Capita Support for 3rd Party

[pauldredge]

Recently ive been told by a Capita employer that they will no longer support 3rd party when installing a SIMS server. This includes a school that has an SLA contract with Capita support.

 

Does anyone know if this is the case? If it is then what can a 3rd party install? Solus 3? Can they do an SQL migration?

 

Thanks

[synaesthesia]

I've heard similar on the grapevine too but was under the impression it was purely for new SIMS installs. I can't see any reason why they would or should stop anyone else doing S3 or SQL migrations; after all, the documentation to do just those is in the public domain. I very recently migrated a whole server (one of yours actually!) to a new box with a fresh SIMS install and data migration after hardware failure and they've been happy to support that (so I guess that counts as a 3rd party install from a 3rd party provider )

[pauldredge]

I've been told by Capita Northampton that any new install of a SIMS server wont be supported. I've always received support when needed but Capita are now scaring schools by saying they will no longer support them if a 3rd party does the installation of a SIMS server.

[synaesthesia]

Can't say I'm surprised; maybe it's yet another stage in the corporatisation of what's left of our old haunt

[pauldredge]

Its probably to do with the fact I've installed more SIMS servers this past couple of years than Capita have and the ones Capita have installed schools have paid EasiPC for me to go out there and put right due to it being installed incorrectly.

 

They are shooting them selves in the foot as all it'll do is make more schools moved away from SIMS and onto another product.

[hardtailstar]

We have just had a new server for Sims installed and it was done by our external support company whilst capita were on site so not sure how that worked lol

[GREED]

It could be they are saying only technical partners (with a nice shiney certification on their wall!) will be accredited to do this.

 

Pretty sure this isnt the case though as it is hardly rocket science to install SIMS server is it?!

 

This then would says schools would have to pay SIMS when they upgrade or move SIMS to new server... or that is a mahoosive moneymaking scheme!

[synaesthesia]

They are all about the money these days; it's a far shout from what used to be .ICT back in the day.

[GREED]

Personally I'm reserving any judgement until some sort of official confirmation here, everything has been hearsay and from a Capita partner... all of which could be correct, taken out of context or complete tosh!

 

Granted it isn't the first time they have done something like this (Academies re-licence anyone ) but I just don't get that feeling here seems a bit odd.

[synaesthesia]

One of the primary (and many) reasons for an exodus of the technical staff was due to them being put in difficult positions regarding offering schools best value for money, hence why it's quite believable for me.

[GrumbleDook]

It was threatened several times before though, and backed down each time. What happens if you try to negotiate the deal directly with Bedford?

[PhilNeal]

Deleted! Edited November 25, 2014 by PhilNeal

[PhilNeal]

There has been no change of policy on this ever! If you are an independent third party you can ring us on behalf of a school that has contracted you for the support. We will insist that you are on site. You can of course interact in your own right with our desk if you pay the team charge which brings other benefits.

@pauldredge contrary to popular belief on this forum, SIMS' customer base is at least for now growing. I'm not complacent about this however!

[GREED]

Good to know Phil (I think) and thanks for putting an official word to this.

[synaesthesia]

Sounds better. Not always suitable to have the server on site but I suppose that's where the "team charge" bit comes in I suppose.

[PhilNeal]

Reflecting on how this rumour may have started. We can't advise on vitalisation from our desk and many performance problems experienced come down to how resources have been allocated. It could be that we've advised schools to go back to their installer to rectify issues.