Introduction

The International Db2 Users Group (IDUG) is a global software user group serving over 15,000 members worldwide. Its mission is to support and strengthen the information services community by providing education and services designed to promote the effective utilization of Db2. With such a vast network of Db2 users, IDUG relies on its online community to support continuous learning and connection.

As IDUG evolved its technology stack and transitioned to a new AMS, the organization saw an opportunity to rethink how its community could better support engagement, learning, and collaboration at scale.

Challenge

Prior to Breezio, IDUG had been using Higher Logic (Socious) for its online community for several years. While the platform was functional, it no longer aligned with IDUG’s goals around usability, and they began searching for possible alternatives that could launch alongside their new AMS in Q1 of 2024.

Key Goals

•  Increase engagement and participation across discussions.
• Create structured learning libraries using existing and future community content.
• Support both regional user groups (RUGs) and an all-member discussion space.
• Integrate tightly with Novi to keep membership data, access, and groups in sync.
• Deliver a simpler, more intuitive experience for members without sacrificing core functionality.
• Reduce overall platform costs compared to their previous setup.
• Entrenched listserv habits blocked participation in all-member forums.

Solution

Breezio provided a centralized, easy-to-use community platform that allowed VSAE to create dedicated spaces for committees and sections. Each group used its community as a communications hub: posting meeting notices, sharing documents and resources, collaborating between meetings, and engaging in ongoing discussion. Videos could also be shared when helpful, keeping all content in one place.

Results:

While all-member engagement remained modest, Breezio proved highly effective for smaller, focused groups where collaboration and task-based work were the priority. Committees and sections benefited from having a single source for communication and materials, reducing reliance on email and improving organization for both staff and volunteers.

WHY BREEZIO

Beyond the platform itself, Breezio’s customer support stood out. The experience felt personal and collaborative rather than transactional. Ben and his team demonstrated a strong understanding of the unique challenges faced by small associations, including limited staff time and the nuances of building sustainable online communities.

Takeaway

For VSAE, Breezio was a practical, well-designed solution that supported meaningful collaboration for special interest and working groups, while offering the personalized support small associations value.