The Costs and ROI of Implementing a Member Benefits Platform

Setting up a member benefits platform is about showing your members that their subscription means something and they can benefit from it. It’s a smart move when done right, but naturally, one of the first questions that you may ask is: how much will it cost, and what am I getting back in return?

Keep reading to learn what the benefits platform costs are, where organisations often go wrong, and what kind of membership platform ROI you can expect if you do the implementation right.

What are you actually paying for?

The obvious benefits platform costs are easy to spot: the platform itself, setup, maybe some ongoing tech support. But there’s more to it than that. What often gets missed are the hours your team spends managing the benefits, dealing with admin, chasing suppliers, or trying to get members to actually use what’s on offer.

That being said, it’s worth keeping in mind that when you think about the investment in member benefits, you’re not just paying for discounts or tech; you’re paying for time saved, hassle avoided, and ultimately, a better experience for your members.

It’s about value, not just offers

There’s a misconception that a benefits platform is all about chucking in a few discounts and calling it a day. That might work short-term, but if the benefits aren’t useful or meaningful, people won’t engage with them, and you won’t see results.

The strongest platforms offer real value; things that actually help your members in their lives or careers. That could be savings. But it could also be legal advice, wellbeing support, professional development tools, or help for small businesses. 

That’s where the membership platform ROI becomes tangible. If members are engaging with the benefits and getting something real out of it, they’re far more likely to stick around. We’ve seen organisations see a bump in renewals just months after launching a tailored platform. Not because they suddenly became louder or flashier, but because they started offering something that actually mattered.

Where things can go wrong

What’s the biggest mistake many organisations make? Overloading their platforms with too many offers or going for a low-cost setup that looks fine on the surface but ends up creating more work than it’s worth. If your members have to dig to find anything relevant, they probably won’t bother.

And if your internal team is spending more time managing the platform than benefiting from it, it means you’re already losing value.

That’s why working with a provider who gets your sector (and your members) is so important. This way, your platform stays fresh and manageable. And that helps to decrease benefits platform costs, because you’re not wasting time or money on things that won’t land.

Membership platform ROI – what to expect?

Some members will save a good amount through the platform – often enough to cover the cost of their membership. But the value goes beyond just saving money.

It’s customers renewing because they feel looked after. It’s fewer lapsed members, more word-of-mouth referrals, and more pride in being part of your organisation. That’s a different kind of value, but it’s just as important and it’s measurable.

A good platform will give you insights into what’s being used, what isn’t, and what needs adjusting. This data can help you stay in tune with what members actually want.

At the end of the day, investing in a member benefits platform should be part of your long-term plan to strengthen your membership offer. That’s why choosing the right partner matters. You want someone who isn’t just selling software, but who can advise you, help you stay flexible, and grow alongside your organisation. That’s exactly what we’ve built at Parliament Hill. By using the collective buying power of over 7 millions of members, we negotiate benefits that people actually want, giving them access to things that truly add value to their membership.

The takeaway

A good benefits platform costs money. But when you look at the time it saves, the value it brings to members, and the boost it gives to your retention and engagement, the return is clear.

Investing in member benefits is a smart, strategic move. Done well, it strengthens your connection with members and helps your organisation stand out. Book a demo with our specialists to discuss how we can help you.