Disable License Request Features

Wow this thread was refreshing to find. We have been with SS now for 3+ years. I remember complaining about this to our 'customer care rep' shortly after we implemented it... and then filling out one of the feedback form to remove this banner. (pre this wonderful open request forum) I am laughing (in shared pain) reading some of these posts. I really can't add anything more than has been said. But what the heck, one more data point. And it renewed my need to vent again.

We are a small AEC firm. We spend more than a fair bit of $ on the enterprise version. Sure, we are not Apple or Amazon, so may not mean much to SS. But it's a lot to us. We simply could not afford to use this platform if we provided a license to all the users who requested one. Sorry. Wish we could. I felt like we did the right thing by NOT going with other platforms that were less customizable and licensed per user. Instead, we went enterprise, created what I think is a highly customized platform specific to our needs. My heart sank after we implemented the program to our firm, and I saw what the staff was seeing in the banner... because I instantly knew this small thing was going to be an issue. I always had a license setting it up, so had no idea.

Issues:

• HR issues... "why can't I get a license?" "Why do they have a license?"
• Time suck issues dealing with requests that will not be granted (See HR issues)
• Loss of credibility with our staff (as noted by others above)
  • The software is bootlegged
  • Our company is cheap
  • Our company is poor
  • Management is stupid, there are better software options out there
• Belief that the software doesn't 'work right'... So many times I have shown someone how to do something in SS, or reviewed a process in a managers meeting, only to hear "Maybe it works that way for YOU.. but I don't have a license." But what do you know... it DOES work that way for them to... because they don't need a license.
• Bad impressions with our clients - NONE of our project managers have (or need) a license. (That would require another 40 licenses) In meetings with our clients, they are pulling up project schedules, dashboards, etc in front of clients, all nicely branded with the inferiority banner.
• Lack of engagement with Smartsheet due to all the above
• The banners are misleading

So... they are not a part of our team??? And when once isn't enough... you need to put in two links?

What is the purpose of enterprise over business? Why, in an enterprise situation would I want users to be able to create any file they want, share it with whoever they want? Honestly... have you ever looked at a network drive before. I swear that a project folder on our network has a shelf life of 2 years before it's out of control with everyone's pet folders and special files. How do you manage documents and information this way? We are trying to implement a consistent platform... why would I want a user to create alternative templates, then sharing it around with other staff? We have enough trouble trying to regulate CAD standards and file management as it is...

In an enterprise solution like ours, using control center, where the templates and sheets are 'locked down' tight so that even editors can't change them, and sharing privileges are restricted... what benefit would having a license give them? They won't be able to change any of the sheets we have provided for them... they will only be able to make 'new things'.

Reading this, I likely come across as a grade A jerk micromanager who hates innovation... but here is the thing... I have a pool of 5 licenses that I try to rotate. I BEG creative team members to take a license and help innovate. Help us improve. Create new things... new processes, share it with the team, see what we can adapt in. But they are (rightly) to busy doing their actual job instead of developing cool data management systems. Giving out licenses and the freedom that comes with licenses could cause more trouble in some enterprise situations.

Sigh... I try to see the best in a situation. We are a for profit business too. I understand the intent. But keep this in mind... as noted by the many users here, there is a downside. You potentially have companies full of employees who view SS as inferior because of that banner. Be creative... find another way to upsell besides trying to embarrass companies into buying more licenses.

Suggestions, if you MUST have the banner:

• Have the upgrade request come up when they try to do something that needs a license (not my favorite) as mentioned by @Matthew L
• Put the banner on their home page only, or some kind of temporary splash screen (also not my favorite)
• But maybe also include the message that they ARE a part of an enterprise team, and that the license may not be necessary for this enterprise

Thanks

Ok... found it. Not sure why the other link above didn't work... but the thread I had posted on was here:

Disable License Request Features — Smartsheet Community

Its the same topic, so wondering if it should be merged... it has 131 upvotes, and this one has 51 upvotes. So it seems like a popular topic.

When a new collaborator first creates a login and tries to access the sheet which was shared with them, Smartsheet asks if they want access to their organization's workspace. This is actually asking if they want to request a license. This creates a large amount of illegitimate license requests which have to be cleaned up and cause confusion. Smartsheet should either be more upfront with the messaging or somehow indicate the collaborator has access to the shared sheet, but to "click here if they wish to have a license to expand their user capabilities".

The lack of ability to disable this unwanted feature does not honor the way this product is pitched by the Smartsheet sales team. This absolutely feels like a cash grab. I would suggest that anyone who bumps into this thread in the future rate their mobile all negatively and add this as the reason why in their review.

For management of licensing, I agree with with the comments above. Users don't understand if they need a license or not until we ask them questions what they are using Smartsheet for. I get lots of email requests every week from Smartsheet for users requesting licenses which is very frustrating in only have to delete those emails. We have our own operating procedures in place that requires our users to request access to Smartsheet which each request has to be approved by management.

This feature within Smartsheet makes it confusing to our users to follow our company operating procedures which is also required for our auditing procedures. In addition, it makes more administrative work for our team which lessens our productivity with our minimal staff. This thread has been going on for several years now for this request. I ask Smartsheet would at least provided the option to disable this ability for users to request licensing through the application. Thank you.