Dear Kevin
Not sure whether you were there or not but for at least the benefit of those who couldn't make it, here's my take on what happened yesterday.
Your concerns were understandably shared by those who turned up.
It's difficult to tell from a meeting but I think most people seemed to be more reassured at the end of the meeting.
There were a lot of items that haven't been looked at by Allocate yet (although people seemed pleased with the few updates that have been made).
Unit 4 have their own quality control so 2.04 will not be released no until they are happy, but there were a number of Universities keen to test these changes too.
Unit4 have 6 monthly updates to their Agresso Award Management package which integrates with pFACT too and said they planned to keep pFACT on the same cycle. So this may not mean there is time to do many bug fixes/amendments each 6 months but at least pFACT will keep being regularly developed.
There will be another pFACT user group probably in February 2011 which will give unit4 an opportunity to collate/check with this forum exactly what still needs to be done to pFACT.
Unit 4 have regular user groups for AAM. For example, we meet every 6 months. These user groups are driven by us with Unit4 in attendance including developers. The user groups normally involve presentations by users and discussions of problems/issues. If the pFACT user groups follow the same kind of pattern then they should hopefully be a useful forum for attendees.
In general then I hope people didn't find yesterday too disappointing. The contract with Unit4 was only signed at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: pFACT user group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kevin
Sent: 08 December 2010 08:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: Allocate Software announces pFACT purchase by UNIT4
Dear All,
I had a meeting with Brian Fretwell two weeks ago and he assured me that
Allocate were fully committed to the HE sector!!!!
Love the timing of the messgae too. How many will be turning up at the
user group meeting to be greeted by this?
Kevin
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Allocate Software announces pFACT purchase by UNIT4
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:16:57 -0000
From: Ian Bowles <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Ciara Matthews <[log in to unmask]>, Martin
Jeffries <[log in to unmask]>
Allocate Software announces pFACT purchase by UNIT4
Allocate Software is pleased to announce that its pFACT product, used to
manage Higher Education project costing and the financial appraisal of
Research and Teaching projects, has been acquired by market-leading
software solutions company UNIT4.
UNIT4 are specialists in the development, delivery and support of
adaptable business software and services, and have specialised in the
Higher Education market for over 25 years and see pFACT as an important
addition to the UNIT4 product portfolio.
There is an increasing demand for seamless integrated systems in the
pre- (pFACT) and post- (UNIT4) award products. The sale of pFACT to
UNIT4 provides a single pre- and post- award solution and gives clients
the reassurance that one provider, UNIT4, has the necessary expertise
and domain knowledge to take the products forward.
Our experience of working with UNIT4 is extensive, having worked with
UNIT 4 on joint bids. We have a number of clients currently using both
pFACT and UNIT4 post-award systems, and through close cooperation
between the two companies we have developed an interface between the two
products that is working successfully.
Why Allocate are withdrawing from Higher Education, and the effect on
customers
The withdrawal from the Higher Education market is a strategic decision
by Allocate Software to focus resources on core markets. However,
ensuring our customers are supported through this process is of
paramount importance to Allocate Software, and a key team has been put
in place which will be responsible for managing the migration of pFACT
customers to UNIT4.
Allocate Software have also decided on the end-of-life of ABCHE and
BEAMS HE. The decision will in no way affect the medium term support of
the ABCHE annual update due in January, nor the BEAMS HE update.
Allocate Software intend to support the products through the imminent
reporting updates and the end-of-life transition period.
In the longer term, ABCHE and BEAMS HE customers will be offered the
option of taking 'in perpetuity' access to the source code for these
products, and details of this option will be communicated in greater
detail in the near future. The Allocate Software team managing the sale
of pFACT will also be responsible for managing the transition of the
ABCHE and BEAMS HE product sets.
The effects of the pFACT sale on the customer on a day-to-day basis will
be mainly support-related. Allocate Software have agreed to work with
UNIT4 to support existing, open customer support issues for pFACT for a
12-month period following the sale date. The support will include a
managed handover between the two companies to ensure a seamless
transition for customers.
We aim to communicate more details of these changes at the pFACT user
group booked for Wednesday 8th December, when the UNIT4 and Allocate
Software teams will be available to answer your questions in more
detail.
We look forward to seeing you at the user group event.
Ian Bowles
CEO
Fax: +44 (0)20 7355 5588
Tel: +44 (0)20 7355 5555
Allocate Software plc
www.allocatesoftware.com<http://www.allocatesoftware.com/>
180 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9ER
Companies Act 2006 : http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/companyinfo
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