Event details

Immediately following the open NTEN community call about the Convio/Getactive merger, we will host an online chat for the community to discuss what this merger may mean for their organizations. No registration is required. Simply join us at http://nten.org/chat/convio for this discussion at 12:30 Pacific/3:30 Eastern.

Event Materials

Listen to the recording of this call

Below is the transcript from our online chat.

Holly_NTEN: Hi folks!

Holly_NTEN: Welcome to the Chat!

JoAnna: Any other SalesForce.com users out there?

Holly_NTEN: First things first - Please note that you can change your display name - feel free to give yourself a friendly name!

Holly_NTEN: Just type your preferred handle into the Name: box

Holly_NTEN: Anyone want to share general impressions?

Holly_NTEN: Does anyone have any unanswered questions?

Katrin: JoAnna, is sounds like you have a Salesforce question?

JoAnna: No question. I was just wondering if there really were as few of us as they thought

gabber506: I missed most of the call. Will I be able to access a recording?

Katrin: Yes, we will make the recording available

Holly_NTEN: We'll post this afternoon

JoAnna: I was under the impression that GetActive was interested in working with SalesForce users and hoping that there would be more of us using both.

Stacey: I only use salesforce as the eCRM for Convio.

MichelleNOSI: I was happy to hear about how much APIs and such were talked about (of course)

Katrin: we talked a lot about integration, and the touched on customer supprt, migration,pricing and the industry at large

HeatherW: It sounds like we may need to wait until more planning happens for specifics about projects. For example, we have an external Web site we want to integrate into Convio, but without specifics on API's, we will have to wait.

Norman R: My overall reaction was positive - both companies seem to have a good handle on the huge process ahead

JoAnna: @stacey does Salesforce integrate well with convio?

HeatherW: Yes, it is a massive undertaking to merge the two systems and all the clients from both companies.

JoAnna: Also, does anyone know where I might see a demo of convio?

Nancy Diaz_E360: I've been using Salesforce successfully with our Convio account, Joanna

Stacey: My reaction was positive too. This is exciting to be part of. I'm not familiar with what else salesforce offers. It's essentially just the ticketing system for convio customer support. For that, it works perfectly well.

gabber511: i agree w/ Norman. it seems like only other competing vendors are amplfying the idea that nonprofits are freaking out

JoAnna: Thanks, Nancy -- that is good to know.

Norman R: Do others think that CRM & CMS absolutely need to be integrated?

Norman R: I'd like to be able to take advantage of open source CMS products fully if that's the best option for my organization

MichelleNOSI: @Norman R - depends on the org, I think.

gabber511: www.convio.com/producttour

Norman R: We're struggling with a few integration projects currently, so talk about 'hooks' and new APIs is obviously good to hear

tda: How many here manage their sites using the GetActive CMS?

HeatherW: As a former GA client at my last nonprofit, and a current Convio customer at a new one, I would say yes, the integration of the two systems is fantastic. I agree with Michelle, it depends on what you are doing.

gabber511: it was ok... it went pretty fast

Stacey: It's easiest for our org that it is integrated. We're really happy with Convio and are excited to get more functionality from GetActive.

Norman R: What comes next from the other large players: Blackbaud & Kintera?

Nancy Diaz_E360: Hey Katrin, where on the NTen site will be able to find the recording later today?

JoAnna: we do our website with GetActive's CMS

Stacey: Anyone else get that frantic email from Kintera?? Launching a 'new' product just for current GA and Convio clients that are scared....

Katrin: we'll link to it prominently, not sure yet

HeatherW: I was hoping to hear that pricing would become more competetive with the merger, but it doesn't sound like it.

Nancy Diaz_E360: thank you!

HeatherW: Anyone have the current GA CMS?

gabber297: Blackbaud is so far behind Convio in online marketing it will take them 5 years to catch up. Kintera is a sinking ship and clients are frantically seeking a lifeboat.

HeatherW: On the call today someone mentioned that there was a user group of GA and Convio clients (in DC.) Anyone have more information on that?

Katrin: Both have user conferences that are growing

Stacey: I was wondering that too. Anything in Boston?

Katrin: we can find out more about where they can be found and let you know

Stacey: That would be great, thanks!

HeatherW: Great, thanks Katrin!

Katrin: or contact them; I am sure that they would be happy to let you know :-) we'll find out :-)

Norman R: Seems to me that how company interacts with their clients is as important as the functionality of their software. Today's chat seems promising

Norman R: But where do they draw a line between doing it themselves and providing a hook to an outside application?

HeatherW: Thanks for putting the call together, it was good to hear an update. Bye!

Holly_NTEN: That's a good question Norman

Stacey: @Norman I think we've talked before. You had better experiences with one company in the sales cycle, and I had better experiences with another. Agreed that it matters, and it's so good to hear they're putting an emphasis on customer service thru this

Stacey: Convio is launching "widgets" soon to help with web2.0

Katrin: the article, incidentally, about Kintera and some shareholder discontent is here http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070202/news_1b2kintera.html

Katrin: i am actually curious -- how many of you are doing some sort of integration project now, on what, and how is it going? it the thread that runs through this all... pain points, as the saying goes.

Katrin: Well, Norman I know you are :-) Looking back over the chat, it's good to see though that there does seem to be responsiveness on the part of the companies. Always great when a consumer movement is forming..

Katrin: posted the user group question to the team; can you send me an email who wanted to know and I'll get that info to you

Holly_NTEN: I'm wondering what you folks think you want to see from NTEN on this issue. What esle can we be doing to support you here?

Norman R: Keep up the good work, this session was very helpful.

Holly_NTEN: Well then Norman, sounds like I can have the afternoon off! Nothing else from anyone? Nothing you want NTEN to do?

Holly_NTEN: Or all you all quiet because you're typing up LOOOONG lists?

Stacey: No long lists. The call was good. Maybe more calls like this as the merger progresses. Thanks for hosting

Holly_NTEN: OK then folks - we'll do our best to keep you updated and bring you more news as it happens. In the meantime....

Holly_NTEN: If you want to learn more about your software choices, we are hosting a webinar next week about Best of Breed vs. All in One solutions, http://nten.org/events/webinar/2007/02/15/best-of-breed-or-all-in-one- whats-in-your-software-future. The fine folks at Beaconfire are presenting

Holly_NTEN: Feel free to email or call with any follow up!

Holly_NTEN: Chau!

Katrin: thanks, all - great that you could join. we'll post the link to the recording

Katrin: and let us know if other things come to mind that you want to see. you know where to reach us, always! Thanks again, and have a great afternoon.