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 my experience, when associations are presented with the option of building anything they want, several things often happen:

• the scope and cost of the project balloons rapidly;
• many ideas are attempted and fail, at great cost of time and money;
• staff is often paralyzed with indecision about how to approach a particular challenge, how to prioritize, etc.

This is why, for many associations, a proprietary system purpose-built for association management can be a better choice, because these systems, by design, present "guardrails" to the association. While many are highly configurable, they are typically not infinitely customizable, which means there are some things you simply can't do with them.

Like all things, there are trade-offs. The guardrails may keep you from doing something you really need to do. But they may also help keep you focused, reducing costs and headaches.

This isn't to say customizable systems are a bad choice. For some associations they will make perfect sense. But for many associations, those guardrails serve an important purpose, and one many associations will find very valuable (if not also limiting!).