Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

[ai_chat_window]

My most recent posts

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 […]

“As good or better than me.”

By Wes Trochlil | September 2, 2026

“As good or better than me.” I was recently speaking with a software developer working on AI and we were discussing using natural language querying in an AMS. I told him, “The biggest challenge you face is that the first time the AI is wrong, staff will never use it again.” He agreed but then added: “The […]

Documentation is insurance

By Wes Trochlil | August 26, 2026

Documentation is insurance In a conversation with a client about their data management needs, the client pointed out that if they lost one or two key staff members, so much institutional knowledge would go with them that the association would have real difficulty managing their AMS. I recommended that they should document all of their key processes so […]

It all comes down to fundamentals

By Wes Trochlil | August 12, 2026

It all comes down to fundamentals I’m preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting in a couple of weeks, on using data to improve marketing and communications. This is a presentation (in one form or another) that I’ve made for nearly 20 years, and it includes an excellent case study of one association that dramatically improved their […]

Older Posts

Associations need to formalize and operationalize data management

March 24, 2016

In my 2015 Data Management Benchmarking Survey, I asked associations: “Do you have a formal data management team?” Only 22% […]

To host or not to host? That is the question.

March 23, 2016

I’m often asked by my clients, as they seek a new AMS, should they be looking at hosted options? Or […]

Have you looked at your documentation recently?

March 22, 2016

Many years ago I wrote an article about how important documentation is to the long-term success of your AMS. (You can read […]

"Start as you mean to continue"

March 21, 2016

A client of mine recently said this in a meeting, explaining her momma used to always tell her, “Start as you […]

There is ideal, and then there is reality

March 18, 2016

When it comes to data management, I often encourage my clients to seek the ideal whenever possible, but to acknowledge […]

Take advantage of your vendor's training programs

March 16, 2016

I wrote recently about one vendor who provides free training to new employees. It’s a brilliant idea that all vendors […]

Be aware of implied interest

March 15, 2016

Many of my clients track “areas of interest” within their database (maybe you do, too). These are typically checkboxes of dropdown […]

Not everything needs to be automated

March 14, 2016

One of my favorite activities with clients is to work on redesigning their business processes and workflows to make them […]

Data governance is not a technology issue…

March 11, 2016

In a session at the recent Abila Users and Developers Conference (AUDC), a speaker from the American Hospital Association (AHA) […]

Scroll to Top