I've been working in and with AMS products for 36 years (27 years of consulting, nine years as an association staffer). And I can say with great confidence that the systems available today are much better than they were 36 years ago! (Shocking, I know.)

But what's also true is that the vast majority of systems on the market today are better for longer. That is to say, associations are able to keep the same AMS they are using for more years than in the past.

Ten years ago, almost 100% of my AMS work was related to finding a new AMS for my clients. But these days I'm finding that many of my clients are actually better served staying in their existing system and improving what they have, rather than making a wholesale move to a completely new system. In other words, the marginal improvement they may get from a new system does not justify the cost, time, and pain of moving to a new AMS.

So if you've been in your system for a long time and you're feeling like it might be time for a change, consider whether or not that change you need could be improving what you already have, rather than starting over with something new. You may find tweaking what you have will get you what you need.