Frequently Asked Questions

• What is DataZone?
• How does DataZone work?
• How is DataZone different than a member survey?
• Can we generate non-dues revenue with a DataZone?
• Can a DataZone replace our regular member surveys?
• What do our members get for joining our DataZone?
• What technology does our association need to implement a   DataZone? What technology do our members need to participate?
• How do our members know that their survey responses and personal information is secure
  and will be kept confidential?
• Can we link our DataZone with our member database so that both are synched and updated?
• What kind of research can we conduct with our DataZone?
• What are the steps in developing a DataZone?
• What makes DataZone’s technology different?
• Can we host our DataZone on our association’s server?

What is DataZone?
DataZone creates an entirely new capability for your association to capture, accumulate and access the combined knowledge of and information about your members. It is a highly functional and flexible web-based database suite that allows you to sift, sort and combine member input in powerful new ways. What’s more, its tools facilitate fast, easy access to member information, opinions and preferences. At the same time DataZone offers a unique and valuable member benefit. It goes far beyond what your current member management program can accomplish because of a robust database coupled with powerful benchmarking, survey and analysis capabilities.

How Does DataZone work?
We work with you to identify your association’s special research and information needs. We then develop an access portal—a DataZone—where your members can complete a profile that captures the most critical member information in an easy-to-complete online questionnaire format. Because members also self-assign a user name and password, they can update their own profile information at any time. This protection also allows your members to share anonymously information they might consider sensitive or private—such as salary and demographic data or their opinions about the association or industry topics.

As the research agenda is implemented, members are invited to complete short, time-critical or longer member surveys—depending on your association’s specific information needs. Over time, each member’s data profile is augmented whenever they respond to a survey question. All of the information provided by your members, including demographic data as well as all their survey responses, is stored together with that member’s data profile. The data collected becomes a vast and valuable storehouse of information that can be accessed and cross-referenced again and again to help your association respond to ever-changing member needs and the economic environment.

Member incentive rewards are automatically an aspect of your association’s DataZone. Active participants gain instant access to tools and information that is either generated through the collective input of all the members or through specialized information and content. Other customized participant benefits can simply be integrated into the system as well. Your association decides on the benefits package of most interest and value to your members.

How is DataZone different than a member survey?
The ability to conduct member surveys is just one capability of DataZone. The surveys are the mechanism for creating the database and shared knowledge of its members. When each individual member responds to a survey, it becomes a part of the library of information in a shared database that the association can access to answer questions, track trends—basically understand its members so that the association can create added value. But unlike standard surveys, each survey—whether is it a complex one covering multiple issues or a fast-read two-question survey—becomes a part of the master database where each members survey responses become a part of their member profile. So you can see how each individual members’ views change over time. You can also crosstab questions from one survey with questions from another. For example, if a group of members provides opinions on a new service for the organization on one survey, you can crosstab those responses with their responses about their use of current association services and benefits from a completely different survey—or even from your own member database.

Can we generate non-dues revenue with a DataZone?
Your DataZone can become not only self-supporting, but can also become an excellent method of generating non-dues revenues for your association. Because the quantity and quality of the data you collect from your members is likely not available from any other source, you will have a vast and valuable library of information that can be used to develop reports and other information-based products. Each year manufacturers and service providers that serve your industry spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for information that will help them understand and know their customers. They need the information you can provide from the DataZone.

In addition, you can allow manufacturers and service providers access to your DataZone’s members for online surveys—without compromising participant privacy or sharing their contact information. DataZone allows you to create a saleable product without compromising the inherent association/member trust your association has worked hard to develop. You retain complete control of the access to your members. Because members like yours can be difficult to identify and reach, companies are willing to pay thousands of dollars to access these valuable customers or potential customers online.

Can a DataZone replace our regular member surveys?
Absolutely. In fact, you can develop a customized DataZone for what some associations spend on a single member survey. But rather than getting a single massive dose of member input and information, you are served a steady diet of information just as you need it. You can choose to implement short, two-question surveys to gauge member thoughts on time-sensitive topics. Or you can implement lengthy survey systems that measures multiple issues and areas.

What do our members get for joining our DataZone?
Your association determines the member benefits by deciding what and how much information to share. Some associations provide specialized content that can only be accessed with the member user name and password. Such content can include articles, reports, news stories, industry statistics and marketing tools. Other associations structure the initial profile to allow members to immediately benchmark their own information with that of their peers. Because every association is unique and member needs different, we work with you to develop a benefits package that will appeal to your members and encourage maximum participation in the DataZone.

What technology does our association need to implement a DataZone? What technology do our members need to participate?
Because all the programming, hosting and database storage is done on our computers, your association—and your members—don’t need anything more than a computer with a web browser and Internet access. There is no software to download or maintain.

How do our members know that their survey responses and personal information is secure and will be kept confidential?
At Association DataZone we understand the value of your members and their personal information. Association DataZone’s partner, Tecker Consultants, LLC, has been in the business of helping associations strategically advance their organizations for over 25 years. We know the value and critical nature of member trust. Understanding this value means that we will never, under any circumstances, reveal your members’ information to any person, company or organization. In addition, we also recognize the need for website security. Recognition of this fact has led us to install the strongest Internet security software currently available on the market.

Can we link our DataZone with our member database so that both are synched and updated?
Linking your DataZone with your current member database is possible. Because associations use numerous different kinds of databases and member management programs, we will need to know more about how your system operates to evaluate feasibility and cost. Membership management systems that are built on open-source technology will more likely be faster, simpler and less expensive to integrate than others.

What kind of research can we conduct with our DataZone?
DataZone is best used for any type of quantitative research study—whether it is a short two-question survey to gauge members’ support for proposed legislation or a more lengthy survey to measure support of proposed goals and strategies. Examples of studies that can be conducted through your DataZone include: member needs assessment; satisfaction and retention; pricing studies for association membership dues, products and services, segmentation; new product concept testing; conjoint or choice analysis; longitudinal tracking—just to name a few.

What are the steps in developing a DataZone?
The first step in developing a DataZone is to engage a team to participate in a one-day DataZone Strategy Design Workshop. Participants in the workshop typically involve senior staff and board members. The workshop is facilitated by an experienced association consultant from Tecker Consultants, LLC, a sister-company of Association DataZone.

The workshop begins with identifying and categorizing the information your association needs to make knowledge-based decisions within the next two to five years. These information needs become the basis for a research agenda for your organization—the prioritization of specific research to be conducted in a particular timeframe. During the workshop your team then categorizes the research needs into the most efficient and appropriate methods available to obtain the needed content. Examples include secondary research, qualitative research and, of course, DataZone.

The workshop also explores more in-depth the type of information that can be obtained through a DataZone that will make it self-supporting and generate non-dues revenue for your association—if that is a goal for your association.

Association DataZone’s team along with your Tecker consultant then develop a comprehensive plan for your customized DataZone. The plan will outline the:
• Process to develop your DataZone.
• Information to be collected in the member profile.
• Research studies to be conducted within the next year to two years.
• Roles and responsibilities of your association and of Association DataZone.
• Associated costs and timelines.

What makes DataZone’s technology different?
The technology that powers Association DataZone‘s Web-based tools is our own proprietary software built utilizing the huge efficiencies of the full enterprise open source software stack known as LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Because all the code is open and has been tested and validated by a massive community of developers, the software application is fast, easy-to-use and reliable. What’s more, it can be offered at a fraction of the cost of proprietary software systems such as Oracle, IBM DB2 or Microsoft SQL. Our cost savings are passed on directly to the customer.

Can we host our DataZone on our association’s server?
While it is possible for your association to host its own DataZone, it is not recommended. Our servers are loaded with many different types of technologies needed to support a DataZone. It is also likely your association would need more memory and more processors. An additional server is also needed to support the database off of the main server to ensure processing speed and data security.

The other disadvantage of hosting your own DataZone is connectivity. The connectivity of your existing server may be very limited compared with Association DataZone’s servers. We have over a dozen Gigabit speed and greater connections to the Internet providing quick and reliable access from around the world. The present servers also have 24-hour support for both hardware and software concerns as well as and a host of security layers in place such as DOS attack preventative measures, layered firewalls and automated system monitoring.

To learn more about how Association DataZone can help your association,
contact Robin Wedewer at (410) 414-5718.