How NAHB Is Solving Payment & Data Issues for 700+ Components

The next time you get frustrated by chapter payment or data issues, just think, it could be worse. You could have more than 700 components using all kinds of methods to send you member data and dues payments. Gives you the shivers, doesn’t it?

Welcome to Joe Winterkorn’s world. Joe, the vice president of information technology and services at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), has seen just about everything there is to see in the wild and wooly world of component relations—and he’s the IT guy!

NAHB has a three-in-one membership: members join at the local level and make one payment to their local home builders association (HBA) for their local HBA, state HBA, and NAHB membership dues. At the end of each month, around 700 local associations send the state HBA and NAHB their share of the dues along with the corresponding member data. These local HBAs are not like traditional chapters in other associations. They’re independent associations affiliated with NAHB, but not under the authority of NAHB.

Challenges for NAHB & it’s Members

Solving Member Issues

Unsurprisingly, the impetus for change came from NAHB’s membership department. They saw the discrepancies in rosters and member records. They listened to local HBA staff vent about errors and reconciliation problems. They’re the ones who heard complaints from members. They knew only too well how the payment process was negatively impacting the member experience. “We started with the member problem,” said Joe. “Young members don’t want to pay by check. They want to pay dues on an installment plan, like they do at the gym.”

How NAHB Found a Solution

A task force made up of representatives from the membership, finance, executive, and legal departments was formed. IT came in late to the process although they really should have been involved from the beginning.

The finance team spearheaded the project since they’re in charge of dues and dollars. “But, the task force couldn’t find a vendor who had a turnkey solution in place,” said Joe. “So they decided to contract with a development shop to build a solution for them—an expensive scenario.”

Meanwhile, Joe spent a few days out of the office. “I was wandering the aisles at the ASAE Tech Conference and found the solution the task force was looking for but missed,” said Joe. “It even solved the dues-splitting issue.” He found Chapter Performance and brought his discovery back to the task force who started the vetting process.

According to Joe, here’s what NAHB’s IT department looked for in a vendor:

• A solid backend that provides PCI compliance and data security.
• Integration with local HBA systems/databases.
• The vendor has other clients who will also use any customizations initiated by NAHB—this ensures the customizations will continue being supported by the vendor.
• The product will continue to evolve.

Joe said it’s also critical that you help your IT vendor understand any relevant internal or political issues so they’re prepared for meetings with association decision-makers and stakeholders.

Tips for Selling a New Process & Technology to Components

The new solution NAHB created is called DuesHub. Joe said, “However, we couldn’t mandate the use of DuesHub by the local and state HBAs, We don’t have that authority. We can only encourage adoption.”

Improved Member & Staff Experience

Now, members can join and pay dues online using a local HBA-branded membership application. They can also sign up for membership auto-renewal. Members have more payment flexibility. They can pay dues annually, quarterly, or monthly. They can pay by credit card, ACH, or paper check. Payments are automatically split and the appropriate amount is sent to the local, state, and national association.

Local staff no longer have to manually complete or batch monthly membership reports because the new system is fully integrated with NAHB’s system. Membership data is passed along automatically within minutes. Membership is live in real-time. New members no longer have to wait for their national membership to become active.

NAHB, state, and local staff (and volunteers) spend much less time on the membership application, renewal, and payment processes. Local and state staff are no longer dependent on the monthly NAHB membership reports. They can use DuesHub to view and edit live member data.

Data quality is much improved. NAHB discovered members they didn’t know about. Members have consistent anniversary dates. Because it’s easier for members and staff to update member profiles, data is more accurate.

Joe had one more piece of advice about technology. “What I find most valuable at conferences is walking around and checking out the tech vendors you don’t know,” he said. “Find out what they do. It may come in handy someday.” In Joe’s case, it came in handy right away.