iSAMS - Poll: Do you use Dual or Single type contacts?

[ric_p]

Bit of context - we're considering switching our dual contacts to single ones, but it'll be a big job to switch all our systems that we've designed around this.

 

So I was wondering if most people use the dual or single types, and particularly to hear from anyone who's made the switch?

 

Thanks in advance. The iSAMS forums are often quiet so I thought I'd get more feedback here!

Edited November 13, 2025 by ric_p
added tag

[FloraDora]

We have dual contacts as that was the recommended "type" for parents when we migrated 4 years ago from SIMS.  We also use iFinance / Fees Billing so have joint billing contacts from that.

However, I know that there is a contact rewrite in progress (won't be ready for at least 2 years as so complicated) and the contact structures will change and move towards individual contact types.  If you are considering moving to single types then I'd say go for it. Dual contacts are a bit of a pain in my opinion and cause confusion where some are single (split parents) and others are dual contacts.

[Jamman960]

At a previous place we migrated to engage mis who also recommended dual contacts, I ended up re-importing during migration to go back to singles, external systems such as socs and others didn’t handle dual’s well

[ric_p]

@FloraDora Is there any official confirmation of the rewrite? I think I've been hearing about it for several years already. If there was I could ask our end-users to hang on for a while longer!

 

@Jamman960 this is the reason that we want to switch as we have individual contacts populated into iSAMS from OpenApply, and then being updated by individual parents in MySchoolPortal.

[Danp]

In our 8 schools, in most cases, parents are listed together. Only time they are individual is if they don't live at the same address.

[FloraDora]

@ric_p Yes.. its on the roadmap and hopefully there will be an update about it's progress in the next Product Update Webinar on 26 November.  I was asked about 6 months for my views on some of the proposed changes so I know that they are definitely working on it.

[ric_p]

7 minutes ago, Danp said:

In our 8 schools, in most cases, parents are listed together. Only time they are individual is if they don't live at the same address.

 

How does that play with your other platforms connected to your MIS?

[Danp]

46 minutes ago, ric_p said:

 

How does that play with your other platforms connected to your MIS?

 

No issues at all. SOCS & CPOMS are the main ones.