[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/schoolcentral.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/14202-May-2022.jpg” title_text=”14202-May-2022″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The one about training (Arbor), training (BT Cloud Voice) and a whole bunch of training (Judicium).<\/strong><\/p>\n If you wonder where the Panda picture comes from…\u00a0https:\/\/www.amivitale.com\/photo-story\/panda-love-the-secret-lives-of-pandas\/<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u00a0The end of SIMS<\/strong><\/p>\n \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/strong>I didn’t think the day would come when I would write about saying goodbye to SIMS, but today is the day! According to Wikipedia, SIMS started in 1984.<\/p>\n It became a market leader and stayed that way for a long, long time.<\/p>\n So why change now?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/schoolcentral.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/997884675-Arbor.jpg” title_text=”997884675-Arbor” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Last year, Capita sold its education branch and the support we were getting from ESS SIMS became non-existent. Last Winter, Cantium (our third-party support for SIMS) had to concede we were not the only one experiencing major issues and that everyone was\u00a0moving away from SIMS to Arbor. Arbor was by no means the only MIS on the market or one of the oldest competitors of SIMS (like Bromcom), but what they were now offering ticked all the boxes for schools. And\u00a0here we are… about to leave SIMS for Arbor, finally moving to a cloud-based system that you will be able to access from anywhere and from any device (also say goodbye to workstation\u00a0updates!), a\u00a0modern MIS that will unify multiple solutions long term, simpler to navigate with quicker access to the stats you need…\u00a0<\/p>\n What’s next?<\/p>\n Migration takes 16 weeks and has already started.\u00a0A lot of third-party components that used to communicate with SIMS will also need to be migrated to Arbor.<\/p>\n This is important to understand that this is the biggest change the school has ever experienced. Moving to Outlook (then to Office 365 later) affected everyone but, this time around, the amount of data and third parties\u00a0we are dealing with\u00a0and the number of roles requiring\u00a0different type of training make this project\u00a0a much more complicated undertaking. Sam is arranging training for everyone right now, so keep an eye in your email for these.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tra2nT9dyR0″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
SIMS remained complacent for years and had not cared much about Research and Development, so they were not ready for what was coming… With support degrading, the number of bugs increasing, the lack of GDPR compliance, and years of frustration, customers were ready to part with SIMS. As customers started leaving in droves, ESS SIMS decided to lock current customers to a three year contract instead of one. This did not go well either (https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/400-schools-sign-up-to-take-collective-action-against-sims\/<\/a>), so\u00a0they eventually gave schools a 6 months grace to see if they wanted to stay.<\/p>\n