Status of Dignity-Eulogica conversion

The picture shows David Wright from Eulogica discussing the conversion with Roger Harrop from Dignity Software. Eulogica is working to create a special edition of the Eulogica software to benefit Dignity clients. This new software is incorporating not only the traditional benefits of the Eulogica system, like the graphical diary and a reliable database, but also traditional functionality from the Dignity system, laid out in a manner familiar to Dignity users. Every Dignity system client will be offered a smooth transition to this new merged “super-system”. A conversion tool is being provided to import old funerals, contacts, prices and other data from Dignity to the new system. Hence the past users of the Dignity system will get the best of both worlds - advanced, familiar functionality as well as high class support from a dedicated, specialist supplier, all while retaining their historical funeral information.

There are three aspects to this work, and as of September 2009, the status is as follows:

• We are creating the conversion tool to import data from Dignity to Eulogica, so that users coming from the Dignity system can be ensured their old data are safe for the future. This part of the project has been going on over Summer, and is more or less finished now.
• Eulogica Ltd is working on extending Eulogica to handle traditional Dignity functionality, including relevant input fields and reports. This work has been ongoing for most of this year, and we expect the bulk of the work to be complete some time in October 2009. Funeral businesses can then start upgrading to the system, which will of course also be updated and improved regularly in the future, as part of the standard ongoing Eulogica partnership. At Eulogica Ltd we always listen to requests and ideas from users and incrementally release new and more advanced software versions.
• Thirdly, there is the field work where we actually install Eulogica to replace Dignity at funeral premises, train the staff, and convert the data. At an agreed date, each client will receive a visit from Eulogica Ltd. One day of free work will be available, and of course, additional days of training or tailoring can be added for a fee.

This last phase will naturally have to come after the two others. We expect the actual conversion work to keep us busy for most of the coming winter of 2009-2010, but it has started already: Some users of the old Dignity system wanted to get started with Eulogica the sooner the better and have now already had Eulogica installed. These users are entering new funerals to Eulogica, while using the old Dignity system to look up old funerals, until such time that the conversion can be completed.

To summarise, we expect to be busy with the conversion for quite some time. Most Dignity users have told us there is no need to rush the process, so we are using the time it takes to do ensure the quality that you have come to expect from Eulogica. Once all the software is ready to go, we will contact every Dignity client directly to discuss the details of the transition. This will happen over the next half a year or so. Of course, if you are a user of the Dignity system and you wish to convert sooner rather than later, just call us to discuss what can be done.

With all these new clients, we are also looking to expand our capacity by hiring one more member of staff. A formal advertisement will be forthcoming, but if you already know someone who would be interested in working for Eulogica, feel free to make contact!