Over my last 30 years with the MAPICS product there have been many
approaches to how IBM / Marcam / MAPICS / Infor charged for source. I
guess the thing that is objectionable to me about the described situation
is that the MAPICS user company apparently had paid a one-time charge for
source code years ago. For a very long time that fulfilled their only
requirement to have access to source in the future. And that requirement
was not only perceived - but actual - as they had been downloading modules
on demand for years. And now all of a sudden their access is revoked. All
seemingly because Infor is in the midst of revising their source code
policy. What if they're in the middle of an upgrade project - and this
roadblock is now put in their path? Shouldn't they have been notified by
Infor that an ALF was required for continued access? And with some kind
of advance notice? How happy would you be with your ERP provider in that
circumstance?
Certainly there is nothing wrong with a change in policy about how to
charge for source. But when I worked for IBM (understandably years ago)
we were extremely careful about changes in pricing or policy and how they
might affect our customers' business. Seems to me that Infor ought to
very carefully protect their XA customers and foster their satisfaction.
The XA customer base provides a very profitable ALF source (excuse the
expression) to Infor and is worth protecting. Just my opinion.
Dee A. Sondergard
Information Systems International, Inc.
A Global ERP Consulting Firm
815-398-1670
ISI consultants ensure consistently top quality implementation services at
all levels of your organization.
From:
mapics-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To:
mapics-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date:
09/02/2009 07:31 PM
Subject:
MAPICS-L Digest, Vol 7, Issue 147
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Decision to buy XA (Steve Sandy)
2. Source code costs (Ross Freeman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
message: 2
date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 20:20:08 -0400
from: Ross Freeman <Ross.Freeman@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: [MAPICS-L] Source code costs
On that very same phone call, the aforementioned Infor executive also said
that for this particular situation, the cost for source code would be
$2400 ALF. Just a bit below the $140,000 mark.
We are revising the source code policy at Infor. See the posting on the
ERP XA Product community on Infor 365 for comments on source code policy.
Revised source code policy is under review at this time, as we recognize
that customers have a need for green screen source code.
Best Regards,
Ross Freeman | Senior Product Manager | Infor | office: 678.319.8040 |
mobile: 404.386.5684? | ross.freeman@xxxxxxxxx
Infor ERP XA
InforFLEX-A clear, fast, and cost effective path to adopt Infor's latest
product innovations.
http://www.infor.com/flex
-----Original Message-----
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On Behalf Of mapics-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 1:00 PM
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Today's Topics:
1. Source code to cost $140,000. (Kevin Mann)
2. Re: Source code to cost $140,000. (Gindlesperger, Dale)
3. Re: Source code to cost $140,000. (Patrick Cusick)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
message: 1
date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 15:14:46 -0500
from: "Kevin Mann" <KevinMann@xxxxxxxxxx>
subject: [MAPICS-L] Source code to cost $140,000.
I was on a conference call this morning with an Infor executive. He said
that a new source code license would now cost $140,000. Has anyone here
ever heard of someone paying this much for source code?
Thanks,
Kevin
------------------------------
message: 2
date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 17:05:14 -0400
from: "Gindlesperger, Dale" <DGindle@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: [MAPICS-L] Source code to cost $140,000.
Whoa...... that would be a deal-breaker for MY old company!!!
Dale "Cork" Gindlesperger, CPIM
Senior Business Analyst
________________________________________
I was on a conference call this morning with an Infor executive. He said
that a new source code license would now cost $140,000. Has anyone here
ever heard of someone paying this much for source code?
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message: 3
date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 16:06:19 -0700
from: Patrick Cusick <PCusick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: [MAPICS-L] Source code to cost $140,000.
About 3 years after ASK MANMAN was purchased by Computer Associates (CA) I
had to upgrade my hardware platform and was then going to transfer my
existing MANMAN version to the new box.
I had dropped all support with CA because they were not enhancing the
product and for various other reasons as well.
Because I was now moving to a different box I had to approach them as to
what they would charge me to do so.
Our install of MANMAN was what was known as "The Core Four" - (1)
Manufacturing, (2) Order Entry/Accounts Receivable, (3) Account Payable
and (4) General Ledger.
We had one other MANMAN module that was a Service package.
So we barely owned beyond what was normal for MANMAN users.
In a conference room is Santa Clara, CA, with a straight face, the CA
representative told me that doing this would cost me $400,000.
This was for source code that I already owned (I didn't want or need a
newer version) and the right to use it on a new platform.
That's all.
Not to bring my back support current, etc.
We eventually "settled" on $125,000.
That was in 1997.
It still stings.
So yes, I have definitely heard of paying that much.
It is probably reasonable now given that 12 years have passed since my
episode.
Patrick Cusick
Data Aire, Inc.
Information Technology Department
pcusick@xxxxxxxxxxxx
(714) 921 - 6000
(800) 347 - 2473
"Kevin Mann" <KevinMann@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: mapics-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
09/01/2009 01:14 PM
Please respond to
MAPICS ERP System Discussion <mapics-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Subject
[MAPICS-L] Source code to cost $140,000.
I was on a conference call this morning with an Infor executive. He said
that a new source code license would now cost $140,000. Has anyone here
ever heard of someone paying this much for source code?
Thanks,
Kevin
midrange.com
