There are bells. There are whistles. And then there's integration-the key feature in any system for automating member financial services. The better the integration, the more any automated platform can work harmoniously with all of the pieces and programs necessary to creating a seamless member experience. Your internal staff in a branch or your member online will never have to leave the system to verify identity, order forms, request a new credit card or anything else necessary to set up a new account or process a loan. All of these various programs can be accessed from within the system-saving time and money.

In addition, if your system is designed to make integration easy, you won't be forced to use only those programs or services that are compatible with the system or are provided by a certain vendor. You will be able to integrate your current forms provider, ID verification program, card-ordering service and any other ancillary products into the platform. You can continue to use your preferred vendors in each of these instances.

The system also can adapt to your future needs and growth because it supports a much wider menu of options when it comes to providers, programs and add-on features. If at a later date you want to integrate some new software with the system-an e-signature or a new fraud-protection feature, for example-you can do so much more easily.