This is an interesting question to be answering in a Learning Centre for Prospective customers, but nevertheless it's something you ought to be considering !

Whilst we would like to think that you will want to be with us forever, the change cycle for a DMS system is somewhere around 7 years on average - so it's likely that at some point in the future you may want to move away from us. This may be due to a change in circumstances in your business, or maybe if you sell the business to another business that doesn't use Navigator.

Most DMS system contracts are relatively silent on what happens when you want to move away from them !

Sadly, it's almost impossible to just cancel your contract and move onto a new supplier - there are various considerations :-

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1. Data Migration

You will have built up a large volume of customer data, service history as well as parts stock and accounting data that you will need to migrate to your new provider.

2. Access to invoices

Even with migration of data, you will likely be unable to access copies of invoices. The trend today is to be paperless so copies of historical invoices need to be produced from the software - not great when you want to leave! You need this for all sorts of reasons eg Manufacturer Warranty, HMRC audits and for Year End Accounting production .

We try and make it easy

Fortunately, with Navigator - we are very clear on how we can help you when eventually you may want to leave us, and are committed to providing the following services :-

1. A single user licence for access to information

This is a full Navigator licence, and allows you to use Navigator for reporting, data retrieval and copy invoice production etc. The cost is also simple - it's the price you pay for a single user per month at the point of termination bought in 12 month chunks.

2. Assistance with Data Migration

Within reason, we will provide any data you need to migrate to another solution - all supplied at our contracted consultancy rates.

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Has this got you thinking ?

What about your existing provider ? What do they provide ?

This varies across suppliers from those that absolutely refuse to assist in data migration in any shape or form, and have high minimum costs for keeping a licence for data retrieval (this can in some cases be a 10 user licence on a 3 year deal!!) to those that are quite helpful.

It may be worthwhile checking your contract and contacting your existing supplier, even if you aren't thinking of changing today!

Fortunately, we migrate dealers from pretty much every system in the marketplace - from the largest through to the smaller solutions - and have amassed masses of experience of how to migrate data, and what to do to secure access to information for the future.

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