but doesn't have the exact functionality you need, some companies also offer customization services (for a fee). You tell the company what you need, and they'll tell you how much it would cost to customize their system to better meet your needs.
How do I know if the company will be there for me when I have questions or problems?
Support falls into three categories: online help, training Takkarist McKinley Falcons Jersey , and one-on-one phone and email support.
If the online help is good, it will be the most efficient way for you to get quick answers 247. How easy is it to access? Is there context sensitive help that will give you help specific to the section you were in? How thorough and practical is the help? Do they offer how-to's, tips, and warnings? How often do they update the help? Updates are especially important with companies that are improving their technology on a weekly basis. Do they provide regular email updates on enhancements or changes? Some companies also offer flash mini-trainings that you can click on to watch at any time.
The next is training. What trainings do they offer? How often? Is there a charge for training? Do they have flash trainings that you can take whenever you like? What do customers say about their trainings?
As well as some of the systems are built, you most likely will have questions or needs that require a live person on the other end (especially if you don't have time for online help or training). The important questions then become: What is the average response time to an email or phone call? How helpful and friendly are they? How many clients per dedicated support employee (non-programmer) do they have? Do they have restrictions on how you can use support (email only Calvin Ridley Falcons Jersey , $ per incident, etc.)? Try asking the support team directly for the answers to these questions. The way they respond will tell you something too.
With some providers, they will build the registration pages for you (for a fee). If you are in a pinch for time or find it a hassle, this can be a life-saver, so be sure they have it.