AMS Software Review of aarwinMEP

Sr. Software Adviser
Jun 22, 2021
7 min read

Updated: Jun 28, 2021

Is the next evolution in member engagement systems here? The developers of aarwinMEP, JL Systems, believes that it is!

aarwinMEP AMS Software Review

We are excited to share this quick look at a new player in the AMS software market, aarwinMEP AMS, an Association Management Software, designed for small to midsize trade and professional associations from JL Systems.

For those interested in learning more about aarwinMEP beyond this summary, we are available to share with you our thoughts about this membership software and others and how it fits into the larger membership software market today.

Suffice it to say, we have curated, interviewed, and prepared more detailed information for executives employed in the not for profit association industry to set up a time to discuss at length. Our software reviews are designed for those who would like fair and objective insights into the capabilities of this AMS software for nonprofit program.

Our Sources: Over the course of a decade or so, we have worked with the executive team at JL systems team many times to help our clients review their Noah AMS solution. Therefore, we believe that we have a good foundation of knowledge about their executive team, culture, and customer service reputation.

That said, since aarwinMEP is a new offering, launched in November 2020, we have reviewed the solution mostly online and reviewed demonstration overviews with their team, curated specific insights from the vendor for various use cases, read through countless software website pages, & read testimonials from peer to peer reviews.

This brief summary is a culmination of those insights.

Buyer Disclaimer: It can’t go without saying, there are many unique things which this system can do that are not mentioned. And, some possible holes too. So, be mindful of this fact. While we believe this is a good summary, this short review should not be your only source of the truth!

Introduction to aarwinMEP AMS Software:

Per Founder/CEO, Jon Danforth, they developed this solution because they felt like associations today were hungry for a change. After years of working with associations, he felt like their was a desire for a better "Best of Breed" approach to the challenges.

In other words, he believed that association executives wanted a membership software that connected to all of their Third Party Software. And, they listened and acted by developing aarwinMEP which took this idea to a whole new level with an expanded API library that is able to connect the AMS and Member Website to any system.

They have a tagline, “We are delivering an evolution in member engagement”. It’s the driving philosophy behind everything they appear to do.

While a relatively small boutique software developer, JL Systems is a well known software developer in the association market with more than three decades of proven experience focused on the needs of the Association market for trade and professional organizations.

Please note that JL Systems has two product lines: Noah AMS and now aarwinMEP.

As of 2021, the JL Systems team has an estimated handful of clients on their aarwinMEP solution but close to a hundred on the Noah AMS product. Their primary HQ is located in Springfield, Virginia.

Per LinkedIn, JL Systems now has an estimated 20 plus employees. As of 6/2021, the average employee tenure is 5.2 years which is very healthy for technology companies who tend to have a considerable amount of turnover. Since 1982, they have had a steady growth and appear to take care of their employees long term.

The 911 on aarwinMEP AMS Software:

aarwinMEP AMS is a capable AMS for membership focused organizations built from the ground up to be used by users on all devices.

aarwinMEP is a fully integrated member engagement platform. The team at JL System recognizes that associations need more than an AMS, more than a CRM and even more than a website and a CMS. They believe that it is imperative to provide members with every technology available to allow them to engage with their association, their content and most importantly to take advantage of your membership offerings, your meetings and events, your fundraising opportunities and everything else you provide to your industry and the profession to which your members serve.

And equally important they believe in allowing your members to do so through every available device from their phones, tablets, notebooks, laptops and even most certainly their desktop pcs. And to be able to do so through traditional websites and browsers, and fully functional mobile apps for both iPhones and Androids. AarwinMEP brings all of this together in a single platform.

In comparison to other AMS options, the membership management software is extendible and offers an extensive selection of modules to help nonprofits manage their membership database, meetings and e-commerce activities. In addition, the AMS also provides many association with an adequate amount of pre-built reports.

aarwinMEP is three systems but one solution. The system includes 3 main areas for: staff administration, member portal, and all within a member facing native mobile application .

Further, with aarwinMEP associations are now afforded the following integration possibilities:

aarwinMEP Functional Summary:

Full organization and employee management, with three levels of organizational hierarchy tracking
Supports Professional and Trade Associations
Allows for Chapters, Regions, Special Interest Groups, Communities and more
Unlimited Membership categories, fees and dues rules
Fully configurable membership directories with advance search built in
Governance Management
Meeting, Events and Courses Management, with calendars and registration modules including Group Registration and Discounts
Unlimited, free Bulk Emailing from queries you build and save without any knowledge of SQL
Fundraising
Online Store
Fully PCI Compliant eCommerce
Advanced reporting and exporting available
Full A/R accounting with direct integrations into all major accounting systems
System Admins have control over all configuration areas of the system

Where Does aarwinMEP AMS Fit?

This AMS software is best suited for membership focused organizations.

Generally speaking, the demographic profile of an organization who will likely fit this AMS comprise of some of the following traits, qualities, & interests:

Non-profit membership focused organization with 5 or more staff. But, aarwinMEP supports all sizes of organizations and offers many different membership types that include organizational and individual.
Non-profit association segments include: trade association, professional societies, clubs, chambers, foundations and association management companies are also candidates for this option.
Non-profit membership focused organization that are frustrated with limiting AMS options.
Associations frustrated with a complex system.
Using current AMS or CRM systems which have weak integration with other systems.
Need to reduce current AMS spend.
Embrace the idea of best of breed to solve complex challenges. You must be big on the best of breed approach.
Associations that demand a Membership APP which can be monetized to help generate non-dues revenue or increase donation/fundraising efforts.
Executives that need a quick deployment.

How Much Does aarwinMEP Membership Software Cost?

From a pure financial perspective, this solution extends a competitive value.

As of 2nd quarter 2021, please find some characteristics & rule of thumbs for the pricing model:

They have a very simple pricing structure that is predictable and yet scalable.
The overall pricing consists of the software service fee, implementation fee, plus any additional options.
Includes areas required by most associations in one price.
Unlimited & Free System Users
Unlimited & Free Records
Unlimited & Free Storage
Unlimited & Free Training and Support
Free Upgrades
There are optional packages and/or integration API’s available to those in need of it.

Pricing Example:

Based on 10 staff users at an association nonprofit, an organization may expect to invest $20K for annual SaaS licenses and a fixed fee one-time implementation of $10,000 in the 1st year.

In terms of pricing, they tout no surprises, no variable fees, & no hidden fees approach to their client relationships.

Buyer Disclaimer!

It is very important to underscore here that pricing may change and it’s at the discretion of the software manufacturer to do so.

Every client is unique and software products evolve over time too. So, pricing may change from time to time. Therefore, this brief summary is not intended to be the final authority on pricing rather just a rule of thumb.

Please make no mistake or assumptions here.

SmartThoughts does not sell this or any other software. We ask that you please consult directly with the software vendor for the most up to date pricing before making your final assessment.

What is the 911 Peer Review on aarwinMEP AMS?

Like software options today, software peer review sites are all over the internet.

As mentioned, this system was launched in the 1st quarter of 2021. So, we will all have to wait before some of the feedback comes rolling in that is relevant. However, below you will find several review sites to choose from to keep an eye out for them:

Due to limited online digital reviews for this vendor, we encourage more time spent in reference checking process with this provider. And, call a trusted software adviser from SmartThoughts to learn more.

Buyer Note:

Before you check out the feedback found on these sites, our recommendation is that you please review our article on how to utilize these review sites and comments on various resources here.

We have independent data from various sources too (not published) which may offer some additional thoughts, comments, and feedback to for various use case scenarios.

Case Studies On aarwinMEP

Case studies are a very good way to learn more about various software options. While they are “spoon fed” by the vendor, it’s still enlightening to read and valuable. Unfortunately, we do not have any to report just yet. But, did find one quote below:

Our results, increased donations by 500 percent, realized uptick in member participation across events and a personalized member experience at an affordable cost. Chad Rummel, M.Ed, CAE Executive Director Council for Exceptional Children

Is aarwinMEP the Best Membership Software for Your Association?

We don’t espouse to the belief that there is “one best AMS” for everyone. But, this system may very well be your best fit.

However, to answer this question with certainty, we need to know more about what makes you unique. And, discuss other insights about this platform which we have curated, clients interviewed, and discuss more detailed information beyond just this summary.

Please know that our detailed analysis and expertise is available upon request. To be sure, our software analysis is not a “pretty brochure”, “marketing noise.” or a “sales pitch.”

Rather, we provide a free objective dialogue and insights designed to help nonprofit executives make a smarter software business decision.

If you are interested in some help with reviewing your options and comparisons, please check out our “vendor matching” services here.

Want More AMS Membership Software Reviews?

Please stay tuned to our ongoing “We Still Have Not Found What We Are Looking for AMS Software Search" where we will continue to provide further insights into membership database software options designed for our 501(c) 6 membership focused organizations.

For the most recent published reviews, please click below: