About the Release Cycle

Release Types

Each year we deliver two major releases. A major release, also referred to as a feature release, contains lots of new features and sometimes even new modules, along with minor fixes to existing functionality where needed.

Minor releases, also referred to as patches, and hotfixes are released as and when needed and typically include more significant fixes to existing features in the platform.

The table below provides an overview of the types of releases that are made available throughout the year.

Release Communication

We will notify you by email of each upcoming major release. In this email we will highlight to you the most significant enhancements in the release, explaining how they will help you get the most out of our platform. In addition to the summary overview, we provide comprehensive release notes where every new feature and enhancement is described in detail. Finally all relevant product documentation is updated to include the new release features.

As much as we’d love for you to read all of our release notes and product documentation we believe the best way to learn all about the new features in our releases is through our release webinars. With every major release we will host a live webinar where we will explain all of the great new features in the release, demonstrate to you how to use them, and suggest ways to incorporate them into your own feedback programmes. With a live Q&A at the end, you can ask any questions you may have and get the guidance of our platform experts. Better still, you can tell us what you think about the new features and suggest further ways to improve upon them.

Release Approach

Like most software companies, our automated upgrade process allows us to upgrade all customers to the latest release at the same time, ensuring none of our customers are left behind and everyone has access to the latest version of our platform. There’s nothing for you to do other than login and start using all the great new features available to you.

We do realise however, that some of our more complex and active customers may wish to test out some of the new features in a major release, prior to the release being launched to all customers. We therefore have two phases for each major release.

• Early access phase: by invitation only, this phase provides access to a sandbox environment where the release is made available typically two months prior to its general availability.

• General availability phase: automatic upgrade to all customer installations on pre-communicated dates.

Our Early Access Program provides an opportunity for you to test out new features, understand how they will work in the context of your existing feedback programs, and provide feedback to our product team to allow us to ensure the features are working in the most optimal way. By testing out and implementing the new features in a sandbox environment, you can more quickly take advantage of them once the release is generally available. Automated testing can also be deployed for more complex programs to ensure the full impact of a new feature is fully understood prior to launching.

In addition to offering this early access phase, we also offer support and services to help ensure a smooth upgrade for customers with high levels of customisation. Please contact your account representative for further information.