[sims] SIMs Writeback Costs

[Steve21]

Afternoon All,

 

We're looking at trying to optimise a few processes for changes coming up in GPDR and one of the things we hope to do would need SIMs writeback to work.

 

Does anyone know how much it costs to get access to this? Is there a difference in pricing if a school buys it directly, or whether it's added onto another product like Salamander etc?

 

(I'm assuming it'd be too easy for Capita to offer schools a free one right?!? )

 

Thanks,

Steve

[matt40k]

Surely SIMS will be updated to meet GPDR requirements. Best speak with David Grashoff @ Capita regarding SIMS API costs, also it's worth speaking with Rich @ SalamanderSoft if your already using it just to see if he could add support for your solution.

[Steve21]

It's not the SIMs side that needs updating, just removing processes we do for things like manual form consents etc to get updated automatically in SIMs, or auto uploading photos etc etc (many ideas!)

 

Aye will give them a shout

 

Thanks,

Steve

[mavhc]

http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/files/sims/downloads/school_development_partner_scheme.pdf £2500/year

[Steve21]

Aye I saw that link but thought it must be the wrong one, as none of the other products we have that can writeback to SIMs (Behaviour stuff etc etc) cost £2.5k in total >.<

 

Think it's time to poke Salamander and see the cost of adding bits onto theirs

 

Thanks,

Steve

[Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun]

I've been looking for someone to automate the import of assessment data into SIMS for years. The cheapest anyone has ever quoted me to automate the import of an assessment manager result file (i.e. an XML with all the required information about what aspect/result set to attach the results to) was £15,000

If you find anyone willing to import ad-hock pieces of data into SIMS I'd certainly be interested.

[Banjo]

I don't think it comes cheap, hence why not that many 3rd party apps have write back functionality. Maybe Phil can give you the answer before he takes up his new role.

[mavhc]

Aye I saw that link but thought it must be the wrong one, as none of the other products we have that can writeback to SIMs (Behaviour stuff etc etc) cost £2.5k in total >.<

 

Think it's time to poke Salamander and see the cost of adding bits onto theirs

 

Thanks,

Steve

 

That's because they're selling more than 1 copy though.

 

Meanwhile: We have been asked many times for RESTful API access to the current version of SIMS. There is no plan to make these available for the current version but they are central to our plans for the next generation of SIMS; interfaces will be based on common place industry protocols with the aim of reducing partner development costs.

[Michael]

All I will say is other MIS systems do offer full API access for free, you typically just need to register. There's no real justification charging £2.5K a year.

[FN-GM]

Capita don't really care about the schools or customers all they care about is money. The development of SIMS being so behind the times compared to modern products reflects this. Edited September 25, 2017 by FN-GM

[PhilNeal]

Capita don't charge schools to use the APIs for their own purposes. Commercial companies that is a different matter.

With regards assessment data it couldn't be easier to import from spreadsheets.

[mavhc]

How does one go about getting documentation on these APIs?

[PhilNeal]

I think it's on the public web site but you can contact partner team.

[David_Grashoff]

Anyone wanting more information on SIMS writeback please contact me directly at [email protected]

[Michael]

Capita don't charge schools to use the APIs for their own purposes. Commercial companies that is a different matter.

With regards assessment data it couldn't be easier to import from spreadsheets.

 

That is somewhat mis-leading though. If a school buy into a company made product (targeted at schools), they are indirectly paying for it.

[FN-GM]

That is somewhat mis-leading though. If a school buy into a company made product (targeted at schools), they are indirectly paying for it.

 

Companies even charge more on top for write back.

[Edu-IT]

That is somewhat mis-leading though. If a school buy into a company made product (targeted at schools), they are indirectly paying for it.

But that’s a commercial product that in turn is writing back not something the school has created entirely for itself.

[FN-GM]

But that’s a commercial product that in turn is writing back not something the school has created entirely for itself.

 

In the end its still the school paying the price.

[Michael]

The point is, if other companies can offer this functionality for free, why can't Capita? Schools are already paying a healthy amount on the MIS itself.

 

It's like buying a car, and charging drivers extra to put it in reverse.

[FN-GM]

It's like buying a car, and charging drivers extra to put it in reverse.

 

The driver can put it into reverse for free, but anyone else has to pay!

[matt40k]

Meanwhile: We have been asked many times for RESTful API access to the current version of SIMS. There is no plan to make these available for the current version but they are central to our plans for the next generation of SIMS; interfaces will be based on common place industry protocols with the aim of reducing partner development costs.

 

Might want to look at assembly. @Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun - Feel free to pay me a referral fee

[Edu-IT]

In the end its still the school paying the price.

Yes. But the company will be making some £ too.

 

Perhaps putting a price on it prevents someone from ‘messing up’ the database as I assume there are rules and guidelines in place.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Edu-IT

[matt40k]

Perhaps putting a price on it prevents someone from ‘messing up’ the database as I assume there are rules and guidelines in place.

 

Kinda missing the point of the API. You can do no more damage via the front end then via the API. I think the Assembly idea is the best way forward - stick a lovely Restful api on from of the old legacy MIS system - best bit is you can swap your MIS in and out without completely re-writing your application to work with the API. Plus is dirt cheap.