INFO: How Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture are licensed

This Zetadocs technical note applies to:

• Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central with:
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central online
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 14 and later on premises or hosted
• Zetadocs v.11.0 and later codeunits with:
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 13 and 14 on premises or hosted

Summary

This technote explains how the Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central is licensed, how the traditional Zetadocs C/AL codeunits are licensed and our dual software rights policy for customers who upgrade to the extension from those codeunits.

More information

Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central

The modern way of adding functionality to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is by installing an extension, which is a configurable pre-built add-on app. The Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central is published in Microsoft AppSource (Microsoft’s app store for business apps) and may be used with Business Central online in the Microsoft Cloud, or on premises with the customer’s own infrastructure, or hosted for the customer in a private cloud by a Dynamics partner.  It supports Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 14 and later.

The extension uses the Zetadocs Cloud Service to send emails and archive documents to Microsoft 365. This is a modern multi-tenant app service built on Microsoft Azure’s cloud architecture so that it remains responsive, even at busy times. Cloud services are sold on a subscription basis as they are maintained on behalf of the customer by the service provider. They are available 24x7 and always up to date on the latest software release.

Subscription licensing

As it uses the Zetadocs Cloud Service, the Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central is licensed on a subscription basis, irrespective of how Business Central is deployed.

Subscription software licenses for Zetadocs are based on the number of named users given access to its functionality. Subscriptions are billed annually in advance with an initial contract term of 12 months. The license entitles use by the number of named Zetadocs Capture and Zetadocs Delivery users purchased only whilst the subscription is being paid. The license lapses if the subscription is not renewed.

Software Assurance is included with all subscriptions and this provides all software version upgrades and support for the duration of the subscription contract.

Zetadocs v.11.0 and later codeunits

Microsoft Dynamics NAV used codeunits for adding functionality, and Business Central 13 and 14 continued with this approach. Therefore Zetadocs v.11.0 and later include C/AL codeunits for installing on these earlier Business Central systems on premises or hosted.

Perpetual licensing

At the time of writing, Microsoft continues to offer Business Central on a perpetual licensing basis to customers for on-premises deployments.  Zetadocs codeunits are sold with a perpetual license.       

With perpetual software licensing, customers pay an upfront charge for the software license, as well as purchasing a Software Assurance contract which provides additional benefits such as software fixes and support during the period of the contract: typically a year, renewing annually. The cost of the Software Assurance for Zetadocs is based on the total price of all Zetadocs codeunits purchased.

After the initial Software Assurance contract period for Zetadocs ends, customers have the option of continuing to use the current version of the software without additional support, or to renew the Software Assurance for continued access to software fixes and updates, version upgrades and technical support.

Dual software rights

Business Central 14 is the final version of Business Central that supports both codeunits and extensions to extend functionality. Customers who have purchased Business Central 14 on a perpetual licensing basis also wanting to buy Zetadocs Delivery and/or Zetadocs Capture on a perpetual license basis, can continue to do so by purchasing the Zetadocs codeunits.

Should these customers prefer to deploy add-ons using extensions instead of the Zetadocs codeunits, they can do so by installing the Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central by requesting and using the subscription license Equisys offers them at no extra cost. This subscription license will remain in force for the same period as their initial Software Assurance contract.

Likewise, existing Zetadocs for NAV customers whose Software Assurance contract is current and fully paid can obtain these same dual software rights without extra cost. This means that the ongoing charges for Zetadocs will not immediately change when an existing customer upgrades from Dynamics NAV to Business Central and uses the Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central instead of the Zetadocs codeunits.

Once a customer has exercised these dual software rights, any additional licenses purchased, such as extra user licenses, will be on a subscription basis at normal subscription prices.

Until 31st December 2022, customers who exercise these dual software rights and then maintain their Software Assurance contract and any additional subscription licenses without any break will be entitled to continuing dual software rights. The renewal charge is subject to a small annual increase or the current inflation rate, whichever is greater.

From 1st January 2023, customers may exercise these dual software rights for the remainder of their current Software Assurance contract period, with normal subscription prices applying to their use of the Zetadocs Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central anytime thereafter.

Please ask your Microsoft partner to contact Equisys if you would like to changeover to using the Delivery and Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central.

References

Zetadocs Delivery & Zetadocs Capture Extension for Business Central download

Last updated: 29^th September 2022 (CO) 

Keywords: licence opex capex perpetual rental subscription