Specify Collections Consortium Technical Services
The Consortium will provide technical support services to member institutions on the schedule shown in the table below. Revenue from services such as new collection setup, interface and report customization, data management, custom programming, web hosting, and software installation, will be an essential part of the Consortium’s business model. We will adjust fees for services based on member status and specific needs. Both Specify 6 (thick client) and Specify 7 (web browser app) will be supported with the services below, but the focus of all future development and innovation will be on the Specify 7 web platform. Institutions can install their own Specify 7 servers or they can use the Consortium’s cloud hosting service. Cloud hosting relieves institutions of the costs and complexities of hardware maintenance, systems updates, backups, and security management. It also creates opportunities for the support of collaborative projects and collections database that bridge institutional boundaries.
Many of the services shown represent one-time costs associated with the installation of a new Specify database, its customization, and the migration of legacy data. The Consortium will offer workshops, video tutorials, and webcasts as training services. The Consortium’s web site blogs and forums, and help desk will continue to respond to member data management and software issues when they arise.
Consortium Technical Liaisons at member institutions will continue to play vital roles as the first line of support for technical issues requiring local attention and on-site management. They have been invaluable technical contributors to the successful adoption of Specify at institutions in several countries, notably: Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Portugal, South Africa, and in the U.S.
Current Specify Software collections have access to free live help desk and technical support services through March 2018. Beginning in April 2018, only committed Consortium institutions will have access to free help desk services, and access to the paid technical services noted below.
Member Support & Customization Services
Digitization and database projects evolve–whether you are just getting started or ready to implement advanced capabilities, the Consortium offers these technical services to members.
| Support/Maintenance Services | Thru March 30 2018 | April 1 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Online Forum, Documentation Videos | Free | Free |
| Help Desk Support (Email, Phone) |
Free | Free |
| Remote Login Support | Free | $75 |
| Form Customization | Free | $250/Form |
| Label Customization | Free | $250/Label |
| Report Customizations | Free | $250/Report |
| Webinar-style Training | $100/Hour | $100/Hour |
| User Meeting Registration | $600/User | $600/User |
| Software Upgrades for Current Platform |
Free | Free |
If you require data enhancements,such as custom scripting or API integration, our software engineers can assist you in your efforts.
| A La Carte Engineering Services | Thru March 30 2018 | April 1 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Programming | $125/Hour | $125/Hour |
| Data Cleanup Management | $125/Hour | $125/Hour |
Cloud Hosting
For member institutions who want to avoid the costs and complexities of managing a local Specify database server, the Consortium provides Specify 7 Cloud Hosting.
| Cloud Hosting | $250/Year/Basic | $500/Year/Robust | $500/Year Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Storage | 5 GB | 50 GB | +50 GB |
| Member Backups | Nightly | Nightly | Nightly |
New Collection Setup Package
Are you preparing to migrate your spreadsheet of information into a normalized database? Our New Collection Setup Package contains the services that most collections with some IT support require. Member collections without IT support can choose additional assistance from our selection of Add-On Services.
| New Collection Setup Package | Free Thru March 30 2018 |
$2000 April 1 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface Customizations | 2 Layouts | 4 Layouts |
| Label Customizations | 2 Labels | 4 Labels |
| Report Customizations | 2 Reports | 4 Reports |
| Customized New User Webinar Training |
1 hr | 6 hrs |
| Spreadsheet Data Conversion Package (Data QA, Mapping, WB Modification) | Full | Full |
Add-On Services
Member collections without local institutional IT support can obtain extended support with the Consortium’s Add-On Services.
| New Collection Add-On Services |
Thru March 30 | April 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Data Conversion Package (Data QA, Mapping, WB Modification) |
Free | $250/Conversion |
| Spreadsheet Data Conversion Upload | Free | $1000/Conversion |
| Non-Spreadsheet Data Conversion Upload | TBD ($2000+) | TBD ($2000+) |
| Local Web Portal Setup (remote link to your server) |
$1000 | $1000 |
| Local Attachment Server Setup (remote link to your server) |
$500 | $500 |
| Local Specify 7 Installation (remote link to your server) |
$1000 | $1000 |
| Specify 7 Cloud Installation | $500 | $500 |
| 2-Day US On-site Training | $4000 | $4000 |
Not sure which support services you need and want to pay for? We would be happy to discuss your collection database projects and plans to help sort things out.