Things you wish you’d known before jumping MIS

[HereIGoAgain2601]

Hi all,

 

We are about to start a procurement process for our MIS solution. We are currently using SIMS across all of our schools (secondary only MAT).

 

We will be meeting with each of the leading providers and carrying out a full review of functionality.

 

As the title suggests, wondering if anyone has anything they wish they’d known so that it can form part of our discussions with the companies. I am sure they will all be telling us how amazing their products are, but how difficult will moving really be for us as technical and data teams?

[CrootUK]

We are also going through the same at our Trust.

 

Also keen to know what others say here, knowing not much of it will be of practical use as we have to rely on the tendering process or end up being sued🤦🏻♂️ but for the sake of it open ears. Have already read recent/related topics nothing scary thus far.

[HereIGoAgain2601]

I should add that I was thinking of something along the lines of: “Our product full works with X integration” from the sales rep with the huge * that it technically does sync but will require a lot of data cleansing or significant change to our usual process.

 

This is not to say that we wouldn’t end up moving, I would just like to know what we have in store so that we can make an informed decision and challenge the providers where necessary.

[MatthewL]

What are you lacking from your current, do you have any sysems thaty you have to integrate to, can their product do it without that, is there anything you want to do can the new supplier offer it?

 

What do they offer in terms of support, license costs, year on year put it all down so you can compare like for like from the same question.

[Michael]

A few pointers really -

 

1. Share this link with everyone involved with the procurement: https://bringmoredata.blogspot.com/2023/12/ it illustrates the movements/changes in the market that's easy to understand. It also helps identify contenders for your procurement

2. Seeing as you've mentioned Secondary Schools, have a look at Timetabling in particular

3. Identify which current third party subscriptions could be integrated into the MIS. Create a timetable post migration when modules could be integrated. I'd rarely/never recommend doing everything in one sitting

4. Make sure everyone's aware of the online training and send out links

5. Focus on the parental App and how this can streamline Office processes

[CTIDTech]

There are many tools out there that can integrate with just about all technologies these days in the event that your MIS does not work with them! - I would do an inventory of all software utilised (if you do not already have this) by all stakeholders - staff, parents, students, governors, HR, Finance, housekeeping, catering etc. and then ask your potential MIS providers which they do/not integrate with - If you do this from the get go, or seek assurances by 'x' that these will be complete then you should have at least a little peace of mind and something to cling to if they let you down. You are in a much stronger position pre-purchase than after. I would also enquire as to whether you would have access to a central data lake at Trust level. This ensures that you do not need 15 separate data pulls from a software solution for all the different schools *and the associated costs that the software solution passes on to you which reduces risk and access! Hope this helps.

[strawberry]

That salespeople will listen to what the end user says. If the end user is a finance person who doesn't really understand what the end user wants and can't articulate it, and if the sales person is just there to nod in agreement.

 

Get a list of things people want, even if it's basic and present it to the sales person and demand answers.

[supportman]

Hi all,

 

We are about to start a procurement process for our MIS solution. We are currently using SIMS across all of our schools (secondary only MAT).

 

We will be meeting with each of the leading providers and carrying out a full review of functionality.

 

As the title suggests, wondering if anyone has anything they wish they’d known so that it can form part of our discussions with the companies. I am sure they will all be telling us how amazing their products are, but how difficult will moving really be for us as technical and data teams?

 

- What timetable features do they have and how does it work in the cloud? Tip: Timetabling can be done separately. Use whatever app you wish!

- a LOT of 3rd party tools can be replaced with a good modern cloud MIS. Ask they what and do a spreadsheet of the cost reductions

- Don't be afraid to ask for demo schools and go talk to them

- Ask what's on their roadmap for next year and what features they developed this year

- Ask them to show the mobile parent app and compare, we found this was hugely different easy of use an functionality between suppliers. Do they have core developers in house to keep it up-to-date?

- Ask them to take a register to show you the workflow (hint 90% of teacher MIS usage will be taking a register so its important)

- Ask them to browse their MIS on a tablet, phone, 1080p screen and 4K screen to show what's possible.

- Ask to see extra things like room bookings, detention workflow, behavior points, report distributions.

 

There are lots more but certainly the main thing is to stretch the salesmen enough to show the differences. To be honest, the top 2 MIS systems will have very little difference in functionality, its the details that count. You will immediately notice how much better they are than Sims though