Supporting an Association Through Transformational Growth | International Biometric Society (IBS)

The Situation

The International Biometric Society is a global scientific society with a federated structure spanning 39 regions across multiple continents. Bostrom has managed IBS for more than three decades, a partnership that has outlasted multiple leadership transitions, technology platform generations, and significant shifts in the scientific society landscape.

The Challenge

Operational complexity was standing in the way of growth. IBS’s highly nuanced pricing structures, global attendance considerations, and federated membership model created friction across core systems: conference registration, awards administration, and membership management all needed fundamental redesign. Membership had stagnated. The systems in place were creating barriers rather than removing them, and volunteer leaders were spending time chasing deadlines and fixing manual errors instead of advancing the organization’s mission.

The Approach

Bostrom managed the investment in modernizing IBS’s technology infrastructure, implementing purpose-built platforms for conference registration and awards administration that leverage automation, analytics, and AI-driven recommendations. Registration was redesigned to open earlier, adapt to different attendee types, and capture meaningful data without creating friction. Awards and grants were consolidated into a centralized portal with automated communications and standardized workflows that freed volunteers from administrative burden.

“The processes are clearer, faster, and more consistent. As a volunteer, that makes it much easier to focus on delivering quality programming and a great attendee experience.” — Iris Pigeot, Immediate Past President and IBC 2026 Conference Chair

The Outcomes

• Membership reversed years of stagnation and now grows 5–6% year over year
• Awards applications grew by more than 30%
• Conference attendance nearly doubled, with the 2026 International Biometric Conference (IBC) drawing 955 attendees — up from 491 just four years earlier
• Non-member attendance more than doubled over the same period, signaling growing reach beyond the Society’s core base
• Volunteer leadership experience measurably improved, with clearer, faster, and more consistent processes across programs

IBC Conference Growth

 The impact was felt immediately at the volunteer level as well.

About Bostrom

Bostrom is a full-service association management company with nearly a century of experience helping professional associations grow, lead, and evolve. We partner with associations at every stage, from operational management to strategic advisory, to deliver outcomes that matter to members, sponsors, and the profession. Learn more at bostrom.com.