Cimatri Blog

What AI Actually Costs: Straight Talk on Hard Costs, TCO, and the Labor Question

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Every week I talk with association executives who are somewhere on a spectrum between "we need to be doing more with AI" and "we're not sure we can afford to do AI at all." What I rarely hear is a clear-eyed conversation about what AI actually costs — not the breathless vendor pitch number, not the vague promise of efficiency gains, but the real, all-in financial picture.

Vibe Coding: What Association Executives Need to Know Before They Dive In

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

This post is intended to orient association executives to an emerging space. Technology capabilities and tool landscapes in AI-assisted development are evolving rapidly; leaders are encouraged to conduct ongoing learning and consult technical advisors as they develop organizational approaches.

The market shift is already here. Is your association watching from Waterloo?

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

I was there.

The AI Adoption Gap Is Your Opportunity

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

But You Have to Get Moving ... Now

Why Your Association's AI Initiative Might Fail (And It Has Nothing to Do with Technology)

Laura Armstrong — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Every association wants to talk about AI. Predictive member engagement. Automated content personalization. Intelligent search. ChatGPT-powered member service. The promise is compelling: do more with less, understand members better, stay competitive.

CEOS Ask about Transformation and Autonomy

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

As associations increasingly explore AI solutions—from member engagement tools to operational automation—leaders face two critical questions: How do we transform our organizations responsibly? and When should we allow AI to make decisions autonomously?

When Member Service is No Longer Limited by Capacity

Sara Spalt — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Written by Sara Spalt

When AI Meets the Human Heart: Lessons from the Cath Lab

rbawcum@cimatri.com (Rick Bawcum) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

A Personal Journey Through the Promise and Peril of AI in Healthcare

Confessions of an AMS Selection Expert

Laura Armstrong — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT

By Laura Armstrong

The Infrastructure Behind AI Agents: Why Cloud and Data Matter

Sara Spalt — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Building the Foundations Your Association Needs for Agent-Driven Success