A unique and free opportunity to benchmark
your member-focused digital strategy and activity

About The Digital Excellence (2026) Research Project
Every 2-3 years the MemberWise Network conducts the Digital Excellence Research Project – a high profile independent project that gains a snapshot of digital activity/strategy within the Membership and Association Sector. The output of the project is our popular Digital Excellence (2026) Report – a report containing statistically significant findings/results and written independently by the network.

The project is deliberately not funded or sponsored by any commercial provider in order to maintain the full credibility of the activity/resource. However, the research element (call to action) is supported by Digital Excellence Research Champions – Companies who are MemberWise Recognised Suppliers or Partners who support/champion the aims/objectives of the project (listed below).

Topics and Themes

  • Key Priorities, Challenges and Strategy
  • Digital Leadership and Budget Management
  • Online Member Engagement
  • System Integration and Data Silo Improvements
  • Automation Adoption
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption
  • Association Management Systems (AMS/CRM)
  • Websites / Content Management Systems (CMS) / Web Analytics
  • Online Member Communities
  • Member Mobile Apps
  • Online Learning, CPD and Assessments

Why Read this report?
The results are statistically significant (i.e. they really do mean something) and they will enable you to benchmark current (and proposed future) digital and membership focused activity/strategy as managed by other membership bodies in the UK.

The results give a clear view of new and emerging trends that are likely to help you to drive membership/digital focused development/growth, e.g. many professionals use the facts/figures in this report to bolster business cases and increase internal buy-in when strategic/operational change is required.
The data/results contained in this report was collected between March and September 2025 by the MemberWise Network in collaboration with 30 Official Digital Excellence Research Champions (listed on the MemberWise website) and the Trade Association Forum (TAF).

How can I access last year’s report?
You can access the Report below and via our online community, MemberWise Connect.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It…
See what fellow senior Membership/Association Professionals have to say about the research/report…

As a Digital Leader in a membership body, I often find myself asking questions like – how do we compare, are we ahead of the game or behind the curve?  What can I learn from my peers, and also what can I share to help them?  What vendors and products are out there, and behind the glossy marketing presentations, what are they like in the real world?  Digital technology is evolving at an ever faster pace and significant vendor consolidation and mergers continue to take place.  Standing still is not an option for any of us. 

The DX Survey is a great opportunity to share your own journey – and for us to learn from each other.  Last years report gave me some great insights and helped shape my own delivery plans going in to 2025.  So – don’t delay, spend a few minutes completing the survey today and help yourself, your organisation and the wider membership sector to learn, adapt, embrace and benefit from the latest digital technology.

Nick Klee, Director of Technology, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Members increasingly expect a great digital experience. The DX research is the must have for any membership organisation, large of small, to benchmark digital and membership related sector trends. Please take part to make 2025 the biggest benchmarking exercise yet.

Simon Edwards, Executive Secretary, London Mathematical Society

The Digital Excellence research is a great way to benchmark our digital capabilities against other professional bodies and provides valuable insights and trends within the membership sector. The more responses we get, the more insights we have to learn from, so I encourage everyone to take part!

Clare Hodgson, Director of Learning & Commercial, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The Digital Excellence Research findings are once again being hotly anticipated here at ECA. The project provides us with reliable – and crucially neutral insights. These not only help to inform our digital strategy, but also aid us in providing meaningful context for key internal stakeholders.

Daniel Bailey, Director of Digital Development, Electrical Contractors' Association

The Digital Excellence Report not only enables the sector to keep on top of digital trends, but captures thought provoking insight into the wider context of becoming a digitally mature organisation that uses technology and data as an enabler to delivering value. It’s not just about technology, it’s about strategy, decision-making, and how organisations consider the key elements required to navigate and master digital excellence. Taking part in the research is an essential part of starting/continuing your own benchmarking journey.

Lisa Goldsmith, Consultant & MemberWise Ambassador (Member Data)

The Digital Excellence Report allows me to stay on top of industry trends within the membership sector, highlighting common challenges and new technologies, such as adoption of AI. This report informs myself and my team and helps us to validate our strategy. I encourage you to take part and input into this valuable resource.

Julian Davis, COO, World Commerce & Contracting

The Digital Excellence Survey is an valuable tool for the membership sector, with digital trends and concerns changing so rapidly it is so helpful to have resources like this to help us inform and validate decisions.  I encourage everyone to take part in this to provide your input, the more data we have the more we can all get from it.  

Katherine Bunting, Director, IPEM

The Digital Excellence research is the perfect way to benchmark our digital position against other trade associations and provides us with valuable insights and trends within the membership sector. The more input provided to surveys – the more insight and direction can be drawn for the wider benefit of membership bodies, so I would encourage everyone to take part.

Darren Shepherd, National Membership Development Director, British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF)

The Digital Excellence Research Project is so important as it is an objective piece of research unique to our sector. It is invaluable being able to keep abreast of trends, see whether we’re on track, and how our peers are dealing with emerging hot topics that are impacting us all. It helps inform our strategies and validate some of the most important decisions we make.

Alex Taylor, Head of Strategic Engagement, Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET)

Official Digital Excellence (2026) Champions

Leading suppliers within the Membership Sector who are championing this research project:

Cantarus         Wattle          oomi         Latcham

GRM digital     Pixl8     RD Mobile

Discover Digital Solutions       Membership Insights       Mi-Voice       Kerv

Zentso    Reading Room      Intercloud9       Granite 5

BrightMinded      Cursor      LJ Digital & Data Consultancy

GRM Digital      Copper Bay Digital      FormusPro      Eight Strategy

Bluelight      Synergy      Random Software Solutions      D2L

Mulberry Creative      Spindogs      Hart Square      Versantus

You can find out more information about these leading sector providers via the MemberWise Recognised Supplier Directory