No doubt you've heard plenty about artificial intelligence recently and how it's changing virtually every industry. While most analysis falls on how AI works in analyzing data, or in technological fields, we don't always hear about how it's helping the non-profit world. In this article, let us take a look at how artificial intelligence is relevant in the nonprofit membership world too.
Artificial Intelligence In Nonprofit Technology
As someone who runs a non-profit organization, artificial intelligence might sound like a foreign concept. Yet, when you apply it to customer relationship management software, it opens the door wide to working better with your constituents.
Everything from improved communication with donors to predictive analytics now become enhanced from what CRMs did before. AI simply provides you the ability to:
Discover insights better
Predict outcomes
Recommend best next steps
Automate tasks
In the areas of client development and membership management in your non-profit, it's going to work wonders. In my mind, Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game changer that’s going to transform the very foundation of how we live and work. It's time to think about it.
The Origins of AI in CRM
This last year, SalesForce (one of the leaders in CRM software) added Einstein to their platform. With this AI program, they made their CRM even smarter since it's able to customize for smarter and more personalized client experiences.
Your non-profit center obviously has to keep communicating with your donors throughout the year. A CRM is great at giving you communication tools without doing things manually. However, AI is going to make this more targeted based on its ability to fully understand donor motivations.
Since 90% of non-profits already report they gain a return on CRM investment within a year, imagine what AI could do in improving donations and membership participation.
Working on Client Development
The more you can fully understand who your valuable donors or members are, the more effectively you can reach out to them in asking for help. AI is going to aid in bringing a wider, unified view of those involved in your non-profit. Having this complete picture is imperative so you have one place to interact with everyone, from volunteers to affiliates.
Software like SalesForce makes client development easy by applying their Einstein program to marketing communications. Through smarter AI-based automation, you can send emails, social media posts, or mobile messages at just the right time rather than based on estimations.
AI gives you improved ways to help you fundraise in the process too. Now you can manage your donation cycle through a more intuitive automation system to reduce time-consuming manual tasks.
Doing so helps your client base development by communicating and managing their donations at times when they prefer. This is critical so your non-profit doesn't come off as being too pushy.
Improving Your Membership
If you're experiencing a decline in your membership lately, AI has capabilities to improve this with further resourceful insight. It's going to assist in creating community engagement, either digitally or offline.
Some of this can work through a social intranet to create conversation with clients the AI program knows are the most valuable.
Predictive analytics become more intelligent with AI by showing you which demographics you should target and which ones to let go. Despite CRM platforms always providing thorough analytics, you need something that can tap into the sometimes unpredictable whims of your constituents.
It learns from all your data, and delivers predictions and recommendations based on your unique business processes. In some cases, it even automates tasks for you, freeing up time for you to connect with your customers.
Now you'll know which members to continually nurture relationships with for a dependable donor list when donations become imperative.
Are Humans becoming Obsolete?
Are you ready for AI at your nonprofit? The odds are no.
But, I believe you need to begin to think about AI. Why? Frankly, because AI is transforming the way we live and it will continue to creep into the devices we use personally and in business for years to come. Nonprofits are not immune to this trend which will become reality sooner than we may believe.
No reason to be alarmed, ok? It is not like the TV series "Humans", where we are on the edge of a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human it's transforming the way they live.
No, the truth is we are just starting down this path but many software vendors will piggy back on the concepts unveiled recently and begin to think through how they will meet the needs of society in this area moving forward.
Contact us at SmartThoughts to learn more about the right software and CRM technologies to buy for your non-profit company.
