Over the past few months, Mornings with Megs has featured two key voices from ASI: David Riffle, who leads ASI’s global partner program, and Kunal Johar, the founder of OpenWater and current strategic products lead for ASI.
Both shared their vision for where iMIS is headed, what’s new across the broader ecosystem, and how associations can take advantage of the momentum. We’re sharing some of the highlights here.
A Proven Platform with a Lot More to Offer
If you’re already using iMIS EMS, you are in great company. More than 75 percent of iMIS clients have completed the move, and the benefits are clear.
iMIS is faster, more secure, and more flexible than ever before. New releases are happening regularly, with no upgrade hassle or disruption.
As David Riffle put it, “We’re doing six to seven releases per year now, and that’s a big deal. Being able to deliver improvements that often, and to all clients at once, is something we’ve worked hard to make easy.”
What’s especially important to understand is that EMS isn’t the finish line. It’s the foundation. “iMIS is fun again,” David added. “It gives people the freedom to think more strategically. You’re not stuck managing updates or fixing broken reports. You can actually focus on what you came to do.”
A Growing Ecosystem Designed for Associations
The iMIS product suite is expanding in ways that directly reflect what associations have been asking for. ASI has acquired and is investing in three strategic products: OpenWater, TopClass, and Clowder.
These aren’t just complementary tools. They are becoming deeply connected components of a broader ecosystem that supports everything from awards submissions and speaker management to learning programs and mobile engagement.
Kunal Johar explained the strategy this way: “The goal is to make each product strong on its own and even better when combined with iMIS. That’s how we become a long-term home for associations, no matter which door they come in through.”
He also emphasized that “we’re not just maintaining these products. We’re investing in features that associations have been waiting for, and we’re making sure those features are delivered faster and more reliably.”
Integration That Makes Sense (and Saves Time)
One of the areas where ISG’s team brings the most value is integration. We help associations connect the dots between systems, clean up data flows, and automate the work that doesn’t need to be manual.
That is why we are excited about ASI’s approach to product integration. Instead of creating custom connectors for every use case, they are building shared APIs and aligning development roadmaps across the product suite.
This matters because it allows partners like us to build smarter, more durable connections that hold up over time. It also makes it easier to scale, automate, and report in real time.
AI That Supports Your Team
While some organizations are still figuring out how to use AI responsibly, ASI has already begun to roll out helpful, secure tools that support staff and improve efficiency.
David described one upcoming feature as an AI content assistant that can “relieve staff of mundane tasks like drafting emails, setting up event pages, or helping members find what they need online.” These tools are built inside the iMIS platform and operate within the privacy boundaries associations require.
Kunal also talked about how AI is being implemented within OpenWater and the wider ecosystem. “We’re treating AI like a personal assistant,” he said. “We want to inject it into workflows where it saves time and adds value, not just because it’s trendy. And we’re doing it in ways that respect the real-world constraints of association data and privacy.”
Stability and Innovation Working Together
Behind all of this is a strong foundation. ASI continues to make major investments in infrastructure, including more than $2 million per year in security.
iMIS clients benefit from enterprise-level protections, including around-the-clock monitoring and protection from millions of attempted attacks each month. That level of care gives associations the confidence to focus on mission-driven work, knowing their systems are protected.
At the same time, the pace of innovation has never been faster. From frequent EMS updates to new capabilities in TopClass, Clowder, and OpenWater, iMIS is not just keeping up with the needs of modern associations. It is helping shape what is possible.
Now is a great time to explore the full range of capabilities available to you in iMIS. Whether integrating new tools, improving member engagement, or making day-to-day operations run more smoothly, we can help you take full advantage of the latest capabilities.
Let’s talk about how to make sure your iMIS system continues to serve you extremely well into the future.