I had the following email from Bentley the other day regarding te above:
Your EVD discount for your upcoming renewal on the 1st of September now stands at 3.2%.
That could be as much as 10% at the time of renewal if all your Bentley users moved over to using the connect edition of the software.
The percentage calculation is based on the usage of Connect edition against that of older versions, if in the next sixty days you move over to Connect edition usage, I will do a discount reset on the 31st of July to see how much more discount you can qualify for.
My response was as follows:
The problem is that a lot of the users are casual users (their main programs being Revit/AutoCAD) so getting to re-learn something new is far from ideal. I have tried to introduce CE to users but they just don’t like it!! Unless this changes then the migration to CE is not going to happen. Perhaps you have some ideas how I can do this.
I do use CE, albeit using Tasks (I don’t like the ribbon at all) and still find that it has a number of issues and doesn’t function as well as SS4. I quite often find myself going back to SS4 because CE doesn’t cope.
I look forward to hearing from you.
That was back over three weeks ago, and to date I have not had any response from Bentley. Perhaps someone from Bentley on this forum could respond to my queries?
Hi,
My issue is this... One of the big reasons that we went with the Select Service package years ago, was that we were able to change which version and which platform that we used at any time. Today, all our computer have Microstation V7, Microstation V8i(SS3), and Microstation CE (latest version). Our users have their choice of which software to use. So what does it mean to "upgrade your Bentley software to the current version of the CONNECT Edition"?
--Robert
Your users are not going to have their choice to use the older versions taken away from them. It is just that the Bentley Support Policy has been updated to encourage them to use current versions.
https://www.bentley.com/en/desktop-applications
The reason you are paying for SELECT is for Bentley to continually improve and update our products so using the latest releases should be in your company's best interests. The following information provided helps to show some of these improvements.
https://www.bentley.com/campaigns/microstation/connect-edition-upgrade-drawing-productivity
RegardsAndrew BellTechnical SupportBentley Systems
Hi Andrew,
If 100% of my users have CE installed on their machines, when do we get to see some of the version discounts?
Thank you for the campaign link. I watched all the videos there. There were only two things that applied to us:1) A vague comment from Keith Bentley that, "if you're only doing drafting, there are enhancements"...2) and again Keith's comment, "If you need to interact with someone with a newer piece of software"...(Sorry, both quotes are paraphrased.)
Right now we are using Microstation CE to convert Autocad 2019 drawings to v8 DGN files. Then we use Microstation V8i (SS3) to do our real work in.
I am looking forward to see Microstation CE Update 13. It would be nice if that is the "lucky" version that allows us to start playing with our working drawings and not have things messed up.
--Thanks,--Robert
I just got off the phone about this bull stuff. Was told I will not get any discount until my Select Services renewal in October. The discount is based on usage, just having the thing installed does not count. I should also point out that Bentley had my usage records completely wrong. Also, if you run v8i to help someone on the forum, it will cost you money, nice touch that. What a company. I asked about dropping the Select Services program as I don't use most of the so called "features". Was told I could not get software updates if I drop Select (already knew that).
So the EVD is basically a foolie
Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley
My main point to Bentley was how to get users to move to the CE. At the moment due to CE not be able to use Steel, Area Tools, Autotrack, etc users don't want to change, and to be honest until CE does include these capabilities the users wont change.
As noted I have had no response from Bentley on this!
Information relating to the Earned Value Discount is available via the Subscription Service Portal. We also have a link to your Subscription Analytics for Early Access users. Otherwise your Bentley Account Manager should be able to explain further how it works.
https://connect.bentley.com/Enterprise/
I don't need to know about EVD, which I believe is a bit of a con and not much of an incentive to move to CE.
My main point is how to get users to move to the CE. At the moment due to CE not be able to use Steel, Area Tools, Autotrack, etc users don't want to change, and to be honest until CE does include these capabilities the users wont change.
Well you may never get steel, at least not from Bentley. Area Tools is doable, user Jon Summers of LA Solutions has a tool. Autotrack is also third party, you may need an upgrade or replacement.
As to how to get users to move to the CE, just install it and tell them they must use it. There will be a few weeks of GUI grumbling, but they'll be able to get their work done. And, oh yea, leave v8i installed for use as needed.