InVentry - Support Renewal

[MYK-IT]

Hi All,

 

Back in 2019, we purchased an Inventry system (e.g. Touch Screen with barcode scanner), SIMS Integration with 3-year support cover and a few months later 3x QuickScan units.

 

Our support cover is now up for renewal, and I'm interested in what others have done similarly when their InVentry support renewal was due?

 

I ask this, as our renewal quotation has 2 elements.

First, is for another 3-year Secondary Full Bundle; covering SIMS Integration, InVentry Anywhere and maintenance/support (NDB touchscreen support, online ZenDesk, telephone support and remote dial in). This, I am happy with.

 

The second part though, is for new hardware (e.g. new Touchscreen, and either replacement or extended support of the existing label printer and barcode scanner). Note, this option DOES NOT extend to, or provide extended warranty for our existing (3) QuickScan units. However, I was advised that we could buy the newer QuickScan units for £950 each, with a £150 trade-in per every legacy QuickScan unit replaced.

 

I am all for ensuring that hardware is replaced appropriately to ensure compatibility, support, performance etc, but this would effectively be replacing the whole InVentry system (especially if we upgrade the QuickScan units also) every 3-years! And performance wise, I doubt the current TouchScreen is being stretched performance wise!

 

I appreciate the alternative is to continue using the current hardware, with the understanding that if a physical fault occurs we would have to meet the costs of replacing it; but would appreciate feedback from other InVentry users with the same predicament.

 

Thanks,

 

Thanks,

Edited August 24, 2022 by MYK-IT

[psydii]

I would only be happy to upgrade the new hardware if the software platform (windows) was going to stop being supported on the old hardware in the lifetime of the support contract.

 

I haven't looked too closely but their 2019 card readers appear to be running some form of Windows CE. Perhaps the newer ones are running a more recent platform and yours (and mine tbh) are actually currently unsupported?

 

The head unit we have is running an 2016 LTSB branch of windows 10, so that wouldn't need replacing on renewal this year, but would in three years time.

[MYK-IT]

I would only be happy to upgrade the new hardware if the software platform (windows) was going to stop being supported on the old hardware in the lifetime of the support contract.

 

I haven't looked too closely but their 2019 card readers appear to be running some form of Windows CE. Perhaps the newer ones are running a more recent platform and yours (and mine tbh) are actually currently unsupported?

 

The head unit we have is running an 2016 LTSB branch of windows 10, so that wouldn't need replacing on renewal this year, but would in three years time.

 

Our Touchscreen has Windows 10 1507 LTSB, so will receive updates / extended support until 14/10/2025 therefore would be supported (for non-hardware issues) if we went with software-only support with InVentry for another 3-years.

 

I presume if we got a new Touchscreen that will come with LTSC; but if 21H1 variant (as opposed to 1809) that would only be supported until 12/01/2025 (e.g. overall 5-years) meaning in 3-years time, we would have to renew the hardware again as there would only be ~15 months of mainstream support left.

 

And none of this is taking into account the costs / replacement of the QuickScan units, which as you mentioned are Windows CE! (Official mainstream support ended 09/10/2018, extended support ends 10/10/2023) So perhaps I should replace the QuickScan Uinits this time around, then the TouchScreen next time around (in 3-years time!)

 

(I've noted that the newer QuickScan Touch units run on Android 8.0, which appears to had received its last security patch back in January 2021; with (8.1) scheduled EoL 30/04/2021)

Edited August 24, 2022 by MYK-IT

[howartp]

We went through this about 3 months ago.

 

1) I opted against the system refresh, just opting for the renewal. (And wasn't told about the QuickScan units)

2) Our printer packed up a month later, and the main touchscreen/PC started crashing at nightly reboot.

3) So we bought the system-refresh retrospectively.

4) That's when I found out about the QuickScans, so I subsequently ordered them as they sounded much better units.

5) I had to pay for the call-out to do the install, which if I'd known about when I ordered the refresh I'd have done in one visit

6) The mifare scanner is now on the side of the QuickScan, so it takes 2-3 attempts to slap your card at it when walking past

7) I had to chase the £150 rebate - it finally arrived yesterday.