Project Overview
The Early Years Alliance (EYA) champions thousands of educational providers across the country, and their ambitious team knew that upgrading their technology was the key to unlocking an even better member experience. They wanted to move away from disconnected systems and engage with their audience in a much more targeted, meaningful way. We stepped in to help them make that vision a reality, using Dynamics 365 for membership management and as the central hub for their wider customer data. By seamlessly bringing their membership, learning, and insurance data together into one intelligent platform, we gave them a reliable single source of truth that actually works hard for their business. Now, their core team spends less time wrestling with manual administrative processes and more time delivering personalised support, driving vital income generation, and building a brilliantly connected future for their community.
Highlights
- EYA consolidates data across its systems into a single, trusted platform using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement
- The solution improves engagement and insight into member journeys and behaviour
- The organisation gains greater efficiency with streamlined operations through integrated systems and automation.
The Challenge
As part of its wider digital transformation over the past three years, EYA recognised the need for a more connected approach to its business systems.
A lack of integration was limiting EYA’s business development team’s ability to communicate and engage with its members in a targeted way. Without a unified data foundation that could provide a single source of truth, delivering personalised, timely information about products and resources was challenging, ultimately prompting the need for a more integrated and future-ready solution.
Helen Clarke, Business Development Administrator at EYA says, “Our systems supported different functions but without integration, it was challenging to bring customer data together into one clear, unified view.”
The Solution
EYA selected Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE) to support its digital transformation, aligning with its existing use of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Outlook. Choosing a Microsoft solution provided a familiar, trusted platform with strong native integration across its systems, enabling a more connected and efficient way of working.
EYA selected Transparity because of its strong reputation, Microsoft partner credentials, and positive customer feedback. It also demonstrated the ability to integrate seamlessly with EYA’s existing systems, including its learning management system and bespoke insurance platforms.
Scoping, design and implementation
EYA worked closely with Transparity to configure Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE around its specific organisational needs. The team defined requirements across membership, marketing and operational processes. This discovery phase ensured the system was not only technically aligned, but also intuitive for users and reflective of how EYA delivers its services.
A dedicated project manager played a key role, bringing a strong understanding of all integrated systems and guiding how they would connect. Transparity provided a structured approach to scoping out and storyboarding the solution to ensure that the final configuration was fit for purpose.
Integration across systems
A critical part of the project was integrating Dynamics 365 CE with EYA’s wider technology landscape, including IMC Learning Suite and SchemeServe. The solution established a connected data ecosystem, with SchemeServe acting as the primary source of truth for membership and insurance data, while IMC provides learning and course interaction data. Information flows between systems and is consolidated within Dynamics 365, creating a single, reliable view of each member and their interactions.
A solution fit-for-purpose at go-live
Extensive testing was carried out to ensure the system was fully functional and fit for purpose before go-live. Transparity worked with EYA over a 15-month implementation period, covering discovery, configuration, integration and validation.
Today, the system supports a dynamic dataset of around 28,000 members, supporters and contacts. While external users interact with EYA through front-facing systems, Dynamics 365 acts as the central hub behind the scenes, used by a core internal team of around 20 staff.
A critical foundation that delivers value to its membership base
The integrated solution allows EYA to deliver a seamless front-facing experience for its members and stakeholders, underpinned by accurate, up-to-date data.
Sarah Ellis, Business Development Director at EYA highlights, “We now have a central platform to manage interactions across membership, enquiries and our business development activities, while also supporting targeted marketing and audience segmentation. It helps us to better engage with our audience, track customer journeys and support income generation activities.”
Benefits
Improved usability
The platform offers a familiar, intuitive interface aligned with tools like Microsoft Office, that is tailored to how EYA manages contacts, membership and opportunities.
Single, trusted source of data
All customer and member data is centralised, ensuring accuracy, consistency and confidence across the organisation.
Enhanced marketing and engagement
Unified data enables targeted communications, better segmentation and clearer insight into customer journeys and behaviour.
Reduced manual processes
Moving away from paper-based and disconnected systems has improved efficiency, creating faster responses and easier access to information.
Supports digital transformation and growth
The platform underpins EYA’s wider transformation, helping modernise systems and support ongoing membership and income growth.
