Our work

AGSA is a non-profit professional and scientific association comprising specialists in the use of grains in foods, including cereals, pulses, and other grains. The association focuses on advancing grain science and its application in the food industry.

Their Initial Situation

When Spring Media Group began working with AGSA over 10 years ago, the association had a very basic web presence and lacked an effective technology or growth plan. Managed internally on a part-time basis by a member, AGSA frequently encountered roadblocks in their systems, particularly concerning their day-to-day operations and their annual conference, a significant highlight of their year.

Project Scope

Spring Media Group has provided a range of services to AGSA over the years, including:

• Web Development: Two platform iterations tailored to meet the evolving needs of AGSA.
• Web Care: Regular maintenance, updates, and support to ensure smooth operation.
• Growth Planning: Strategic planning to align with AGSA’s goals.
• Scale Planning: Infrastructure scaling to support growing membership and activities.
• Membership System Development: Customised solutions for managing memberships.
• Conference and Ticket System Management: Efficient management of annual conference registrations and ticket sales.
• Web Hosting and Servers: Reliable hosting and server management to ensure high uptime and security.

Strategy and Implementation

With any member-based organisation, there are challenges related to resourcing, technological skills, and aligning actions with the organisation’s goals of impact, member engagement, and education. For AGSA, Spring Media Group implemented the following strategies and tactics:

Web Development:

• Addressed complex requirements by tailoring the website to meet diverse member needs, including directories, event calendars, and personalised dashboards.
• Ensured an intuitive user experience for all members.
• Integrated the website with email marketing tools and membership management software.

Web Care:

• Provided regular updates and security patches.
• Offered timely support to resolve member issues.
• Ensured website scalability during peak times, such as membership renewals or major events.

Growth and Scale Planning:

• Aligned web development and care strategies with AGSA’s growth goals.
• Balanced resource allocation between new features and maintenance.
• Leveraged data analytics to inform growth strategies and improve member engagement.
• Scaled web infrastructure to support growing membership and increased site activity.
• Maintained website performance and managed costs effectively.

Membership System Development:

• Created a flexible system accommodating different membership tiers and renewal processes.
• Ensured the security of member data.
• Integrated the membership system with other organisational tools and platforms.

Conference and Ticket System Management:

• Provided a seamless experience for event registration and ticket purchasing.
• Managed attendee capacity and high traffic volumes during peak registration periods.
• Offered robust reporting features to track registrations, ticket sales, and engagement.

Web Hosting and Servers:

• Ensured high uptime and reliability, especially during critical periods.
• Implemented strong security measures to protect against cyber threats and data breaches.

Results and Outcomes

Quantitative Results: The efforts of Spring Media Group have yielded impressive results:

• Increased Membership Retention and Renewal: Higher retention rates and successful membership renewals.
• Successful Annual Conference Management: Consistent and efficient management of the annual conference year after year.
• Higher Member Engagement: Enhanced member participation and interaction.
• Significant Time Savings on Administrative Tasks: Streamlined operations leading to more efficient administrative processes.

Qualitative Results: 

• Member Satisfaction: Positive feedback from members regarding the improvements.
• Brand Recognition: Increased visibility and recognition within the grain-based food sector.
• Greater Impact: Enhanced ability to make a significant impact across the industry.

Unique Challenges and Solutions
One of the unique challenges was managing the complex requirements of integrating various systems while ensuring a seamless user experience for members. AGSA needed a platform that could handle member directories, event calendars, and personalised dashboards without overwhelming users with limited technical skills. To overcome this, we implemented a phased rollout of features, starting with essential functions and gradually introducing more advanced capabilities. This approach allowed members to adapt to changes incrementally.

Another challenge was ensuring the scalability of the web infrastructure to support growing membership and increased site activity during peak times, such as the annual conference. We addressed this by implementing a cloud-based hosting solution that could automatically scale resources based on traffic demands. This not only ensured high performance during critical periods but also optimised costs by scaling down resources during off-peak times.

In terms of member engagement, we faced the challenge of providing timely and effective support for various technical issues. We set up a dedicated support team and introduced a ticketing system to manage and resolve issues efficiently. This significantly improved member satisfaction and reduced the time spent on administrative tasks by AGSA staff.

Additionally, aligning our strategies with AGSA’s growth goals required a data-driven approach. We leveraged data analytics to understand member behaviour and preferences, allowing us to tailor our strategies for maximum impact. This led to more effective member retention and renewal campaigns, enhancing overall engagement and satisfaction.

Future Plans
Spring Media Group will continue to grow with AGSA, focusing on expanding marketing efforts, launching paid ad campaigns, implementing retargeting strategies, and further growing the brand. The ongoing collaboration aims to drive sustainable growth and ensure AGSA remains a leading voice in the grain-based food sector.