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Customer Case Studies

The Society of Authors

Simplifies Database Administration and Enhances Membership Services
Industry
Government & Non Profit
Company
The Society of Authors (SoA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1884 to protect the interests of professional authors, illustrators, and translators. Headquartered in London, England, the society has more than 9,000 members and associates, with a small staff located at headquarters. The SoA campaigns for authors’ rights, negotiates with publishers, and lobbies for changes to copyright and libel laws. Along with hosting meetings and seminars, it publishes a quarterly journal, administers prizes, awards grants, and maintains a database of member specializations.
Challenge

The SoA wanted to offer enhanced services to its growing membership. However, staff found its existing database poorly supported, difficult to use, and too inflexible to be integrated with key member web services. The membership database was at the heart of many of the organization’s core processes such as events and merchandising management so its stability and flexibility were vital for the Society’s effective operation.

“The first database we installed was problematic in several ways," explained Emma Boniwell, the society's membership secretary. “The initial data migration was faulty, which led to instability further down the line. We didn’t receive the levels of support we required from our IT supplier, and we knew that it would be difficult to extend the platform and introduce new functionality. Moreover, the user interface was inconvenient; we had to type in queries manually in order to filter the data. It was time to find a new solution."

Results
  • Provided convenient web access for staff from standard PCs
  • Reduced administrative workload by automating processes and integrating functions
  • Eliminated the need for typing lengthy queries
Products
Applications
  • Database Management
Rocket UniData is designed to offer very high levels of performance—even on comparatively low-end hardware—which makes it ideal for not-for-profit organizations, such as the Society of Authors, operating with a tight IT budget.
Nick Osborn
Account Manager
APT Solutions