The results from the Impactrics Assessment are in: successful alumni organizations offer alumni and students networking opportunities, career support, and mentoring programs. The good news is that it is easier than ever to provide these services with one of many software products now on the market. Having just added @ Tassl and @Alumnifire, there are now 39 alumni community platforms listed on the Impactrics Resource page and there may be more out there

https://impactrics.com/resources/networking-and-mentoring-software-comparison/

Each platform offers different features for networking, mentoring, event management, customization, and data management. The challenge is to determine which platform offers the best cost-benefit balance for your organization. You might consider using LinkedIn or Facebook features however you have to choose something! If you don’t, your alumni will engage with each other. and your institution will miss out on the benefits of being the convener and facilitator for the alumni community.

A word of caution: A networking platform can be a significant investment of time and money so you want to consider compatibility with existing systems, long-term expectations and the user experience when making the purchase. Make sure to do your due diligence before committing to a platform. Inclusion in the resource list is not an endorsement by Impactrics or anyone connected with Impactrics.

(If you would like to submit information about a company to add to the resource table, please complete the questionnaire at Networking Platform Information.)