Am I overreacting with Inventry?

[David44]

We have received this email out of the blue from InVentry a few days ago
 

Quote

I would like to inform you that you are currently using the legacy version of the SIMS InVentry Connector. To maintain service, you will need to upgrade to the Cloud version of InVentry. This is a free upgrade; however, we will require confirmation that you are happy with the terms outlined in the Cloud Agreement, as well as the TeamViewer details for your SIMS server and suitable times when we can take remote access of the InVentry unit, as it will be unavailable during the upgrade process.

Anyone else had this? I assume the 'SIMS InVentry Connector' is actually the 'InVentry Cloud SIMS Client Service' that we have running on one of our servers. We have only had InVentry for just over a year so why we have the legacy version of anything isn't clear. That is the extent of their email, no links to more information, no introduction to what 'the Cloud version of InVentry' actually is, nothing. And these people expect us to let them on to our SIMS server?

[David44]

After going backwards and forwards with various "people" (or AI, it's difficult to tell) at InVentry via email where they insisted that we had to 'upgrade to the cloud version' and allow their support to access our SIMS server (they refused to say why, so that set alarm bells off) and them doing anything other than answering my simple "Are we using a currently supported version?", it turns out that we weren't using a supported version and simply needed to upgrade the sync tool, which is confusingly called "SIMS Installer" and seems to show no version number other than when you go to uninstall it, to the latest version. There was no downtime, there was no remote connection from InVentry there was no 'upgrade to the cloud version' - There is no cloud version.

Imagine how much easier it would be if the email had simply said we needed to download the latest version of SIMS Installer and gave a link. I can't decide what is worse, the InVentry software or their support.

[Planehazza]

Honestly it depends on who installs it. We've got it in 8 schools and every install is different. Good luck getting them all consistent, especially if you have more than one domain. Their product was all the rage 5 years ago, but now it's overly complicated and their support is abysmal. 

[DrCheese]

Yarp. Have another issue at the moment that only occured after they setup their cloud stuff....

 

The client on the machine is stupidly unstable as well now, crashing after an important visitor tried to sign in today. Fantastic demo of the software

[Planehazza]

1 hour ago, DrCheese said:

Yarp. Have another issue at the moment that only occured after they setup their cloud stuff....

 

The client on the machine is stupidly unstable as well now, crashing after an important visitor tried to sign in today. Fantastic demo of the software

I guess another way to think of it is you're more likely to get backing from money people to ditch them now.

[willtech]

I have only just seen the chat about the security issue. We are looking elsewhere the support has been very poor.

Edited August 25 by willtech
ed

[robjduk]

Its ok. It's not like they use the same password on every site or don't install security updates.

[HereIGoAgain2601]

We had prepaid for a further 2 years upfront on our license across the Trust. Despite our best efforts with some very senior people the product was becoming increasingly unstable and over complicated. We tried for about 12 months to sync central staff. It was a disaster and a huge waste of time. We moved to an iPad based solution earlier this year and it’s been a breathe of fresh air - much easier to use, deploy new ones and cheaper too! Would strongly recommend moving away. Inventry has become the SIMS of the visitor sign in world. Too expensive and bloated with poor development. 

[Ditto]

On 29/07/2026 at 14:09, mavhc said:

Have signinapp released their Android version yet? Last I heard they weren't bothering to fix bugs because they were rewriting everything

We have implementation of Sign-in App on our charity Q3 or Q4 roadmap. Android version (or at least part, I don't yet know the product) does appear to have recently gone live. See https://signinapp.com/blog/whats-new-in-sign-in-app for details on this and more.

[David44]

Anyone else have InVentry fail at the most basic function and not include new staff starters today?

I'm pretty sure this fails whenever new staff start, they are never on InVentry until their second day, but obviously it is a lot more noticeable at the start of term with a lot of new staff starting.

[SignInApp]

On 29/07/2026 at 14:09, mavhc said:

Have signinapp released their Android version yet? Last I heard they weren't bothering to fix bugs because they were rewriting everything

Hi @mavhc, yes, the SignInApp Kiosk is fully available for both Android tablets and iPads .

[MrEprise]

1 hour ago, David44 said:

Anyone else have InVentry fail at the most basic function and not include new staff starters today?

I'm pretty sure this fails whenever new staff start, they are never on InVentry until their second day, but obviously it is a lot more noticeable at the start of term with a lot of new staff starting.

Depends when they're added to your MIS and when the sync runs. We usually have to give it between 24 to 48 hours before they appear on ours.

[timbo343]

Unable to get through to Inventry support - 20mins of being on hold and I gave up. Their support has really gone down the pan!

[Techy29]

We've been having issues getting our new students to show up on InVentry, and existing students haven't been updated into their new year groups - despite the changes being made on SIMS early this morning.

 

I got through to InVentry support after 30 minutes on hold, for them to say our connector is legacy and we will need to upgrade to the "cloud" version, but the information was extremely vague. Has anyone else had to upgrade to this version?

 

I'm just hoping things are working better tomorrow...

[willtech]

20 minutes ago, Techy29 said:

We've been having issues getting our new students to show up on InVentry, and existing students haven't been updated into their new year groups - despite the changes being made on SIMS early this morning.

 

I got through to InVentry support after 30 minutes on hold, for them to say our connector is legacy and we will need to upgrade to the "cloud" version, but the information was extremely vague. Has anyone else had to upgrade to this version?

 

I'm just hoping things are working better tomorrow...

Last year we got the good old "cloud not update from your MIS !" when using the update from MIS buttons in the console. 

 

for the legacy API, Found (without supports help) the secret key had to be reset when our stopped working. 

 

Not sure if it helps but: Linking/fixing your SIMS integration with InVentry (IT Only) – InVentry Support

 

They have a test utility in the api folder to test the connection to the MIS sync.

 

Edited September 2 by willtech

[Edu-IT]

On 01/09/2026 at 08:58, SignInApp said:

Hi @mavhc, yes, the SignInApp Kiosk is fully available for both Android tablets and iPads .

And the new v5 is much improved. It makes Inventory look old fashioned!

 

https://signinapp.com/resources/webinar/introducing-kiosk-version-5

[ITGuyNW]

They want people to use the cloud version of Inventry but it then fails at even basic things such as setting autocodes.

[David44]

On 02/09/2026 at 22:11, Techy29 said:

We've been having issues getting our new students to show up on InVentry, and existing students haven't been updated into their new year groups - despite the changes being made on SIMS early this morning.

 

I got through to InVentry support after 30 minutes on hold, for them to say our connector is legacy and we will need to upgrade to the "cloud" version, but the information was extremely vague. Has anyone else had to upgrade to this version?

 

I'm just hoping things are working better tomorrow...

If you can get to this page... https://inventry.world/settings/integrations, click on the cog and can see an install button, that will download the latest MSI. I installed that, asked them if we were now on a supported version and they said we were. The communication is terrible. I can't work out if it is incompetence or they are just trying to get schools to sign a new "Cloud Agreement" which they claim is required to 'upgrade to the cloud version'. I pasted the email they sent to our Business Manager at the top of this thread. We didn't sign a new agreement.
 

[DrCheese]

We moved over the cloud version over the holidays. They orginally assumed they could "just do it whenever" regardless of if we were still using the system (or in my case, we were on holiday) - Told them no & removed their remote access.

 

I let them do it when we returned - First it duplicated all our staff (doh?!) - Which they fixed after a week

 

Now it's randomly removing half our staff each day. Zero difference between affected staff & active staff in the MIS (Bromcom) but inventry can't tell us what it is their system looks for.

 

Support is an utter pile of flaming garbage now. They don't know their system & it shows. At least, when they get back to you.

Outsourced support, Simply. Doesn't. Work. It used to be so simple to get issues fixed, now it's like pulling teeth.

 

They have a support forum/page but no updates in over 3 years.

Edited September 10 by DrCheese

[robjduk]

On 10/09/2026 at 10:11, Edu-IT said:

And the new v5 is much improved. It makes Inventory look old fashioned!

 

https://signinapp.com/resources/webinar/introducing-kiosk-version-5

In its defence, Inventry looked old fashioned 15 years ago. I suspect them and the SIMS team walk around claiming the Windows 2000 look never goes out of fashion.