Sage 100

We only have 2 StarShip customers left and one doesn't use UPS. I'm personally waiting for the 90Minds Hot Topic discussion on next Wednesday before I hit the panic button for the other customer.

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Steve Iwanowski, NextStep Technology Advisors, aka DSD Lancaster PA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I have 5 customers that have StarShip.  I've completed three upgrades, and will be doing a fourth soon.  It is a bit surprising there isn't more adoption of StarShip particularly since it's one of the only integrated shipping solutions for Sage 100.  Companies that have their own delivery vehicles, or ship LTL generally won;t use it.  Neither will service businesses.  My thought is the larger Sage 100 customers can get a lot of value out of it.  If shipping a lot of UPS and FedEx then the write back of the freight and tracking numbers, and the mark up of the freight, rate shop, eNotify and other features pay for themselves quickly. less errors billing the customer for freight, less time answering calls for customers asking where their order is etc.    The customer that I have using StarShip like it.  It would be a big step back for them to have separate applications for UPS and FedEx that don't have two-way integration with Sage 100.

No commission love unless you move product, VT wants to be involved with support directly (support team is lacking in knowledge/experience) companies want to "save" money by doing it in-house directly with VT support.  It is more irritating to me trying to find a knowledgeable salesperson.  So for me, a big meh...

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Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-05-2024 14:26
From: Doug Higgs
Subject: Why is obtaining V-Technologies info from this group like pulling teeth?

I have 5 customers that have StarShip.  I've completed three upgrades, and will be doing a fourth soon.  It is a bit surprising there isn't more adoption of StarShip particularly since it's one of the only integrated shipping solutions for Sage 100.  Companies that have their own delivery vehicles, or ship LTL generally won;t use it.  Neither will service businesses.  My thought is the larger Sage 100 customers can get a lot of value out of it.  If shipping a lot of UPS and FedEx then the write back of the freight and tracking numbers, and the mark up of the freight, rate shop, eNotify and other features pay for themselves quickly. less errors billing the customer for freight, less time answering calls for customers asking where their order is etc.    The customer that I have using StarShip like it.  It would be a big step back for them to have separate applications for UPS and FedEx that don't have two-way integration with Sage 100.

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

I know UPS oAuth API requirements were changed to the beginning of August thus giving more time for people to update.   As for reasons not much out there, exactly what everyone has said.  They wanted the support themselves, now the process for support is bad, clients now calling us asking us to step in like we are experts and I have to remind them they worked directly with Starship for years and we are not experts on their setup.  That said we've helped 3 clients update, each one having a different small challenge, and I'm helping one go to the cloud version, and another new Sage 100 sale is going to use the cloud version so we will get some exposure to it.

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Chris Mengerink
Partner
DWD Technology Group
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Chris,

This is my point - V-Technologies sent at least one of my customers an email dated May 18 that announced a June 30, 2024 extension. However multiple consultants tell me the real deadline is August.  Perhaps I've overlooked a clear discussion of that revised August date in the group.

I know UPS oAuth API requirements were changed to the beginning of August thus giving more time for people to update.   As for reasons not much out there, exactly what everyone has said.  They wanted the support themselves, now the process for support is bad, clients now calling us asking us to step in like we are experts and I have to remind them they worked directly with Starship for years and we are not experts on their setup.  That said we've helped 3 clients update, each one having a different small challenge, and I'm helping one go to the cloud version, and another new Sage 100 sale is going to use the cloud version so we will get some exposure to it.

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Chris Mengerink
Partner
DWD Technology Group

August is here!  Has anyone that upgraded Starship to v24.0.2 or v24.0.3 had any issues since OAuth has been active?  I did six upgrades and thankfully, no tech support issues so far.

Chris,

This is my point - V-Technologies sent at least one of my customers an email dated May 18 that announced a June 30, 2024 extension. However multiple consultants tell me the real deadline is August.  Perhaps I've overlooked a clear discussion of that revised August date in the group.

I know UPS oAuth API requirements were changed to the beginning of August thus giving more time for people to update.   As for reasons not much out there, exactly what everyone has said.  They wanted the support themselves, now the process for support is bad, clients now calling us asking us to step in like we are experts and I have to remind them they worked directly with Starship for years and we are not experts on their setup.  That said we've helped 3 clients update, each one having a different small challenge, and I'm helping one go to the cloud version, and another new Sage 100 sale is going to use the cloud version so we will get some exposure to it.

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Chris Mengerink
Partner
DWD Technology Group

So far - so good. I have not had any issues. I have also been looking on the V-Technologies support site daily to see what - if any - new issues appear and things seem to be pretty steady.

V-Technologies did pretty well with support. We used them two or three times for an assist on upgrades. They fixed things right away with no complaining that it was an upgrade and they really should charge for their work. I wouldn't make a habit out of trying to pull them in for free on upgrades but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to engage them and how quickly they responded.

I'm still un-impressed with the hard sell both my customers received to upgrade to StarShip Cloud. Neither are opposed but the quote that V-Technologies gave for upgrades probably achieved it's goal as both my customers went DIY on their upgrade without major issues.

August is here!  Has anyone that upgraded Starship to v24.0.2 or v24.0.3 had any issues since OAuth has been active?  I did six upgrades and thankfully, no tech support issues so far.

Chris,

This is my point - V-Technologies sent at least one of my customers an email dated May 18 that announced a June 30, 2024 extension. However multiple consultants tell me the real deadline is August.  Perhaps I've overlooked a clear discussion of that revised August date in the group.

I know UPS oAuth API requirements were changed to the beginning of August thus giving more time for people to update.   As for reasons not much out there, exactly what everyone has said.  They wanted the support themselves, now the process for support is bad, clients now calling us asking us to step in like we are experts and I have to remind them they worked directly with Starship for years and we are not experts on their setup.  That said we've helped 3 clients update, each one having a different small challenge, and I'm helping one go to the cloud version, and another new Sage 100 sale is going to use the cloud version so we will get some exposure to it.

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Chris Mengerink
Partner
DWD Technology Group

Great news Wayne.  I have had similar experiences with V-Technologies.  I always do the upgrades myself yet when the tech support is needed they have been very good.

The $3K price to do the upgrade was way out of line. The announcement that users have 30 days or so to upgrade or they won't be able to ship seemed like a scare tactic aimed to generate service revenue.  Not a good look.

So far - so good. I have not had any issues. I have also been looking on the V-Technologies support site daily to see what - if any - new issues appear and things seem to be pretty steady.

V-Technologies did pretty well with support. We used them two or three times for an assist on upgrades. They fixed things right away with no complaining that it was an upgrade and they really should charge for their work. I wouldn't make a habit out of trying to pull them in for free on upgrades but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to engage them and how quickly they responded.

I'm still un-impressed with the hard sell both my customers received to upgrade to StarShip Cloud. Neither are opposed but the quote that V-Technologies gave for upgrades probably achieved it's goal as both my customers went DIY on their upgrade without major issues.

August is here!  Has anyone that upgraded Starship to v24.0.2 or v24.0.3 had any issues since OAuth has been active?  I did six upgrades and thankfully, no tech support issues so far.

Chris,

This is my point - V-Technologies sent at least one of my customers an email dated May 18 that announced a June 30, 2024 extension. However multiple consultants tell me the real deadline is August.  Perhaps I've overlooked a clear discussion of that revised August date in the group.

I know UPS oAuth API requirements were changed to the beginning of August thus giving more time for people to update.   As for reasons not much out there, exactly what everyone has said.  They wanted the support themselves, now the process for support is bad, clients now calling us asking us to step in like we are experts and I have to remind them they worked directly with Starship for years and we are not experts on their setup.  That said we've helped 3 clients update, each one having a different small challenge, and I'm helping one go to the cloud version, and another new Sage 100 sale is going to use the cloud version so we will get some exposure to it.

------------------------------
Chris Mengerink
Partner
DWD Technology Group