About the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals Association (PRPA)
Founded in 1994, the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals Association (PRPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the public relations and communications profession in Hong Kong. The association connects practitioners through professional development, networking, and recognition programs, including the well-known Hong Kong Public Relations Awards.
PRPA’s membership comprises students, emerging practitioners, and senior leaders, providing a structured community where professionals can share ideas, acquire new skills, and advance their careers. Members participate in year-round workshops, panel discussions, and peer exchanges on topics such as crisis communication, media engagement, and measurement.
Beyond training, PRPA fosters connections through chapter meetups, talent programs, and curated introductions, enabling members to collaborate across industries. The association also supports public relations education and raises professional standards across Hong Kong’s communications field.
To understand how the association modernized its membership, events, and communications, we spoke with Mani Huen, Administrator of PRPA, about how moving to an all-in-one platform improved efficiency and member experience.
Challenges With Legacy Systems and Manual Processes
Before adopting Glue Up, PRPA managed its operations through a collection of disconnected tools that made efficiency difficult to sustain. The team used Microsoft Word for documentation, Excel for tracking membership data and attendance, Outlook for email communication, and Adobe Illustrator for design work. Each function operated in isolation, with no unified data structure.
As membership grew and events multiplied, the manual coordination required across these platforms became a significant constraint. Membership renewals were handled through spreadsheets, event registrations were processed by email, and communications were stored in individual inboxes. Information was often duplicated or outdated, and reporting required hours of manual compilation.
“We had files in different places,” Mani recalled. “Some membership information was in Excel, others in Outlook, and event details in emails. It became hard to manage and easy to lose track.”
The inefficiencies were not simply operational. They affected the member experience as well. Participants faced inconsistent communication, delayed confirmations, and limited visibility into their own engagement history. So, PRPA needed a single, reliable platform that could centralize data, automate key workflows, and create a consistent experience for both administrators and members.
See how Glue Up’s Event Management Software helps organizations improve coordination and reporting.
Why PRPA Selected an All-in-One Membership Platform
PRPA recognized that its operational model needed a complete digital foundation rather than incremental fixes. The leadership team evaluated several options and prioritized a platform that could unify membership management, event logistics, communications, and payments.
“The more our programs expanded, the harder it became to maintain multiple databases,” Mani explained. “We needed a solution that could automate workflows, integrate our processes, and improve accuracy.”
Glue Up offered the functionality and structure the organization required. The AI membership management software combined an integrated CRM, automated event registration, invoicing, and targeted communication tools in one environment. It also provided members with access to a personalized portal, where they could update their profiles, renew their memberships, and register for events independently.
Implementation and Onboarding
Transitioning to a unified system required careful planning. The PRPA team began by auditing all member data, ensuring accuracy before migration. They communicated proactively with members, explaining the benefits of the new system and guiding them through access instructions.
“Change management was critical,” Mani noted. “We focused on transparency, explaining why we were moving to a new platform and how it would make member interactions simpler.”
The team introduced Glue Up in phases. They started with the membership database, followed by event registration and payment modules. This incremental approach enabled staff to test features, resolve feedback promptly, and minimize disruptions to daily operations.
Once fully launched, the improvements were immediate. Members could register online, process payments securely, and access event information without staff intervention. Internally, dashboards provided visibility into attendance, renewals, and income in real-time.
“It made a noticeable difference in our daily work,” Mani shared. “We no longer had to reconcile spreadsheets or send individual confirmations. Everything was automated and traceable.”
Results and Measurable Improvements
The shift to Glue Up produced measurable efficiency gains and a better member experience. PRPA identified four core areas of improvement:
Operational Efficiency
Routine administrative work decreased significantly. Tasks that previously required hours of coordination, such as payment tracking or attendance reporting, were completed automatically.
Streamlined Event Management
Event registration, communication, and tracking are now centralized. Staff can manage the entire process from a single dashboard, improving accuracy and saving valuable time.
Data Integrity and Financial Visibility
Real-time income tracking and automated renewals provide full transparency into membership and event revenue. The team now uses data insights to plan more effectively.
Enhanced Member Engagement
Members enjoy self-service functionality, instant confirmations, and reliable updates. “It’s convenient for both sides,” Mandy said. “Members like having control, and we get accurate information instantly.”
“The integration has created greater efficiency, higher engagement, and more personalized communication,” Mandy concluded. “It has made our association stronger and more connected.”
See how the My Glue App empowers members to stay engaged from anywhere.
Looking Ahead
With Glue Up fully implemented, PRPA is exploring ways to leverage its platform for broader strategic initiatives. The team plans to expand its use into mentorship programs, internal campaigns, and data-driven member insights.
“We are now able to focus on programs that add value instead of spending time on administration,” Mani said. “Our goal is to use the system to build a stronger professional community.”
For PRPA, the adoption of an all-in-one membership platform represents more than an upgrade in technology. It is a structural transformation that has aligned its operations, strengthened relationships, and positioned the organization for long-term scalability.
Modernize Your Membership Operations
PRPA’s success demonstrates how associations can simplify complexity and deliver higher member value through digital integration. If your organization still manages data and communications through separate tools, it may be time for a more unified approach.
