NON ESS HOSTED SIMS

[TRSJon]

Morning

 

We presently run a hosted version of SIMS, via Cantium. They've given notice that by April we have to move away as ESS have told them they can no longer offer the solution.

 

They've offered 3 choices, 1. a new MIS solution (for various reasons a non starter) 2. Move to ESS's own hosted service or 3. Bring it on prem.

 

Does anyone else use an non ESS version been given the same ultimatum and if so, what option are you looking and why? My preference is option 2, but would be interested in others views and opinions. As I said, option 1 is a non starter.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[CrootUK]

Think plenty of people will tell you how bad option 2 is, you should speak to some other MIS’s moving really isn’t that bad.

 

Wonder if they are going to do this to LAs aswell?

Edited October 5, 2023 by CrootUK

[PotNoodleTech]

The problem with moving back to on prem is that ESS are then going to force all on prem users to move to the cloud too. I can see it coming a mile off. So it's delaying the inevitable which may be a goer if you hope the delay is going to end up being years not months?

[XiJ]

Strongly recommend looking into option 1.

[Damon]

You're facing a problem that lots of schools are across the country. ESS have told support teams that they can no longer host SIMS and I believe that in the vast majority of cases, those providers have been forced to drop services they have invested a huge amount into. I believe there are some that may be able to continue doing so because they have fought the decision but I'm not 100% about that.

 

Out of curiosity - with option #1, did they talk you through the options or just recommend one provider?

[TRSJon]

You're facing a problem that lots of schools are across the country. ESS have told support teams that they can no longer host SIMS and I believe that in the vast majority of cases, those providers have been forced to drop services they have invested a huge amount into. I believe there are some that may be able to continue doing so because they have fought the decision but I'm not 100% about that.

 

Out of curiosity - with option #1, did they talk you through the options or just recommend one provider?

 

Option #1 - They just said option 1 was to move supplier - and suggested we have demo's on the main players - but internally, it's not an option.

[Damon]

Thanks for letting me know. It's good that they weren't trying to push you down one route as I've heard some teams have been doing that. 👍

[supportman]

Move to a new MIS if you can, sounds like an ideal opportunity.

 

The modern cloud MIS's are far better than Sims and you won't regret it once done.

 

If you have difficulty convincing certain stakeholders in school, just take them to another school who has done the move.

Edited October 10, 2023 by supportman

[speakercon]

+1 for option 1, 100%. It's not as scary as everyone who says 'we can't possibly do that' thinks.

[PotNoodleTech]

+1 for option 1, 100%. It's not as scary as everyone who says 'we can't possibly do that' thinks.

 

Problem is it's not generally us here who are saying the above - I'd move next week. It's everyone else!

[speakercon]

Problem is it's not generally us here who are saying the above - I'd move next week. It's everyone else!

 

Absolutely. Although what with SIMS market share plummeting every quarter, it won't be long until they are left with no choice.

[DBR99]

We currently host with SCOMIS and have done for 3/4Years, they have been really good in terms of reliability and excellent support - hope they aren't forced out of the market as I don't fancy ESS hosting or support! We are also just starting an MIS review and are very likely to move within the next 18 months to Arbor, Bromcom etc before or when the initial 3 year contract ESS forced us into expires.

This looks like another example of ESS/Parentpay's heavy handed approach in attempting to secure some market for a product that should have died long ago!

[HarkNowHear]

We're looking at SCOMIS - supposedly offer a much more robust solution than ESS themselves.

[TRSJon]

We're looking at SCOMIS - supposedly offer a much more robust solution than ESS themselves.

 

My understand from speaking with our existing provider is that ESS are slowly booting everyone else out from being able to offer a hosted solution, they may just not know it yet... From what I was told (and who knows if it is the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth) - as contracts between hosting company and ESS/ParentPay are expiring, the hosting company is being given notice that they are not able to renew the contract - this forcing all their clients to either move to ESS's own hosted, bring SIMS on-prem or find a new provider of MIS/Finance systems.

Edited October 10, 2023 by TRSJon

[DBR99]

We've used SCOMIS for the 3 schools in our trust for nearly 4 years now, really reliable service and good support both for technical issues and for SIMS itself, howver we are now looking at Arbor, Brocomm etc for the future.

[Bird97]

100% option 1 is the best choice