Why stand for "Me Too" Solutions’?
Nick Finnemore
Director│ Non-Executive Director │ EdTech Expert │ Mentor & Coach │ AI in Edtech Specialist │ AI in Business Specialist │ Product Management Expert
The MIS market is changing. Academies and MATs are seizing the day and, free to make their own decisions on which MIS to use, are starting to move to new, cloud-based systems which better meet their needs.
So why aren’t more maintained schools doing the same?
There is pressure on schools to improve pupil performance, promote safe guarding & wellbeing, better organise their resources (plus countless other priorities) whilst at the same time struggling with real term reductions in finances. Why aren’t more schools looking for the best solution to meet these needs?
This doesn’t mean I am advocating moving away from your incumbent supplier if they are meeting your needs, but more about putting the MIS suppliers’ feet to the fire and making sure you have the right partner that you can work with now and into the future. There are a lot of options out there and you need to make sure they are working for you.
Here are the key things I would be looking for (on top of the basic functionality that they all should be providing):
1. Does the supplier support your changing needs? Are they being innovative using the latest technology to meet your needs now and looking towards your future needs?
2. Do they spend time to working with you to understand your needs? Do they react quickly to issues and changes in policy and deliver a pain free solution?
3. Does your supplier understand your financial restrictions and can work to build a solution that still meets your needs but at a budget that works for you?
4. Do you feel you have a relationship with your current supplier, and do they listen?
Are more schools holding MIS suppliers to account? How do schools feel? Why are you not looking? I'd welcome your comments below :-)
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5 年Good article Nick. So true. I go into so many schools where they have bought other software to do something that their current MIS already does because they didn’t know it did. Thousands of pounds of school money needlessly wasted!!
Director│ Non-Executive Director │ EdTech Expert │ Mentor & Coach │ AI in Edtech Specialist │ AI in Business Specialist │ Product Management Expert
5 年Hi James, Thanks for the comment, it's good to from a supplier. Very true, I think this comes back to delivering the complete solution to the customers, not just the software, but also the wrap around services, ensuring the customer has the most positive experience, and fully understands how to get the most out of the solution they are using to meet their needs. From my interactions with schools, many see the MIS as a way to do Statutory returns, and maybe go as far as attendance recording. Suppliers need to show the full extent of what their MIS can do and as you say, how this impacts on pupil and staff outcomes.
Information Technology Officer
5 年Thought provoking article Nick. "Yes", why aren't education establishments holding their MIS suppliers more to account to get the functionality they deserve to have. After all a lot of money has been invested in the MIS over the years and probably with the same supplier, but for very little in the way of changes in the functionality or technology. For example, in the case of my current establishment, that equates to in excess of ￡150,000 for the same MIS since installation some years ago. Yet we are still having to buy additional bolt on products at great cost. The problem is that it's the same scenario with other leading MIS suppliers. So a switch to another supplier doesn't necessarily get you everything you need. Plus there is the fear factor of losing information by migrating to another MIS supplier. Having said all that there is now a greater focus on features, value for money and the flexibility or accessibility of the MIS in academy trusts or schools. Schools are now ready to make changes to their MIS supplier if they are not getting the functionality and technology they want and need. Also, a gentle nudge or warning to suppliers, consult, listen to and act on the information from your user base in a timely manner.