EIGCA’s Digital Transformation Programme

To keep our members at the forefront of golf course design and development means we must stay ahead of the game and keep moving forward to enhance and build on the services we offer. To be the Institute our members deserve, and need, Council approved a digital transformation programme with a range of new online platforms introduced in 2024.

This digital-first approach modernised how we work and enables us to deliver improved services that are user-friendly, efficient and easy-to-use. The risk with going digital-first was that the personal touch, which our stakeholders appreciate, would be lost. We believe we have the balance right with the solutions in place making us more efficient, not robotic and faceless, and making it easier for stakeholders to interact with us.

There were three pressing fundamentals we needed to face head-on: website, data management, and internal systems.

Website

The front-facing element of the Institute – our website – was long overdue a facelift and content review. Analysis of visitor traffic identified the most visited content and the pages no longer viewed were archived to make the most relevant information easily found. The result is a fresher uncluttered look and feel reflecting the modernisation of the Institute. The launch of the new website was coordinated with the launch of the new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system with both going live during our Annual Meeting in Copenhagen in June this year.

Data Management

Data on our stakeholders was held in multiple places which posed a potential security risk as well as making it difficult to ensure accuracy of the data we held. The CRM system we chose manages our data, and operations including invoicing and communications with stakeholders. Members and Partners have the ability to log in and control the data we hold on them, with a key benefit that the CRM integrates with our new website so changes made in the CRM are reflected on the front end of the website. Applications to be a Member, Candidate for Membership and Partner are now online.

IT Migration

Behind the scenes, we ran an IT migration project to transfer our IT systems into one platform. These were previously spread across multiple platforms which not only duplicated costs, but increased the potential for issues with our data accuracy and security. We are now solely on Microsoft with office procedures streamlined, secure and more efficient.

Other online platforms

Events – Moving our event registrations and engagement online has been an important move. Registration for our (paid-for) events is through a self-served web-based platform making it quick and easy to register, pay, download invoices and amend details. We also use an app to manage attendance and engagement at our Annual Meeting. From delegate names and contact details, to dinner seating plans, daily programmes and golf pairings, the app puts the information delegates need to maximise their time at the event quite literally in the palm of their hand.

Education – After a review of our education programme in 2023, one of the improvements put in place was a new learning platform. Currently used by the students on our EVQGCD programme, lectures and presentations are available 24/7 on handheld, laptop and desktop devices. They can also be viewed offline meaning students have access to their learning content wherever or whenever they need it. The next step is to add the webinars in our Sustainability Programme for members to access in the same way as for the EVQGCD students.

What’s next?

We still have projects to come onstream and are working on making these live by the end of 2024.

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – EIGCA’s CPD programme has been reviewed and will be transferred to the new CRM so members only need one login for member-only content. The updated CPD programme will have more learning content and be a simplified process.
• Member projects – due to the volume of projects members have worked on, these form phase two of the website project. These are being uploaded to the CRM (and pulled through to member profiles on the website) and will be available under the biography information on each member’s individual profile page.

The HQ team are not standing still, and will continue with a digital-first approach where appropriate for future projects. The aim is always to make it quick and easy for anyone to engage with the Institute.