MIS choice: Bromcom/Double First

[GarlicSnails]

Hi,

 

We have been using e1 for several years and now that it is being withdrawn as of September 2014 we have shortlisted 2 possible replacements:

Bromcom and Double First Engage.

Would really appreciate any feedback if you have experience of using one of these systems in your school.

 

Many thanks!

 

[GREED]

I would love to comment but have only spoken to people at both companies never seen the products. Interesting Double First entering the mainstream market now... very interesting.

 

John Condon from Bromcom is often on here I'm sure he can say something (without violating the sponsorship rules!) And there are users of Bromcom here too.

 

Good luck

[speckytecky]

I'm interested why @GarlicSnails isn't looking at SIMS?

[GarlicSnails]

Thanks everyone,

Believe me it wasn’t easy to reach our final shortlist of 2. We considered other MIS on the market (including SIMS – sorry speckytecky ) and they are all legitimate solutions depending on what you are looking for. Bromcom and DoubleFirst were the ones that best met the criteria we defined for our school’s needs.

We browsed other forum threads to try to gauge the temperature out there but couldn't find any recent posts and the sector moves so fast (or at least we like to think so!) that we were hoping for some 'new' news?

 

Snails

[tben2505]

Are you an independant school?

 

Hi,

 

We have been using e1 for several years and now that it is being withdrawn as of September 2014 we have shortlisted 2 possible replacements:

Bromcom and Double First Engage.

Would really appreciate any feedback if you have experience of using one of these systems in your school.

 

Many thanks!

 

[GarlicSnails]

Yes, we're an independent school but follow the national curriculum.

[GREED]

Interesting

[GREED]

But perhaps not appropriate for this topic as it has nothing to do with the question...

[PhilNeal]

We decided to withdraw and contract directly with schools!!

[GREED]

We decided to withdraw and contract directly with schools!!

 

Indeed, it makes a bit of a mockery of a tender such as this from LAs. There is huge expense in winning a contract such as this, with zero guaranteed return because ultimately the schools can do what they want anyway. Obviously, or I would assume, the LA as a result will only be offering local support for Bromcom and AL? This is how they would entice schools to migrate to their preferred choices. Nice that you will be able to offer a direct support model!

[GREED]

I and perhaps others appreciate you explanation. I don't think you addressed my point, which is the LA was forced to re procure as all are, and this process has only been a process to facilitate showing some MIS solutions to their schools. Schools are free to make their own choice regardless, however the council will either remove all MIS local support and push for direct supplier support, or will retrain their staff with skills in the 2 main supplier systems. They cannot and will not support any and all solutions. And so there is a subliminal push from the LA particularly to schools who rely on that local support to adopt on of those solutions. Unfortunately it has always been that way. So true choice is a subjective term, particularly if you just 'won' the contract!

 

BTW, I'm not pointing fingers, certainly not at the LA they have to do what they have to do with limited budgets. This is a general point about the revolution in MIS procurement.

[Bromcom-PR]

So true choice is a subjective term, particularly if you just 'won' the contract!

 

I probably know what you mean, but just to make sure technically we keep the accuracy for all readers:

 

1. All five listed MIS Suppliers "won" the contract on the Framework- hence and as listed in the OJEU Award Notice.

2. But it was Bromcom that "won" the lion share of the business within the Framework.

 

LAs with Pearson e1 MIS:

A number of LAs with Pearson e1 running in their schools are also trying their own different way procurment process to address the withdrawal of e1 from the market.

 

Yes, we will definetly see more evolutionary procurement process for MIS in 2014.

[matt40k]

@GREED we both know schools look for the LA for advise, if every school did independently look at every MIS product out there nothing would get done!! The DfE framework was them basically them say, hey, these companies\products are OK and pretty much the same. I'd be interested in what MIS system the LA choose (which sucks the data from the schools).

[GREED]

Are there that many choices? Even fewer decent choices... nudging Matt in the side as per previous conversations!!!

[GREED]

Also, I fully agree and support they way this process supporting gathering schools to look at suppliers in a focused set of sessions, think that is great because yes (Matt) it would be a lot of work and things would move slowly.

[matt40k]

Are there that many choices? Even fewer decent choices... nudging Matt in the side as per previous conversations!!!

 

I think that's one of the reasons why it's not nearer the top of list of things to do, still it's on the list and it's going to get sorted. So till then the fire fighting will have to continue and hopefully someone will step up.

Edited December 12, 2013 by matt40k

[GREED]

if you could only see my face right now.... too many winks im having a siezure...

[matt40k]

ROFL!! Let's hope you can spread the bug about a bit. Could be interesting when you've got a room full of suppliers all winking at you!! Still be even worse when they start talking prices and we start at £0 and supplier winks - not quite sure what the policy is exchanging services for "other services", I suspect it's not positive. Should make interesting Friday conversation in the Christmas jumper wearing office

[GREED]

I'll be sure to resurrect this thread or part of it in good time...

[HWSWB]

Hi

Have you decided yet?

I'm interested because we are in a similar postition and have shortlisted 2 of which BromCom is one

We are finding it very difficult to decide between the 2 and am keen to know what has made others choose their final option

 

Regards