ChMS Comparison Charts

Posted by David Drinnon on Apr 12, 2010 | 8082 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.equipthem.info%2F2010%2F04%2F12%2Fchms-comparison-charts%2FChMS+Comparison+Charts2010-04-13+03%3A35%3A28David+Drinnonhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.equipthem.info%2F%3Fp%3D808

Though the ChMS (church management software) market is small, comparing the solutions available can take some time. If you are looking for a comparison chart of features, take a look at the following:

1. Nick Nicholaou with Ministry Business Services, Inc. publishes an annual comparison chart. (34 Solutions Compared; Date: 11/13/2009 )
2. Christian Computing Magazine: Note original chart appears to be no longer available, but this cached version is preserved on Digital @ Leadership Network’s blog. (27 Solutions Compared; Date: 12/15/2008)
3. CCIS publishes a comparison guide between its software and other ChMS providers. Though biased, it may give you some insight by looking at each of their comparisons together. (10 Solutions Compared; Date: Unknown)
4. Capterra doesn’t provide a comparison chart per se, but they do have a directory of ChMS solutions that can be filtered based on platform, features, and other criteria. It is a great tool to narrow down solutions based on your specific needs. (180 Solutions Listed; Date: Unknown).

Here are some of my recommendations before you start shopping:

1. Ask someone from senior leadership to sponsor the project…ensuring buy in from the very top and preparing the way for maximum involvement of all church staff.
2. Meet with key staff from every department/ministry and document their ‘business processes‘. Invest in a LiveScribe Pulse smart pen to capture both your notes and the audio of your meetings (you won’t regret it!). Keep a separate list for (1) reports, (2) processes that are inefficient and need to change, (3) issues or decisions requiring resolution or approval from senior leadership. (Here is a sample doc to provide staff in prep for your meetings).
3. Compile your notes into one master document, organized by department and then by task.
4. Have each department review their section to ensure that you documented their processes and needs accurately.
5. Recruit the legitimizers within your church staff to assist you with product selection.
6. Begin shopping, pick your top 2 solutions and get very thorough demos….evaluating each product based on how well it will accomplish the needs of your staff. Keep in mind, everyone will say, “Yes, our software does that!” However, the real question is how efficient does their software handle your needs (i.e. one step or ten?).
7. As you meet with each vendor, make a list of gap items…items that the software does not handle.
8. Weigh your options carefully and involve both senior leadership and key legitimizers in the final decision.