For over twenty years at AT, we’ve partnered with a diverse range of clients—small and large—to tackle a wide array of objectives. From data and web support to mitigating security risks and providing essential hardware support, we’ve been committed to delivering reliable solutions.

From the beginning, one of our core goals has been to develop and nurture lasting relationships with clients, regardless of their size or challenges. We view ourselves as an extension of our clients, working tirelessly to help them succeed and shine before their members and constituents. We're thankful for these opportunities.

Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to forge meaningful connections with our clients. Some relationships have stood the test of time, while others have naturally faded, but each interaction has shaped who we are today. For that, we are truly thankful.

Countless times, I’ve witnessed teammates not only deliver on client goals but also engage in friendly banter, sharing mutual interests that deepen these relationships. These connections are as valuable to us as the tasks we accomplish. We're thankful for these opportunities

As an organization rooted in technology, we’ve witnessed countless innovations over the years. Over two decades ago, we developed internal solutions for member contact lookups using Palm Pilots (Google it if you’re under 30!), used faxed machines, communicated with actual phones, and managed hardware and servers onsite at client locations. Today, we can access member profiles from any browser or on mobile devices, use tools to analyze data at a granular level to guide strategic decisions, support hardware from anywhere in world, and meet with our teammates virtually anywhere in the world. Drawing from our extensive experience, we continue to help our clients adopt best practices and explore new technological solutions. We're thankful for these opportunities.

Now the fun part of technology. A simple AI-generated image of a Thanksgiving celebration reminded us how far technology has come—and how it continues to inspire creativity and progress. We’re grateful for these opportunities and look forward to what the future holds.

Like all new technologies, AI introduces some risks along with cool new ways for technology to help your business. Corporate consulting firms and even the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been advising businesses on managing these risks and developing material to guide the process. Small associations do not have the resources to build elaborate AI tools, which helps reduce the total number of risks, but let’s walk through the risks that remain.

AI can be biased in ways users to not expect. This is a result of the old computer programing adage: “Garbage in, Garbage out.” Any AI tool is only as accurate as the information used to train the Language Learning Model (LLM). AI tools can be built on data which is accidentally biased, or even maliciously biased. Both of these are more likely when using a free AI tool, which regularly updates based on data from users. In fact, there are numerous reputable articles outlining that many AI tools are accidentally racist. Therefore, it is required that users of AI review all output carefully before using that data.

Privacy of data is also a very pressing concern with AI. Free AI tools will ingest any user input and use that data for building the LLM and improving the AI tool. Unfortunately, that means the AI tool will save any member data your staff input or any proprietary information. Proprietary information can be a dual threat, because you need to protect proprietary information your organization has licensed and any proprietary information published by your organization can be entered into AI by members who purchase it. License agreements for information published by your organization should be updated to guard against AI misuse. Similarly, staff require guidance on using AI to protect private and proprietary data they have access to.

In addition to privacy concerns, attorneys are worried about AI for additional reasons. Just as emails and memos can be utilized to harm an organization during litigation; AI input can do the same. Even if no questionable activity is revealed within AI usage, retrieving the data adds to the cost of any potential litigation. Your attorney may have additional concerns, so discuss AI risks with them.

So how do you control these risks and effectively utilize AI to improve your business? Start by surveying your staff for the AI tools they are using and for what purpose. Also read some articles on AI risk, because this list is far from exhaustive. AT is glad to assist in reviewing your organization’s AI usage for potential risks and help you start crafting an AI policy. Next, work with your attorney to finalize your AI usage policy and train your staff.

Heatmaps and click tracking are invaluable tools for understanding user interactions on your website. By visualizing where users click, scroll, and hover, these tools reveal patterns that highlight what elements are engaging and which parts are being overlooked. This insight allows you to make informed design decisions, optimizing the site for better usability and user satisfaction.

There are different types of heatmaps, such as click heatmaps, scroll heatmaps, and movement heatmaps. Each type provides unique insights:

By analyzing these patterns, you can identify areas for improvement, streamline navigation, and enhance the overall user experience.

In summary, leveraging heatmaps and click tracking enables you to fine-tune your website’s design based on actual user behavior, leading to a more intuitive and satisfying user journey. Implementing these tools can help you uncover valuable insights, ensuring that your site meets the needs and expectations of your audience.