Progresso or SIMS?

[ntm1275]

Forgot to mention in my previous posts that the make of browser can influence the speed that the web pages display in a web based MIS

 

As mentioned previously, our IT Dept like to stick with all things Microsoft, so our Primary schools (who have an SLA with IT), are not allowed to use anything other than IE - the Secondary schools however control what they can use

 

In testing I have done, there can be a massive difference in the speed depending which browser you have to use

Chrome is the outright winner opening pages in 1 second or less, with Firefox a close second in just over 1 second

IE (all versions) on the other hand is much slower, opening the average page in 4 to 5 seconds

 

The difference becomes more evident when you ask the MIS to do something more complex like bulk fill/speed edit 1200 student records

Chrome will do it in 1 to 2 seconds, Firefox in 2 to 3 seconds, and IE will take 10 to 15 seconds

 

Because of this difference, I have pleaded with our IT Dept to change their policy on Microsoft IE only use, but they are a stubborn bunch, so I may have to take it to the Senior Management Team to put the case forward to change to Chrome

 

Chrome makes G2/S2 feel like it is a local install, and each click is almost instantaneous

Edited September 9, 2012 by ntm1275

[GREED]

Thanks for the info, very useful to know what you are looking for

 

I must say I like Chrome, it is much faster, simple, it just works! Aspen likes Chrome too, but will play happily with any of the major browsers.

 

RE: dbs mentioned before, that's all fine it was just a note on a money saving aspect. Of course though you probably have a very good deal on lots of SQL licences, so a couple for the MIS is probably insignificant in the grand scheme...

Edited September 11, 2012 by GREED

[COWBERRY]

I have to say having worked with Sims for the past 10 years I was introduced to Progresso on a training course and was distinctly unimpressed.

 

Progresso seemed to still be in the development phase. Too many bugs and the user interface uninspiring.

 

In short go for Sims. It is an established MIS and you will be able to find support on line via forums more readily available than if you were to go the progresso route.

 

I'm not biased as I also support Pearson E1 but think given the choice, SIMS everytime :-)

[david_1152]

we had a bad experience with Progresso, it was slow and seemed unable to pull our data out of facility cmis. So on our 100mb internet connection it could take 6 minutes to produce a simple class list, it was frankly unusable. Needless to say we pulled of that. Since then, so this year really, we've been looking at Aspen and slightly at Bromcom, but here lies the big question. If your LEA only supports two MIS systems, wouldn't you really be slightly foolish to put your eggs in another basket? Something to ponder I guess.

 

So at BETT this year I visited Progresso, and they now tell me the problems are fixed, it's fast and reliable. I saw live data, and indeed can confirm it was so much faster than before. Class lists in seconds rather than minutes. I did also visit Aspen (I wish) MIS, and again, it was as before - fast, reliable and functional. Given the choice of the two, if it was up to me, I'd say Aspen is far and away the more stable and sorted product, but you'd expect that right? So, we're way back to the big question...

 

Are you brave enough to choose an MIS system which your LEA doesn't support -Maybe if you're an academy you might have a slightly different view on this..

[Bromcom_John]

Are you brave enough to choose an MIS system which your LEA doesn't support -Maybe if you're an academy you might have a slightly different view on this..

 

It all depends on what services you are used to receiving from your LA.

We provide direct support to the majority of our user base so, except for a handful, they get all their supoort and service updates direct from us, no LA support needed.

I know that with the "dominant" market player there is a lot more shall we call it "distributed support" but we happen to take pride in delivering an excellent service direct.

 

There are already processes in place to assist each MIS supplier in conforming to certain criteria for the purposes of statutory returns and reporting, so what else do you look to your LA for support with?

 

This is an honest query from myself because I've always wondered what it is that convinces schools that they need their LA team for the management of their MIS?

 

ps. This is no way a denegration of what most LA support teams actually provide, I've had many communications with the various teams over the years and they do a good job. It's just not hat much different to what I see our helpdesk delivering day in day out.

[david_1152]

I do take you point John, and I hope to see your product in action at an open day I'm on the mailing list for. But I guess my questions was more aimed at other schools in our sutuation, not necessarly suppliers - no offence intended..

 

Dave.

[Bromcom_John]

None taken Dave, its just something that has always started me scratching my head

[vikpaw]

I would imagine LA support provides a security blanket. It could stem from the days when schools had very little in house IT support, especially at primary level, let alone a dedicated MIS manager.

Even when you have someone in house, if you can buy into cheap support from the LA it makes sense.

That's how I saw the situation 8 years ago. Now, the market has changed, each school had greater independence, more tech, better tech, and less dependence on the LA.

If going with the LA saves money, that is a factor but if it doesn't meet your individual requirements it could be the wrong move.

[GREED]

we had a bad experience with Progresso, it was slow and seemed unable to pull our data out of facility cmis. So on our 100mb internet connection it could take 6 minutes to produce a simple class list, it was frankly unusable. Needless to say we pulled of that. Since then, so this year really, we've been looking at Aspen and slightly at Bromcom, but here lies the big question. If your LEA only supports two MIS systems, wouldn't you really be slightly foolish to put your eggs in another basket? Something to ponder I guess.

 

So at BETT this year I visited Progresso, and they now tell me the problems are fixed, it's fast and reliable. I saw live data, and indeed can confirm it was so much faster than before. Class lists in seconds rather than minutes. I did also visit Aspen (I wish) MIS, and again, it was as before - fast, reliable and functional. Given the choice of the two, if it was up to me, I'd say Aspen is far and away the more stable and sorted product, but you'd expect that right? So, we're way back to the big question...

 

Are you brave enough to choose an MIS system which your LEA doesn't support -Maybe if you're an academy you might have a slightly different view on this..

 

Thanks for that David. Was good to speak with you briefly again at BETT.

 

It all depends on what services you are used to receiving from your LA.

We provide direct support to the majority of our user base so, except for a handful, they get all their supoort and service updates direct from us, no LA support needed.

I know that with the "dominant" market player there is a lot more shall we call it "distributed support" but we happen to take pride in delivering an excellent service direct.

 

There are already processes in place to assist each MIS supplier in conforming to certain criteria for the purposes of statutory returns and reporting, so what else do you look to your LA for support with?

 

This is an honest query from myself because I've always wondered what it is that convinces schools that they need their LA team for the management of their MIS

 

To bring these two points together I am with @JohnCondon here, we too like Bromcom give a great centralised service to individual schools making the reliability on LA support less a requirement. We do work with many LA/Districts around the world and are engaged with a number in the UK, where we WOULD be looking for local LA support desks to get involved for the distribution to their counties, but this does not mean schools (whether an Academy or not) cannot get direct central support if they have or choose to. It is the large numbers that [insert dominant market player here] have that requires them to utilise local LA support, which has it's advantages and disadvantages...

[david_1152]

Good points well made, and ultimatly something we here have to ponder with. As for the original question : Progresso or SIMS? For me, at this moment in time neither. Progresso I dont feel, and might be totally wrong, is ready, and SIMS really is due an upgrade. I guess that's why I was asking my big question above. So yes, I've answered a question with another one, but I guess it's all related.

 

Dave

[CAM]

Interestingly, ALPS are asking schools if they run Facility and moving to Progresso in summer. They are also polling schools that don't run CMIS what they use (even Aspen gets a mention in the list!). Some weird stuff in the list.

 

Bromcom

Capita – SIMS

Capita – UNIT-e

Corero

Follett – Aspen

Furlong – SchoolBase

Histon House – ScholarPack

iSAMS

Pearson – e1 (fronter)

RM – Integris

Tribal – ebs4

Wauton Samuel – PASAPP

WCBS – 3sys

Other – Please state

 

They explicity ask what MIS you use. Please tell me there are no schools using Fronter as a MIS...

[GREED]

Interestingly, ALPS are asking schools if they run Facility and moving to Progresso in summer. They are also polling schools that don't run CMIS what they use (even Aspen gets a mention in the list!). Some weird stuff in the list.

 

Bromcom

Capita – SIMS

Capita – UNIT-e

Corero

Follett – Aspen

Furlong – SchoolBase

Histon House – ScholarPack

iSAMS

Pearson – e1 (fronter)

RM – Integris

Tribal – ebs4

Wauton Samuel – PASAPP

WCBS – 3sys

Other – Please state

 

They explicity ask what MIS you use. Please tell me there are no schools using Fronter as a MIS...

 

What is the group being polled? Unit-e is for FE colleges, Corero is a finance system (they do have a sort of MIS), ebs4 is FE/HE, 3sys is independent schools.

 

I would be surprised if many move to or have currently any of these, if a normal secondary state school.

@CAM yes I am happily surprised to see Aspen MIS, shows my hard work screaming and shouting about Aspen is working

[CAM]

ALPS handle data analysis for Post-16 so anyone with a Sixth Form.

[vikpaw]

PearsonFronter is the new name for pearson phoenix so maybe confusing the issue. Probably trying to rebrand as e1 is sold on the pearsonfronter website.

Saying that, VLEs aren't a far cry from storing all the MIS data, its mostly the processing they lack. I cant see it lasting for long.

Look at the way FROG are retrofitting MIS features to satisfy the Malaysian market

Edited February 8, 2013 by vikpaw