Progresso - Pros and Cons please

[NotSoFast]

The other thing that I've found is that a lot of the time you don't need a 'report' for simple data. You just need to show people how to sort and filter the people list, then print or export.

[djrscally]

Nope never seen that in our version... where is that located?

It's an additional module that you have to buy so it won't appear unless you get them to assign it to your school. Actually I think in the next release (I think, could have gotten the release date wrong) they're finishing the on screen reporting thing which is supposed to be like a much simpler, easier to use reporting engine so staff without the skills for SSRS can get custom lists out and things - that'll probably help rather than the Analytics module (which is still fairly technical, even if moderately easier than SSRS)

 

Also, this is really true. The majority of people can get all they need by adding extra columns to the learner list:

 

The other thing that I've found is that a lot of the time you don't need a 'report' for simple data. You just need to show people how to sort and filter the people list, then print or export.

[crocco_john]

It's an additional module that you have to buy so it won't appear unless you get them to assign it to your school. Actually I think in the next release (I think, could have gotten the release date wrong) they're finishing the on screen reporting thing which is supposed to be like a much simpler, easier to use reporting engine so staff without the skills for SSRS can get custom lists out and things - that'll probably help rather than the Analytics module (which is still fairly technical, even if moderately easier than SSRS)

 

Also, this is really true. The majority of people can get all they need by adding extra columns to the learner list:

 

 

Thanks going to go and ask the bosses why we haven't got that part

[bigdannyb79]

it isnt that great tbf - there's a reason not a lot is made of it. The datasets within it are somewhat limited which in turn limits its usefulness. Priority for dev has been reporting engine and oftb reports so it hasnt been developed. One for the future I'd say . . .

 

If you really want to endlessly slice and dice your data pull the data down via the API and plug it straight into microsoft BI - you can ask @djrscally about the fun you can have then and your not getting the data sets dictated to you.

[TraylerD]

Morning all, we're due to be starting work on our transfer from CMIS to Progresso for go live in September, unfortunately our area seems to be getting through Account Managers so fast we've not met any of them since we originally began discussing the project in 2015.

 

We've asked on numerous occasions about who we could visit to see Progresso in a school in the flesh but never get an answer, wondered if any of you that have it are based in the North London or Essex areas?

[NotSoFast]

We're in Norfolk but you'd be welcome!

[CMLG]

Trayler D - my friend works at a school in Chelmsford and they are moving over to Progresso in April.... but they probably need a bit of time before they could show you the system.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Trayler D - my friend works at a school in Chelmsford and they are moving over to Progresso in April.... but they probably need a bit of time before they could show you the system. I'm going to tell her about this thread - she's depressed about losing SIMS already!

[Ditto]

We're in Surrey just inside M25 - about 80-90 minutes away from Barking. Happy for you to visit. We are primary and secondary. I presume you have advanced consultants built in to the project to help with the migration?

[bigdannyb79]

Morning all, we're due to be starting work on our transfer from CMIS to Progresso for go live in September, unfortunately our area seems to be getting through Account Managers so fast we've not met any of them since we originally began discussing the project in 2015.

 

We've asked on numerous occasions about who we could visit to see Progresso in a school in the flesh but never get an answer, wondered if any of you that have it are based in the North London or Essex areas?

 

I've been there and done this - if they arent supporting you in starting the processs now I wouldn't be doing it. But then I wouldn't be migrating to Progresso given the state of the product, performance & reliability and support.

 

There's a fair bit to do and while other schools can help you with the familiarisation stage the transition really needs AL on it.

[TraylerD]

Thanks all for the offers. My SLT link has been attempting to get in touch to organise a face to face meeting after we managed to contact a progresso school that made the transfer a few years back and some honest feedback has left us slightly worried. If the meeting settles his nerves and we decide to go ahead i'll no doubt be sending some of you lovely people a message to ask for a visit.

 

Thanks again

[bigdannyb79]

When we did it I had just recruited somebody from advanced so we had as much knowledge in house as AL did tbf and it was still a lot of work to get all the data cleansed and into progresso. we had the capacity for me and a data officer to keep other things running and have a dedicated person dealing with the migration so we certainly didn't unresource it ! Interestingly we saw bugger all of our 'project manager' as well and then one day our Deputy Head received an accusatory email suggesting we weren't fulfilling our requirements for migration on the planned date ! We were chasing them left right and center just like you - I should have seen the signs . . .

[NotSoFast]

Well, for balance, our migration was pretty painless (from Facility). I think our data was in reasonable shape, and we also weren't worried about bringing historical behaviour and assessment stuff, so I suppose that simplified matters. Having said that, is any migration easy if you want to bring all that across, regardless of MIS?

[bigdannyb79]

I agree no migration is easy so it takes time to ensure you get it right - hence why I was saying if your not getting contact its worrying ! And yeah if you not bringing in behaviour or assessment you can pretty much do it with a CTF. But you still need to build new behaviour & assessment models and thats before you start looking at widgets/reports etc to try and get some added value out of the system on day 1.

 

All depends if you want to hit the ground running or not and if I was launching a new MIS I'd want some wins on day 1 to get the buy in. We didnt manage that and trust me the 'Regresso' or 'depresso' tag sticks - rightly or wrongly.

[Dos_Box]

Hi all,

 

I feel it would be useful , as a reminder to new and more established members, to explain how we handle commercial use of the forums.

We operate a system where forum sponsors are the only ones who can use the forums in a commercial capacity.

Whilst we do encourage non-sponsoring companies to contribute and help members with their problems in a strict non-commercial capacity this can sometimes be a fine line to tread as we must uphold the agreement we have with our sponsors.

As such, in instances such as this thread it would be very hard for a commercial entity to add to it without it getting commercial very quickly.

 

Our policy has always been to allow members to ask for other members' opinions on products or services. In the main this ensures that those at the sharp end get the advice from those actively using them and so far this thread has actually been quite balanced as we would expect.

The way Edugeek operates has come about with over a decade's experience (sometimes hard learnt) on trying to keep things as balanced as can be.

No system is ever perfect but we feel that the way we currently operate is about as good as it can be and compromises always lead to other compromises.

 

When the new site arrives we do plan to offer more facilities for companies to become involved with the EduGeek community, but until that happens (and we have made sure such facilities work as we would want them to) we can't say any more on the matter.

Edited March 31, 2017 by Dos_Box

[coconurtaler]

I agree it would be better if you don't want historical behaviour or assessment but as we are migrating mid academic year we are trying to bring this year's data over. However today it is painfully slow......

[Lissydoll4]

Hi

Could I ask you about progresso we are within m25 and fairly new users but just having issue after issue and would just like some advice/support

 

Thanks

[NotSoFast]

Hi

Could I ask you about progresso we are within m25 and fairly new users but just having issue after issue and would just like some advice/support

 

Thanks

Of course. Ask away, and feel free to pm me.

[Ditto]

Likewise, just inside M25 and happy to take PMs too. You're welcome to visit if it helps. Are you at a primary or secondary? We are all-through Google Suite school too so have a fairly broad experience base.

[SimonHooker]

I don't suppose any of you have made much use of the REST API yet have you? My current integration with Progresso utilises the older slower SOAP API, contemplating moving whatever I can over to the REST API so was curious to hear if anyone else had used it yet!

[Green_Eggs_No_Ham]

We're currently on Facility and had a quick demo of Progresso this week. I', bearing in mind that there are pros and cons to any MIS but as a MAT we're really interested in a MAT-type overview of the data - the ability to look at what's going on at a school without having to remote in or phone them.

I get the feeling that Progresso is the only one at the moment that does this - am I right in thinking this? Does the SIMS cloud thing that they're launching next year plan to do something similar?

Thanks folks.

[TraylerD]

Following this with interest, we began talks to move to Progresso a couple of years ago but due to various factors the work kept being delayed until we eventually put a stop to it all. We're now in a position where we're going to start weighing up options and are hoping to visit London Oratory (advised by our Advanced account manager, presumably they're nearest school to us using Progresso) next week to see it in use

[Green_Eggs_No_Ham]

I think that (well I know that) a couple of years ago Progresso was a very different product to what it is now and the move from Serco to Advanced has made a big difference to the way they do things. I think it's all mostly positive change. Our account manager mentioned a MAT in London that he said was successfully using Progresso but maybe they're not in your part of London (we're Midlands) or maybe that school was more similar to us and London Oratory might be more similar to you.

 

With it being hosted, how do people find it's performance (in recent times, not like, two years ago, please)? I wonder about this sometimes but then also I have to bear in mind that using Facility that contains a lot of (historic) data and on a network that's in an old building is not the zippiest thing in the world either so it's all relative.

[NotSoFast]

Performance is fine for us. Just not an issue.

[TraylerD]

Our move from Secondary to All Through (in stages) was the biggest issue with our planned migration, followed by new buildings interrupting our workload. We asked for years to visit Progresso schools and were always told Dartmouth Academy, knew there were nearer but this was always the preferred school to visit. Being in Barking, East London this was far to big a distance

[SimonRushton]

We use the REST API to integrate with

 

Adaptive Learning System (RealizeIt - you almost certainly won't have heard of it but it's worth a look)

A Learning Platform (HERO - again you probably won't have heard of it but if your school has an interest in any of competency/skills/enquiry/project/problem-based learning then it will be of relevance)

People HR.

 

In the first two cases the supplier did the work in the latter we contracted with an independent third party specialist. All three integrations are working well although the People HR one has not gone live (nothing to do with the API). The independent third party was very efficient, flexible, and cheap!

 

Next in line are integrations with; HCSS Finance (FMS competitor fairly new to the market), possibly MyConcern, Inventry, Room Booking +, for now.