04 Dec How Offprem and MuleSoft Helped NAMM Orchestrate Its Digital Transformation
Change is inevitable; but sometimes it doesn’t wait its turn.
When the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) decided to move from Nimble CRM to Salesforce, the team was already in the middle of standing up a new ERP system, NetSuite. On top of that, the annual NAMM Show – the organization’s largest event of the year – was fast approaching. Membership renewals, exhibitor sales, and financial processes all needed to keep moving, even while the systems underneath them were changing.
That’s where MuleSoft came in – and where Offprem helped keep the music playing.
Changing the Instruments Mid-Concert
If you’ve ever watched a live concert, you may have noticed the stage hands – dressed in black – quietly moving in the background. They swap out instruments, tune guitars, adjust the stage configuration, and make sure everything runs smoothly, all without distracting from the audience’s musical experience.
NAMM’s technology environment was much the same.
The team needed to manage simultaneous transitions: deprecating Nimble CRM, standing up Salesforce CRM, and implementing NetSuite for finance and operations. Meanwhile, the live member portal on namm.org still needed to handle sales, membership actions, and payments without disruption.
Offprem’s MuleSoft lead, Michael Tallino, explained it best: “When we started scoping the change in systems with NAMM, it became clear that we needed to plan for stability during the transition. We had to support immediate sync needs so NAMM could live in more than one system at once; we needed an opening number to warm up the crowd before the headliner.”
The challenge wasn’t just connecting systems; it was ensuring business continuity during transformation.
Building Bridges Before Breaking Ground
Offprem partnered with NAMM to take a pragmatic, phased approach using MuleSoft as the integration backbone.
The immediate goal was continuity: keep sales and membership operations live during the conference season. To do that, Offprem designed and implemented tactical MuleSoft integrations between:
- Nimble and Salesforce – so sales and member data could flow to the new CRM in real time.
- Nimble and NetSuite – so finance could reconcile invoices and payments without manual imports.
These bridges gave NAMM breathing room to continue operations without freezing business processes. Once stability was achieved, the strategy evolved from “just connect” to “build for the future.”
From Temporary Fixes to Lasting Foundations
The short-term integrations laid the groundwork for NAMM’s long-term transformation. Using MuleSoft, Offprem began to standardize how NAMM’s systems communicated – turning ad-hoc integrations into reusable assets that could serve multiple systems and experiences.
Today, MuleSoft APIs power the digital foundation of namm.org, enabling:
- Real-time sync between Salesforce and NetSuite for member data, payments, and accounting.
- A modernized member portal that uses APIs to manage renewals, applications, and event registrations.
- Payment and purchase flows for members, vendors, and third-party partners that rely on secure, consistent API endpoints.
- Robust journeys in Marketing Cloud that support NAMM’s marketing efforts in ways they weren’t able to market before; enabling segmented campaigns, automated renewals reminders, event-centric promotions, and integration of CRM/ERP data into those journeys.
As Derek Murphy reflected:
“The transformation wasn’t just about systems; it was about agility. MuleSoft gave NAMM the ability to adapt quickly as new needs and technologies arise.”
Technical Sidebar: What MuleSoft Did for NAMM
While the story of transformation is about people and process, the technology deserves its moment in the spotlight.
Key architectural wins:
- Event-Driven Synchronization: Member companies, contacts, membership updates and orders flow in near real time between Salesforce and NetSuite.
- Secure External Access: Third-party vendors use MuleSoft APIs to transact with NAMM’s systems safely without exposing internal data.
- Scalable Infrastructure: MuleSoft’s CloudHub deployment supports peak traffic during events like the annual NAMM Show.
In short, MuleSoft became NAMM’s universal translator; harmonizing data across old and new systems without missing a beat.
Harmony Through Integration
Every organization faces moments of change. The real measure of success isn’t avoiding disruption; it’s how well you can adapt to it.
NAMM’s story is one of intentional transformation; moving from multiple disconnected systems to an integrated, API-driven ecosystem that can evolve as the organization does. With MuleSoft as the connective tissue and Offprem as the strategic guide, NAMM didn’t just replace systems; it orchestrated them.
Change may be inevitable, but chaos doesn’t have to be. With the right integration strategy, even the biggest system shifts can harmonize like music.
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is a not-for-profit association that strengthens the global music products industry and promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music. Its annual NAMM Show connects manufacturers, retailers, and artists from around the world.
About Offprem
Offprem Technology is a Salesforce and MuleSoft Partner that helps organizations simplify complex systems through thoughtful integration, automation, and cloud strategy. We build solutions that make technology work in harmony with business goals.
Need help with your system transformation and integrations? Contact Offprem today