23 May 2008
In the dynamic and fast moving world of business systems, IRIS
(formerly CS Group) looks like it has scored a rare first.
The not-for-profit Division of the Company is celebrating the
continual use of the Profile Concept CRM and Membership Management
System by the Association of Accounting Technicians for an
incredible two decades, since it was first installed in 1988.
In software terms, two decades is a life-time
when solutions come and go at a furious rate. The innovative and
forward thinking AAT took the decision to implement the Profile
Concept system at a time when many were relying on manual
typewriters, external data processing and index cards to manage
their data.
Jane Scott Paul, Chief Executive at the AAT
says: “Deploying Profile Concept was a steep learning curve for
us, as we knew nothing of IT at the time. We were very impressed
with the bottom-up approach the Profile Concept team took by
working with the users to accommodate their requirements, really
getting to the heart of the AAT. This personal touch significantly
contributed to the bond we have with IRIS today.”
The use of Profile Concept enabled the AAT
to computerise the management of its member and stakeholder
relationships and integrate its processes to gain a single view of
its business. During the last 20 years, the AAT has developed into
a dynamic professional body helped through its use of IT to gain a
full understanding of the needs of its membership.
The move to the web in 2004 as part of the
business transformation strategy has been one of the most
significant milestones along the way, providing the AAT with online
revenue through new dimensions of member benefits and increased
access to service.
Jane Scott Paul feels that the speed of change
has only accelerated in recent years with IT raising members’
expectations. “The demand for the online services is still on
the increase and we need to keep up with our members’ needs. We
believe we can achieve this with Profile Concept, as IRIS has
always been extremely accommodating to our requirements and
extended the functionality and capacity of the system.”
The Profile Concept offering has been tested
over the years with several benchmarking exercises and ITT bids for
new developments, all of which IRIS has won. These have truly
proven the worth of the Profile Concept solution for the AAT and
further strengthened its relationship with IRIS. Future projects
will see the AAT taking more content online, including paperless
exams processing.
The partnership has seen two small
organisations grow together to become the major specialists they
both are today. IRIS is the number one provider to the UK not-for-
profit sector and the company is also the number one provider of
software to UK accountancy practices where interestingly,
significant numbers of AAT members work.
Both IRIS and the AAT have kept many of the
staff that kicked off the project twenty years ago. Gary Burbidge,
Head of ICT at AAT and the IRIS Project Manager, Richard Evershed,
who first met during the Functional Specification phase in 1987,
remain actively involved in the continuing development of the
system. Jane Scott Paul feels that the Profile Concept team has
kept its small company charm over the years, despite the fact that
it is now part of the largest privately owned software business in
the UK.
“As AAT has changed over time, IRIS has
been able to respond promptly. We have always relied on the sector
expertise and professionalism of the Profile Concept team, enabling
us to build on the legacy of confidence and trust.”
Simon Fowler, Managing Director at IRIS NFP
Solutions comments: “We are proud to be celebrating the
20th anniversary of our partnership with the Association
of Accounting Technicians, one of our first major NFP clients.
Working together with the AAT over two decades has helped IRIS to
deepen its understanding of the NFP market and become the sector
specialist it is today. Both organisations have seen significant
changes over the last twenty years and now IRIS accounting and
practice solutions are used extensively by AAT members in their own
day to day work. We look forward to continuing our successful
cooperation with the AAT for the decades to come.”
