A Scandinavian Approach to Business, Rooted in the Philippines
Founded in 2012, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (NordCham) was built with a clear purpose: to strengthen economic and professional ties between the Nordic region and the Philippines. Operating at the intersection of Nordic values—transparency, sustainability, innovation—and Philippine economic potential, NordCham represents over 120 companies, serving as a business enabler and policy voice for its member community.
With a growing portfolio of business events, sustainability forums, advocacy campaigns, and member services, NordCham operates as a central hub for Nordic-Philippine business collaboration. But as the chamber expanded its scope and visibility, the administrative load tied to manual processes and disjointed tools became unsustainable.
Operational Efficiency Needed to Match Strategic Ambitions
Prior to Glue Up, NordCham managed event registration, membership communication, invoicing, and renewals using a mix of spreadsheets, email platforms, and external ticketing tools. Each function lived in a separate system, requiring manual syncing and cross-checking that stretched an already lean team.
"There were a lot of manual tasks," said Maan Yu, Business Partnerships and Events Manager. "Before Glue Up, we used Eventbrite, Mailchimp, Excel, and even a printed book at one point. Everything was disjointed."
The team needed more than software. They needed a unified operating system that could scale alongside the chamber’s strategic goals, without creating additional overhead.
Consolidation of Platforms Reduced Friction and Saved Time
One of the most immediate benefits of implementing Glue Up’s Association Management Software was the consolidation of fragmented processes. Tasks that previously required coordination across multiple systems, like sending event invites, issuing invoices, and tracking payments—could now be handled in one place.
NordCham staff reported significant time savings:
Event setup that used to take several hours now takes less than one.
Weekly email campaigns and reminders can be built, scheduled, and tracked from within the platform.
Membership renewals are automated with smart reminders and easy payment links.
"Now we don’t need to go to four or five different platforms. Glue Up makes it easier for us to execute our work with a smaller team," said Yu.
Membership Experience Became Simpler and More Professional
With a centralized member portal, NordCham now offers members a better digital experience:
Members can register for events, pay dues, and download invoices independently.
Engagement is tracked in real time, helping staff spot trends and follow up strategically.
Mobile access ensures that busy professionals can interact with the chamber on their schedule.
"The onboarding was relatively smooth," Yu added. "The customer service was really helpful, and the learning curve was much lower than we expected."
Actionable Insights and Executive Visibility
Glue Up’s reporting tools give NordCham’s leadership better oversight without extra administrative effort. From event performance to financials, the team can now generate insights with a few clicks. This has helped:
Prepare board updates faster.
Identify high-performing events.
Spot churn risk early through membership data.
"We can monitor engagement through Glue Up. It helps us see what topics work well, and that helps inform our planning," Yu said.
A Platform That Frees Up Strategic Capacity
Most importantly, the shift to Glue Up has allowed the chamber to focus on what matters: building stronger member relationships, expanding advocacy efforts, and delivering value through programming.
"The efficiency we’ve gained allows us to focus more on members and programs. It gives us time to be strategic instead of getting stuck in the day-to-day."
What’s Next for NordCham?
With more digital foundations in place, the chamber is now focused on scaling its programs and regional influence. New partnerships, expanded ESG initiatives, and deeper member engagement are all on the roadmap.
And with a system that grows with them, they’re positioned to lead with efficiency, agility, and impact.
Want to see how Glue Up supports chambers like NordCham? Book a demo today and explore the platform built for modern membership organizations.
