Like many membership organizations, Minneapolis Area Realtors (MAR) is navigating a changing relationship with the people it serves. Services that were once difficult for real estate professionals to access elsewhere—from continuing education to industry databases—are now available through a growing number of channels. The organization saw an opportunity to rethink its role and how it could continue bringing members together, supporting their work, and delivering a strong member experience. As part of a broader strategic plan, MAR identified digital transformation as a priority and engaged Software for Good to develop a technology roadmap aligned with its mission, goals, and resources.
At the center of its technology ecosystem was a customized Microsoft Dynamics platform developed specifically for realtor associations. Over time, the system had become difficult for staff and members to use. Simple processes like collecting member dues required manual work, the website and member portal didn’t connect seamlessly, and integrations with other tools were unreliable. MAR needed technology that could support where it was headed: increasing member engagement, expanding access to education and resources, improving member support, and making day-to-day work easier for employees.
Through workshops and interviews with staff, leadership, and technology partners, Software for Good developed a clearer picture of the organization’s current ecosystem, pain points, and future needs. We recommended trading the industry-specific platform for off-the-shelf association management software that could provide core functionality while integrating with other user-friendly tools.
Rather than replacing everything at once, we developed a phased “now, next, later” approach to migration. Today, we’re continuing to work alongside MAR to establish its technical foundation, evaluate and implement new tools, introduce better member support capabilities, and migrate functionality from the legacy platform.
The result is a path toward a membership platform that reduces manual work, improves the experience for both members and employees, and gives MAR greater flexibility to evolve. More importantly, it will enable MAR to remain useful, responsive, and relevant to the local realtor community.