The Ultimate Guide to Digital Membership Cards for Clubs & Associations

Modern digital membership cards are a handy tool for any club, association, or non-profit organisation looking to simplify and make things more affordable. Switching from traditional plastic cards to digital ones helps keep things running smoothly and makes life easier and less stressful for members and staff alike. 

So, today, let’s have a look at all aspects of digital membership cards so you know exactly what they are and whether they are right for your organisation. 

In this article, we will cover the following topics:

• What Are Digital Membership Cards?
• What Are The Benefits Of Digital Membership Cards?  
  • They Utilise Modern Technology
  • Digital Membership Cards Can Be Updated For Free
  • Digital Membership Cards Are Cheap
  • They are Better For The Environment
• Digital Membership Cards For Member Check-In
• Can I Customise My Digital Membership Cards?
• How You Can Get Digital Membership Cards For Your Club

What Are Digital Membership Cards? 

Digital membership cards are, as the name very subtly implies, virtual versions of traditional plastic membership cards. They do everything a plastic card does, but they cannot be lost, they display real-time member data, and members can add them straight to their digital wallets for instant access.

Because these cards are a live part of an online system, they change automatically whenever a member's information updates. This means your volunteers are never left looking at outdated details.

A standard digital card displays essential, live-updating information, including:

• Member identity: Full name, member number, and profile photo.
• Status details: Current membership level, region, and expiry date.
• Validation: Scannable barcodes or dynamic QR codes built for live venue tracking.

Digital membership cards are available in the Member Jungle app, in Apple and Google wallets, and can be displayed on smartwatches. Making them an extremely practical go anywhere tool for your organisation. 

Unlike normal plastic cards, these digital versions link directly back to your main database. To see a full breakdown of how these features work, check out Member Jungle Digital Membership Card Features. 

What Are The Benefits Of Digital Membership Cards?  

They Utilise Modern Technology 

The first and most obvious benefit of digital membership cards is that they are digital. Unlike old plastic cards, digital cards cannot be lost, worn down, broken, chewed up by a dog or a baby, set fire to or just generally fall apart from everyday use. Digital membership cards live on your phone. As long as your phone has battery, they will always be accessible. 

The latest research shows clear trends in how Australians use technology: 

• Internet access: 99% of Australian adults have access to the internet.
• Mobile ownership: 97% of Australian adults own a mobile phone.
• Daily usage: 92% of Australians use their phones to go online every single day.

In fact, more people access the internet on their phones than on computers. No matter your club’s age demographics, the vast majority of your members have phones and use them daily. Your members are on their phones, and using digital membership cards puts your club exactly where they are looking.

Digital Membership Cards Can Be Updated For Free

When a member renews their membership or changes their address, the digital card updates instantly. You no longer need to reprint and post a new card when details change, making the process not only so much cheaper but also completely automated. 

Digital Membership Cards Are Cheap

Maintaining a physical card system forces clubs to absorb high recurring fees for designing, printing, and posting cards to members.

• Producing a full-colour, high-quality plastic card with a QR code averages $3.00 to $5.00 AUD per member.
• Factoring in envelopes and postage fees brings the baseline closer to $6.54 AUD per user annually.
• For a mid-sized organisation of 500 members, this equals around $3,270 AUD per year just to issue cards. And that doesn't account for the cost of replacing lost or damaged cards.

Therefore, switching to digital membership cards will help your organisation save a lot of time and money every year. Transitioning to automated software immediately recaptures this budget. For a deeper dive on this, have a look at Why You Need Digital Membership Cards.

They are Better For The Environment

Most physical cards are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). This non-recyclable plastic creates an environmental headache at every stage of its life:

• Toxic Production: Manufacturing PVC releases greenhouse gases and dangerous pollutants, including the carcinogen vinyl chloride.
• Contamination: The chemical byproducts of this production have been shown to enter waterways and the food chain.
• Permanent Waste: Because they cannot be recycled, old plastic cards simply end up in landfills or the ocean, where they will hang around forever.

Transitioning to digital membership cards eliminates this entirely. By going mobile, your club stops contributing to plastic waste, chemical runoff, and landfill, meaning you no longer leave a toxic legacy behind just so Barry can prove he gets 10% off his Tuesday night schitty.

For a more detailed, and I promise not completely depressing, look at the environmental impact of switching digital membership cards, check out Plastic Membership Cards vs. Digital: The Hidden Environmental Cost.

Digital Membership Cards For Checking in at Events

Digital membership cards revolutionise the check-in process at events. You can use the scanner on the Member Jungle mobile app to scan the QR code on your members’ digital membership cards and check them in instantly. The system records their attendance in real time within your system. It makes the whole process extremely quick and easy, and ensures you have an accurate record of how attended and when. 

For more information on how these easy check-ins work, have a look at Easy Member Check-In Software For Your Club.

If you run a licensed venue where you want to use membership cards with your POS system to make tracking discounts easier, have a look at Digital Membership Cards, POS Systems and Your Licensed Club.

Can I Customise My Digital Membership Cards?

Your digital membership cards should look like they actually belong to your club. They need your logo, your colours, and to reflect your organisation's specific style.

Member Jungle allows you to customise your cards so they are a true reflection of your club. Depending on your budget, there is a wide range of options available to you, from free design tweaks to completely custom-configured cards.

Here is a breakdown of the costs and customisation for each tier: 

 

In short, Standard Designed cards are your entry-level option, Custom Designed cards prioritise form to give you the best-looking results, and Custom Configured cards prioritise function by displaying highly specialised information. 

For a look at these customisation options in much more detail, have a look at How To Create Membership Cards.

The Bottom Line on Digital Membership Cards

If you are skimming this while trying to eat your lunch and balance the club books, here are the core takeaways:

• They save the club money: You instantly stop wasting upwards of $6.50 a year per member on printing, envelopes, and postage for plastic cards that just get lost anyway.
• They save you time: When a member renews or moves house, their digital card updates automatically. You never have to manually reprint or post a replacement again.
• They are actually used: Because they sit directly in Apple or Google Wallets, members have them on hand at all times.
• They speed up event check-ins: You can scan a member's dynamic QR code at the door to get them out of the queue and into the venue instantly.
• They are better for the environment: Ditching non-recyclable PVC plastic means your organisation immediately shrinks its environmental footprint.
• They fit your brand: You can customise the cards as much or as little as your budget allows, ranging from free colour swaps to fully tailored layouts.

How You Can Get Digital Membership Cards For Your Club

Member Jungle’s digital membership cards are built directly into our all-in-one membership management system to make running your organisation easier. To see exactly how the wider system works, check out The Big Questions Answered.

If the thought of prying a laminated membership card out of your members’ hands fills you with dread, read How To Transition Your Club From Plastic Cards To Digital Ones. It covers exactly how to roll out the new technology gently, ensuring your members actually get on board without a mutiny at the next AGM.