Trustmarque (formerly Capita, formerly Ramesys) dropping school customers

[DavR]

I tried to get some pricing this week from Trustmarque, our usual licensing provider, only to get the following statement in response;

 

Trustmarque is delivering growth in all core public sector verticals (Government & Healthcare) and is going to continue to invest its core technology practices in these domains, with further growth and acquisitions expected. Whilst we have over 50 large Higher Education customers and MATs, we will do not expect to grow our technology offerings into a heavily transactional and condensing Lower Education market for secondary and primary schools. Therefore, the plan is to reduce our footprint in this space, we will no-bid/decline to quote for licensing renewals for individual schools, and only focus on supporting core key accounts, MATS and higher education licensing customers.

 

Basically, they're doing very well thank you, and no longer wish to trade with small customers like us anymore. I'm not annoyed as such, just very surprised. I guess the margins are just too small.

 

Any suggestions as to replacement licensing providers? We're looking for either a new OVS or move to M365, and also Veeam licensing.

[elsiegee40]

They have more hope of locking the big boys into long, expensive contracts. Cynical? Moi?

[Oaktech]

Oh well, time to vote with your feet.

 

Millgate were always good for us. Always got good advice out of them.

[Andycat]

Millgate here too.

[Arthur]

Phoenix, Millgate, VeryPC, Nviron, Softcat are some good alternatives.

[Oaktech]

Phoenix, Millgate, VeryPC, Nviron, Softcat are some good alternatives.

 

Things may have changed with them in the last year or so, but we ditched working with Softcat because they were really, really pushy.

[Norphy]

Oh well, time to vote with your feet.

 

Sounds like people aren't being given much choice...

[DavR]

we ditched working with Softcat because they were really, really pushy.

 

Years ago we used Softcat to quote for some iPads. Eventually, I had to quite firmly tell our account rep to stop calling us, it was just relentless. Still they kept calling.

 

That said, I've seen others speak well of them in other threads more recently.

[free780]

Ramesys..

 

[Arthur]

Things may have changed with them in the last year or so, but we ditched working with Softcat because they were really, really pushy.

Years ago we used Softcat to quote for some iPads. Eventually, I had to quite firmly tell our account rep to stop calling us, it was just relentless. Still they kept calling.

It must depend a lot on which account manager you get. Ours hasn't been that bad.

 

I can't stand pushy sales people either.

[PotNoodleTech]

Yes Millgate sorts various licences out for me and always friendly helpful and fast!

[johnlevis]

I can see someone's already mentioned us which is nice

 

Just for the record we're happy to work with schools of any size on OVS/CSP licencing so feel free to get in touch

[kennysarmy]

Ramesys..

 

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Before Ramesys they were called...."The Database" - who goes back that far?

[DavR]

Just a quick update on this one.

 

We've been speaking to Millgate the last week or so, and not only were they happy to help, they've actually saved us money on our licensing renewal, when I was expecting it to go up.

 

Very pleased with the outcome. I suppose I should thank Trustmarque for dumping us!

[Eduk8]

Before Ramesys they were called...."The Database" - who goes back that far?

 

Different companies. Ramesys were never The Database. The brothers that owned The Database cashed out while I was working there and sold the company to Ramesys.