Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

[ai_chat_window]

My most recent posts

Guardrails can be helpful!

By Wes Trochlil | October 7, 2026

Guardrails can be helpful! When selecting a new AMS, I find my clients are often very tempted by custom software or “platform” systems (e.g., built on Salesforce or MS Dynamics) because these systems are infinitely configurable. After all, if I can make the system do anything I want, that’s a good thing, right? Well, maybe. In […]

“If you knew this information, what might you do differently?”

By Wes Trochlil | September 30, 2026

“If you knew this information, what might you do differently?” I had a conversation with a client recently about developing KPIs, reports, and queries from their forthcoming data warehouse. My client said: “We have a ton of requests for KPIs and reports. How do we determine which to focus on first?” My response: “When someone requests a dashboard […]

Showing is not teaching

By Wes Trochlil | September 23, 2026

Showing is not teaching In my experience, when new staff members are taught how to use their AMS (or LMS, CMS, FMS, etc.) they aren’t really taught how to use the system, they are shown how to use it. So what’s the difference? In a nutshell, showing only covers the “how” and “what.” But teaching […]

Data management is improvisation

By Wes Trochlil | September 16, 2026

Data management is improvisation I was listening to a podcast recently featuring TV writer Rob Long. During the podcast he said (I’m paraphrasing) that, in order to be successful, one needs to learn to improvise, because nothing in life ever goes as planned. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want to make God […]

Who own the AMS company is like the weather…

By Wes Trochlil | September 9, 2026

Who own the AMS company is like the weather… When I work with clients to find a new AMS, one of the most common questions I get is: “Is the software company owned by private equity or is it privately owned?” While I think this is a legitimate question to ask and have answered, it […]

Older Posts

It's About the Money

May 22, 2007

I’m working with a client who has a custom database application to manage their website and database. It’s actually a […]

Some Fascinating Data Management Statistics

May 22, 2007

I had not seen these stats before, but they are striking. From a 2004 Gartner report entitled "CRM Demands Data […]

When your Software is TOO Good

May 21, 2007

I was recently called by a potential client who was looking to move from their existing software to another AMS […]

IT Salary Survey

May 18, 2007

I received a complimentary copy of Global Knowledge's IT salary survey a couple of weeks ago. The survey covered over 1,600 IT […]

CRM is never done/It takes two years to get where you want to be

May 17, 2007

Gareth Herschel, research director at Gartner Inc, says: "There are two things to focus on to ensure CRM success. One […]

Upgrading to netFORUM 2.0

May 17, 2007

Avectra recently released version 2.0 of netFORUM and several of their existing clients are now working through the process of […]

"Single version of the truth."

May 16, 2007

While attending the TAUG meeting a few weeks back, I heard Tom Brantigan use this phrase (which I'd heard before […]

Another Data Management Position

May 16, 2007

Just saw a posting on the ASAE technology listserver advertising for a "Director position in the CRM and Decision Support […]

This is BASIC Stuff

May 15, 2007

We're approaching the end of the first decade of the 21st century and it seems some organizations still haven't grasped […]

Scroll to Top