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Future-ready chambers: how AI and connected technology are helping chambers engage members and reach new businesses

Ana Christie and Corin Crane share how connected technology is changing the way their chambers engage members, with results from Staffordshire Chambers and a live look at ReadyIntelligence.

 

Future-ready chambers: how AI and connected technology are helping chambers engage members and reach new businesses

 


On 20 October 2026, chamber leaders from across the British Chambers of Commerce network joined us for a lunchtime conversation about what a future-ready chamber looks like. With funding tight and every member and sale counting, the session looked at how chambers are moving away from separate CRM, website, marketing and finance systems towards one connected platform that shows who is engaged, who is drifting and which businesses in the region they haven’t yet reached.

Two chamber chief executives – Ana Christie, Chief Executive of Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Corin Crane, Chief Executive of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce – shared their experience at different stages of the journey, followed by results from Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and a live demonstration of ReadyIntelligence, the AI built into ReadyMembership.

 

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Who spoke 

Corin Crane

Chief Executive, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Corin’s team chose ReadyMembership unanimously after a full tender earlier this year. He explained why a board focus on return on investment shaped the process, why one CRM behind several front-end brands mattered, and how the group plans to replace mass emails with targeted campaigns for products such as apprenticeships. He was also candid that bringing staff skills up to the level of the new tools is as big a job as the build itself.

Ana Christie

Chief Executive, Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Sussex has been live on ReadyMembership for over two years. Ana described moving from a separate CRM, website, marketing tool and finance processes to one platform integrated with Xero, Stripe, GoCardless and SGS e-Cert trade documentation. Since going live, Sussex has seen retention rise from around 81% to 89%, debtor days fall from around 120 to under 30, and membership team admin time drop by roughly 65 to 70%. She also explained how involving the whole team in testing built confidence before launch.

Luke Holderness

Creative Director, Pixl8 Group

Luke gave a live demonstration of ReadyIntelligence, the AI built into ReadyMembership, which works from a chamber’s own live data and cites the source behind every answer. He showed staff asking which renewing members are at risk and why, producing a membership benefit report ahead of a member call, and turning a spreadsheet of local businesses into sales opportunities in the CRM. For members, he showed an assistant that answers questions around the clock and recommends events based on their profile.

Key takeaways

  • ✓One connected platform removes the manual work of booking, invoicing and chasing across separate systems, freeing staff to talk to members.
  • ✓Engagement scoring across many behaviours, not just event bookings, shows where to focus renewal effort.
  • ✓Member self-service through a portal improves both the member experience and cash flow.
  • ✓AI that works from your chamber’s own live data can answer questions, produce reports and carry out tasks in seconds.
  • ✓Staff adoption is the deciding factor, so training and change management need as much attention as the technology.
Ana Christie
It’s great that ReadyMembership is all-in-one. So much is automated, helping us streamline our processes, save time and reduce costs. This allows us to focus on developing our business membership offer.

Ana Christie

Sussex Chamber of Commerce, Chief Executive

Wednesday 18 November · 12:30 to 13:30

Next session: AI for chambers

Luke Holderness returns on Wednesday 18 November, 12:30 to 13:30, for a closer, practical look at the AI capabilities in ReadyMembership, from building a sales pipeline out of regional business data to spotting members at risk of not renewing. You don’t need to have attended the first session to join.

Register for AI for chambers →

 

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AI for chambers: a practical look inside ReadyMembership

Date: Wednesday 18 November | Time: 12:30–1:30pm | Cost: Free, fully online

Luke Holderness leads a session for a closer, practical look at the AI capabilities in ReadyMembership and how these are ideally suited for Chambers of Commerce, from building a sales pipeline out of regional business data to spotting members at risk of not renewing. 

Register for AI for Chambers