With 2023 “in the books”, we reflect on a year characterized by exceptional growth and shared success. We also anticipate a pivotal event in 2024 - the 40th Anniversary of Arbiter. I am grateful to each of you for your role in helping us reach this milestone. Your trust in our solutions has been steadfast, and your ideas have guided our relentless pursuit of innovation.
Some key milestones from 2023 have laid the groundwork for what promises to be an exciting 2024.
Partnerships Shaping Our Success
We have built the relationships to seamlessly integrate with your trusted vendors, like GoFan, MaxPreps, and the NFHS Network, simplifying your sports management. Our aim is to empower you with an integrated system that enhances efficiency, reducing manual work, and making sports administration hassle-free.
- In 2023, we added or renewed twelve relationships with State Associations, reaching tens of thousands of users/families; reinforcing our commitment to delivering seamless game management and unparalleled customer service nationwide.
- Our partnership with SquadLocker expanded our fan engagement offerings, adding custom apparel and fan gear. Together with GoFan and NFHS Network, we have created a convenient, one-stop destination within Arbiter Live, where fans and families can access schedules, digital tickets, streaming and spirit wear.
Innovation Inspired by You
Your suggestions and feedback, referred to as “Customer Love” at Arbiter, are the driving forces behind our innovative strides, ensuring our developments are not just for you, they are inspired by you. A few important highlights of 2023 include:
- Introduction of several new statewide solutions to improve visibility and management across all member schools, including the management of student transfers.
- USSF integration transformed the administration of official certifications and assignments, streamlining processes for efficiency.
- Paying officials and event workers became even easier with our ArbiterSports mobile app update. If you have not downloaded our app yet, you can do so here: Apple iOS or Google Play.
Dedicated to Safety and Compliance
Our commitment at Arbiter to consistently reinforce security and compliance throughout our solutions ensures the highest standards of safety and reliability for our users.
- Implemented Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users, adding an extra layer of protection to all accounts.
- Successfully completed a comprehensive SOC2 Type 2 Audit of our applications, systems, and operations. This rigorous assessment underlines our adherence to the highest standards of compliance and data security.
- Deployed state-of-the-art Monitoring and Detection services across our devices, networks, and cloud environments. Ensuring robust defense mechanisms are in place to safegaurd our infrastructure from potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Committed to Your Success
We work hard to build software that is intuitive and easy to use, but sometimes users need a little assistance to get technology to do what they need. To help in that end, we proudly stand as the only company in our industry offering real-time customer phone and chat support, with over 20 agents standing by to answer your questions.
- Introduced Live Chat for immediate assistance, complementing our existing real-time agents via phone and email support services.
- Launched a new Customer Success Website, improving access to resources and offering transparency in support ticket tracking.
- Efficiently on boarded over 1,220 new customers, demonstrating our commitment to prompt and effective service.
Recognizing Our Team Milestones
The heart of ArbiterSports lies in our extraordinary team members. We now employ over 110 employees, primarily operating out of Salt Lake City, but with representation across 25 states.
- “Giving back” is central to who we are as an organization. Our team devoted over 300 community service hours and donated 250 socks and 100 backpacks to community initiatives.
- We welcomed 35 new full-time employees as we continue to grow.
- For the third year in a row, we were recognized as a “Top Workplace” in the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Celebrating Four Decades of Innovation and Excellence
We eagerly anticipate kicking off the momentous occasion of our 40th Anniversary at our upcoming Huddle Event in Utah this February. This customer appreciation event/celebration, reuniting our state partners for the first time since 2020, promises to be a memorable occasion. I look forward to sharing the highlights and key insights from this event with you.
Looking ahead in 2024, here is a glimpse at what is to come:
- Enhancing Arbiter Registration with an advanced Injury Management feature.
- Building even more powerful state solutions to further enhance the state experience.
- Long awaited updates for our officials and workers on the go, using our ArbiterSports app.
- Continuing to expand and strengthen our team, ensuring top-tier service.
As we were taking my daughter, Ava, back to Tulane this weekend for the second half of her junior year, while simultaneously working with my son, Luke, on college applications and finishing high school, I reflected on the chaos that is our personal and professional lives. We are all in a constant state of juggling obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes success is measured simply by making it through the day.
It is with this understanding of life's complexity that Arbiter’s team works to deliver software that eliminates some of this chaos in your lives. We have been doing our best to “fulfill this mission” since 1984 and we appreciate your willingness to have taken this ride with us.
Thank you for your business and happy new year!
Sincerely,
Kyle Ford, CEO