WHAT IS SINGLE SIGN ON (SSO)?
Single Sign On is a session and user authentication service that permits a user to use one set of login credentials (e.g. - name and password) to access multiple applications. For most of our customers, that means users can access our benchmarking platform using the same login credentials they use for their association’s website, Association Management System (AMS) and other applications.
WHAT BENEFITS DOES SSO PROVIDE?
Because Single Sign On offers streamlined, simplified access to multiple applications, it provides many benefits to both the user and the organization including:
- A better user experience. SSO eliminates the need for multiple logins as well as the need to move from website to website or application to application, or at least the appearance of moving from one to another. With SSO, even when moving from application to application or site to site, everything still appears to be on the same site, allowing for easier and simpler navigation. This is especially helpful if there’s important information or a user guide for the study that’s located on the site. Integration of additional data from the AMS can also make completing the survey easier by pre-populating some of the survey fields, saving users time and helping to increase participation.
- Increased user engagement and participation. With the user never having to leave the association’s site, it’s easier to keep them engaged and interested as well as eliminating any potential obstacles to participating in the study.
- Easier maintenance. For associations, SSO makes user management extremely simple. With no need to manage separate users or accounts, all user rights and permission levels are easily maintained through the central AMS.
- Better brand identity. Because access is seamless for the user when using SSO, associations are able to present a consistent brand experience in everything from the initial login, to the survey experience and all the way through to the final reports.
- An opportunity to monetize your study. With the integration of various permission levels, SSO makes it easy to grant non-member or non-qualifying members the ability to purchase results by seamlessly directing non-qualifying users back to the website for purchase.
BEST PRACTICES FOR SSO INTEGRATION
While simple to integrate and widely used, there are definitely some best practices to keep in mind when implementing SSO for your organization.
- Use clean data. Before using your AMS to integrate your benchmarking study, be sure that your user data is up to date. If you have inaccurate or outdated information in your AMS, you run the risk of granting access to the wrong individuals or not granting access at all.
- Be consistent. Marrying the data from the benchmarking system to the AMS can be tricky, especially when it comes to trying to match up data. When it comes to utilizing data from your AMS, be consistent and thorough for best results. In most cases, it’s best to integrate all users across a consistent set of data points.
A fairly simple concept, Single Sign On provides a multitude of advantages to all audiences involved in the benchmarking process, which is why it is one of our most popular features used by the majority of our customers. From an all-around simplified and improved user experience, to increased opportunities for brand strengthening and monetization of your survey results, the benefits are numerous.
