--- title: "Tuesday Buzz: Avoid Tech Vendor Headaches" id: "30232" type: "post" slug: "tuesday-buzz-avoid-tech-vendor-headaches" published_at: "2015-09-22T19:02:06+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T17:50:59+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/09/22/tuesday-buzz-avoid-tech-vendor-headaches/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/09/22/tuesday-buzz-avoid-tech-vendor-headaches.md" excerpt: "The role that communication plays in ensuring that your tech vendors are all on the same page. Also: Connecticut’s success with making nonprofits great places to work." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "donor communication" - "Meetings" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Tuesday Buzz: Avoid Tech Vendor Headaches When you have a lot of tech vendors, there’s bound to be some tension as they compete for your attention and do their work. Instead of letting it get to the point where the relationships are unsalvageable, perhaps you should actually try to get your vendors communicating with one another. That’s the advice of Delcor’s Tobin Conley, who [discusses the issues with vendor communication in a recent blog post (opens in a new tab)](http://www.delcor.com/Blog.aspx?id=1604&blogid=154) . He suggests that you get vendors talking to one another at the start of the the process, as well as doing something that associations know a lot about: holding a meeting. “Once a year, as part of the budget cycle and technology planning process, invite vendors representing all mission-critical systems to a technology summit,” Conley explains. “Although you could host a virtual summit, it’s much better to have this conversation in person so people can look each other in the eye—don’t leave any room for ambiguous communication.” Ultimately, approaching the vendor-communication process holistically will be better than playing a game of what Conley calls “Whac-A-Mole.” ### Other Links of Note **Awesome idea of the day:** The iOS keyboard app Slash, which combines a traditional mobile keyboard with built-in search functionality for a bevy of apps, [could represent the future of writing on your phone (opens in a new tab)](http://www.tapslash.com/) . **For the Apple Watch owner in your life,** the time machine just got an upgrade. The company released [the second version of watchOS (opens in a new tab)](http://www.apple.com/watchos-2/) , [and the changes are getting really good reviews (opens in a new tab)](http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/21/apple-watchos-2-hands-on/) . **Like learning and webinars?** Then you may enjoy Tagoras’ latest offering, about selecting the right kind of learning management system (LMS) for your organization. [You can check that out on Thursday (opens in a new tab)](http://www.tagoras.com/2015/09/21/right-lms-for-your-association/) . (iStock/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#donor communication](https://associationsnow.com/tag/donor-communication/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F09%2F22%2Ftuesday-buzz-avoid-tech-vendor-headaches%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !