SIMS Connected migration

[ITGuyNW]

Hi all

 

We've had the email to say SIMS want to move us to Connected. I have read a lot of the stories about it being useless, breaking etc and even some schools moving back to on prem.

 

Is it really that bad? I will have to weigh up the pros and cons to discuss with SLT.

 

Also, we still use NOVA-T, how is that affected with SIMS Connected.

 

We also have a load of plugins like Wonde, MISSYNC etc, how do they integrate with SIMS connected?

 

I was hoping we would have moved away from SIMS before we got to this stage however its not yet happened.

 

Thanks!

[Bankesy]

Hi,

We have been doing our migration to SIMS Connected this week, where are you at with the Next Gen integration?

 

The Technical Consultant at ParentPay doing our migration has told me that they sort out the integration to ParentPay as they are under the same umbrella now. I spoke to to Wonde about their integration and they seemed very familiar with SIMS Connected and the required third party connector.

 

Handover is tomorrow so I might be able to come back to you with more useful info.

Thanks

[ITGuyNW]

We've got logins for everyone for next gen but haven't migrated or use it because it's still only partially developed so we're still sims 7 + school synergy.

[gumbygaz]

I'd be interested to know how it goes too, we've got a couple this term to trial with.

Third party connectors, is basically we need a keep a basic server running with SIMS Client installed on it, they'll setup a VPN connection to SIMS connected and update the client on the server. We'll need to then install all the connectors on that server. Wonde/Locker/Groupcall etc - So not quite fully cloud but closer I guess 😕!

[David44]

It seems strange that schools are still being migrated to SIMS Connected, against their will I assume. I thought that Parent Pay were now migrating schools to SIMS Next Gen against their will instead. Does that mean there are, or will be, some schools out there running SIMS Connected and SIMS Next Gen? That must be a nightmare for the users.

[gumbygaz]

Yes, we'll be running both. I'm hoping most will be using NextGen but those who need the features not in NextGen switch to Connected. I've heard the SIMS7 is meant to EOL next Christmas, but I would be surprised if this target happens......
 

We were stuck in contract so this move works for me - shifting off onsite servers at least, removing updates/backups etc and not having to deploy SIMS anymore. I can't wait, I know I'll then be dealing with SIMS Connected is slow complaints, but at the moment that seems the lesser of two evils... Time will tell! Ideally this migration would have been to Arbor/Bromcom etc but hopefully this will be a stop gap.

[Bankesy]

I found that going through the Next Gen onboarding process has been useful for this SIMS Connected migration because at least all of my users are registered for SIMS ID via SSO so they can just use Microsoft login for one platform to access either Connected or Next Gen.

[SIMS_Customer_Support]

1 hour ago, David44 said:

It seems strange that schools are still being migrated to SIMS Connected, against their will I assume. I thought that Parent Pay were now migrating schools to SIMS Next Gen against their will instead. Does that mean there are, or will be, some schools out there running SIMS Connected and SIMS Next Gen? That must be a nightmare for the users.

Hi @David44 The decision on moving to SIMS Connected is entirely down to the school, and we support them through the process if they wish to move. There are thousands of schools using Connected and SIMS Next Gen with one single login.

[BKGarry]

@SIMS_Customer_Support how transparent is that in communication, as we had emails saying we had to migrate to FMS within the connected environment or our installation would be disabled through the activation service, even though we are still within a contract. If the emails are worded like that, then it would not be seen as a choice 

[Boredguy]

Likewise we've a site that has had to migrate to FMS connected, even though we stopped using it in Sept 25 and its just there as part of the financial fall back if data needs to be looked up for the next couple of years.

No need for it to be updated but cause we have a support contract to access it, migration has had to occur just in case we need it.

[David44]

18 hours ago, SIMS_Customer_Support said:

Hi @David44 The decision on moving to SIMS Connected is entirely down to the school, and we support them through the process if they wish to move. There are thousands of schools using Connected and SIMS Next Gen with one single login.

How do you enforce one single login? At the moment it seems that users can and are actually encouraged by the wording and UX design from ParentPay to create a SIMS ID username and password when most users probably already have a Microsoft or Google account that they would be better off using for SSO.

[SIMS_Customer_Support]

6 hours ago, David44 said:

How do you enforce one single login? At the moment it seems that users can and are actually encouraged by the wording and UX design from ParentPay to create a SIMS ID username and password when most users probably already have a Microsoft or Google account that they would be better off using for SSO.

Hi @David44, with SIMS ID existing Microsoft or Google work accounts can be used.  We do encourage the use of work accounts and from November we'll be introducing ParentPay Group Single Sign-On which is replacing SIMS ID and takes a 'work account-first' approach.

[psydii]

Hi, @SIMS_Customer_Support, what’s the onboarding for new users like with the new SSO? Also, what is the transition like where users were already using their 365 accounts?

 

If that is still to be determined,  drop me a dm! We are quite a “low stakes” site and could rustle up some people to work through both scenarios without interrupting the business of them getting the job done. People are mostly in a 3rd party add-on, and (mostly) not yet using NG. 

[ITGuyNW]

For anyone who has gone through the change, any issues with FMS or NOVA-T?