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What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

  • 1.  What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 10-26-2024 10:34

    Now that the initial rush of upgrading our StarShip users is over, I'm wondering what you're recommending to your StarShip customers. V-Technologies is back on the upgrade path, and it's clear that the perpetual version is not being further enhanced. Perpetual users can expect future fee increases that will likely exceed the rate of increases seen by StarShip Cloud users. ( Source

    Are you actively upgrading customers to StarShip Cloud? 

    If so, how is it going? 

    If not, why? 

    Other feedback? 




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    Wayne Schulz
    wayne@s-consult.com
    Schulz Consulting
    (860) 516-8990
    CT
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  • 2.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 10-28-2024 10:39

    Last winter we upgraded a large user to the cloud version and it was a complete disaster. The cloud version was not capable of connecting to more than one workstation so the client had to limp along with one shipping computer (when they usually have 5) for weeks until Starship told them to just go back to using the on-premise version. I don't believe the client has attempted to move to the cloud version again and I don't know if Starship has corrected the issue but it has definitely made me hesitate when a client asks if they should move to the cloud version!



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    Kate Krueger
    Consultant
    MicroAccounting
    214.800.5555x553
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  • 3.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 10-28-2024 10:51

    A customer said during their V-Technologies annual renewal they were offered: 

    I am due to re-up my on prem yearly support. They did say if we moved to cloud they could apply some of this payment to the cloud installation.

    I think the move to StarShip Cloud is probably inevitable since V-Technologies seems to be signaling large annual increases and no new features for perpetual users. With respect to V-Technologies it definitely seems like problem 1 is out of the way ( upgrade for UPS OAUTH compatibility ) and now problem 2 is getting a promotion ( on prem to cloud migrations for StarShip users).



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    Wayne Schulz
    wayne@s-consult.com
    Schulz Consulting
    (860) 516-8990
    CT
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-06-2024 11:15

    Came in the e-mail today...............

    Hello XXXXX

    Hope all is well.  As a valued reseller for V-Technologies, we wanted to inform you of the below correspondence which we will be sending in the upcoming weeks to our StarShip On-Prem customers with a Maintenance Plan expiring in Q1 2025:

     

    We are contacting to inform you of some very important changes that pertain to your current StarShip On-Prem licensing effective January 1, 2025.  

     

    V-Technologies has conducted a study to assess our capability to offer technologically pertinent solutions to our clients.  The findings underscored various present obstacles amongst different users, notably issues in using outdated versions, unsupported third party/Microsoft products, and on-site infrastructure setups that do not meet modern tech benchmarks.  

     

    We are focused on a strategic enhancement through cloud innovation and are looking to migrate clients to our StarShip Cloud solution to help overcome some of these various challenges that our users face today.  Our cloud solution has been around for over 4 years and is growing rapidly with well over 1,200 users running on the platform today.  We are committed to your cloud journey and we are excited to announce a very special offer to help with the transition to our cloud solution.  

     

    Commit to StarShip Cloud by paying for your onboarding fees prior to your renewal date and receive the following incentives:  

    • Receive 40% off 1st year of SaaS subscription and 25% off year 2.   The total licensing fees must be paid for at time of activation for both years to take advantage of the special offer.   
    • No uplifts for 2 years when you commit at time of activation.
    • No back maintenance fees will be applied
    • Lock in 2024 pricing until 12/31/24

    We understand that some customers will choose to remain with the On-Prem application.  Two important changes are happening Jan. 1, 2025:

    • Pricing will increase 30% on average
    • Policy change to lapsed renewals - you will be responsible for paying back maintenance at the current SLP rate vs. previous year

    If you are contacted by any customers who may be interested, please let us know as we would be happy to set up a call with you to discuss.  Thank you for your continued partnership.

     

    Sincerely,

    StarShip Sales Team

    www.vtechnologies.com

     



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    Jeff Schwenk
    Owner
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    (540) 221-4444
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  • 5.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-06-2024 11:35

    Same question as in my initial post: 

    What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?



    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz
    wayne@s-consult.com
    Schulz Consulting
    (860) 516-8990
    CT
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-07-2024 06:39

    None of my customers have approached me and I am not mentioning the cloud product yet.  I just finished doing the upgrades to 24.0.X a few months ago after the scare tactics of UPS not working as of June 1st, then July 5, then August 1 etc. Also, I don't know much about the cloud version yet and as long as the customers are successfully shipping I don't believe they are ready for another business investment particularly after recently paying for a Starship "upgrade".



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    Doug Higgs
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    (312) 315-0960
    Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
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  • 7.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-07-2024 08:04

    They will. Mine just asked because their perpetual went up 30%.
    I haven't been able to find a material number of references for StarShip Cloud.



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    Wayne Schulz
    wayne@s-consult.com
    Schulz Consulting
    (860) 516-8990
    CT
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  • 8.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-07-2024 08:36

    Yes I imagine once the 30% increase is communicated to the customers there will be some noise... Unfortunately for the end user, there doesn't seem to be much competition for integrated shipping. 



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    Doug Higgs
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    (312) 315-0960
    Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-06-2024 11:20

    We and our customers are more interested in alternatives to StarShip. I just received an e-mail from V-Technologies this morning about their cloud product and the price increase to on-prem. This could be the final straw for many customers. I have one that already moved to another (very small and limited) product, but I am interested in any others that seem viable.



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    John Hoyt, Co-Founder
    Next Level Manufacturing Consulting Group
    johnh@nextlevelMCG.com
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  • 10.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-06-2024 13:05

    If you shipping needs are limited (UPS, FedEX, etc), DSD has an enhancement to import freight costs and tracking numbers.  I have found it to be a bit problematic, but am hoping Ken Phillips will get the improvements coded.........



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    Jeff Schwenk
    Owner
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    (540) 221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-07-2024 08:07

    Also, recall that StarShip is no longer owned by the original owners ( although some are still around ). They were acquired by Aptean in 2021 ( source ).  

    At the time of the acquisition: 

    Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Connecticut, V-Technologies supports more than 4,000 customers in automating their shipping and front office functions. Through its two flagship shipping software products, StarShip and ShipGear, V-Technologies provides the link between Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), ecommerce platforms and logistics companies resulting in faster, more efficient shipment processing and fulfilment.



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    Wayne Schulz
    wayne@s-consult.com
    Schulz Consulting
    (860) 516-8990
    CT
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-07-2024 09:59
    We have not yet started moving StarShip customers to the cloud version, though we have one that is on Sage Partner Cloud using StarShip Cloud. They are also using Scanforce and shipping using their connector to StarShip Cloud. 

    After submitting the shipment on the handheld, it can take up to 2 minutes for shipping labels (FedEx) to print. They are disappointed with the latency in printing. I don't know if iSage Partner Cloud or StarShip Cloud is the bottleneck. Prior to using handlhelds, shipping in StarShip Cloud (browser interface) wasn't the speedest either.





  • 13.  RE: What's the latest with your clients using Starship? Have they started to move over to cloud based processing?

    Posted 11-08-2024 09:57
    We have one client that was approached directly by Starship to move to the cloud.   Their manager is not at all technical.    They have been using Starship for around 12 years or so.    After the move to the cloud their processing became very slow and Starship tried some things to fix it without success.    They are looking into alternatives now.