Purchase SWS

Why teams invest in SWS

Organizations buy SWS when they need to move faster without multiplying PeopleSoft custom development.

• Deliver integrations faster for vendors, portals, analytics, and AI projects
• Lower cost per API compared to repeated bespoke Integration Broker development
• Reduce dependence on scarce specialists for standard read-oriented data exposure
• Modernize more safely with a bolt-on product that does not modify delivered PeopleSoft objects
• Create a reusable data layer instead of building one-off services repeatedly

See also Why Buy SWS for the buyer-focused overview.

Choose the tier that matches your integration program

SWS is licensed per PeopleSoft environment with annual support and maintenance. Every tier includes JSON, XML, and CSV support, sample data, and bug fixes.

ROI in plain language

A single traditional PeopleSoft web service costs $3,600-$13,000 to develop using conventional Integration Broker methods. That means:

• the Junior tier often pays for itself after just 1-3 integrations
• the Pro tier can replace $108,000-$390,000 worth of custom development across 30 web services
• the Enterprise tier can cost less than building only a few bespoke services while removing future growth constraints

The annual recurring fee covers ongoing support, bug fixes, and access to the Cedar Hills Group team. It is a fraction of the cost of maintaining a large portfolio of one-off integrations.

5-year total cost example (Pro tier)

• Year 1: $18,000 (purchase, includes first year of support)
• Years 2-5: $3,600/year x 4 = $14,400
• 5-year total: $32,400 for 30 web services, all upgrades included, and ongoing support from Cedar Hills Group

Compared to building and maintaining 30 bespoke Integration Broker services, that is a materially different cost structure.

What every license includes

How the license works

• Perpetual license. You buy SWS once. You keep the right to run the version you licensed, even if you choose not to renew annual support.
• Annual support and maintenance covers bug fixes, patches, all version upgrades (minor and major), your tier’s support hours, and access to the private GitHub repository. The first year is included in the purchase price; renewal is annual.
• If you do not renew: SWS continues to run on the version you have. Renewal is required to resume patches, upgrades, and support.
• Support hours do not roll over. Unused hours reset at each renewal.

Trial and demo access

If you want to exercise SWS before installing it in your own environment, Cedar Hills Group can grant you access to a demo PeopleSoft environment we maintain for that purpose. You can:

• Hit live SWS endpoints and see the JSON, XML, and CSV responses
• Try the PsoftQL syntax against real PeopleSoft data
• Exercise the trusted-server identity flow against a real authenticated SWS service
• Match the demo environment to your pillar - Financials, HCM, or Campus Solutions

This avoids the “we have not bought it yet, but you have already shipped us the code” awkwardness. Contact Chris Malek and mention which PeopleSoft pillar is most relevant to your evaluation.

See SWS in a finished product

psLens, the PeopleSoft operations and security console from Cedar Hills Group, runs entirely on SWS as its data layer — every object search, dashboard, alert, and audit report in it is SWS queries under the hood. If you want to see what SWS supports at production scale before buying, a psLens demo doubles as a live demonstration of SWS against a real PeopleSoft environment.

Common purchase questions

See also the full SWS FAQ for capability, integration, and architecture questions. The questions below focus on the purchase and licensing flow.

What does the annual support and maintenance fee include? Bug fixes, patches, all version upgrades (minor and major), your tier’s support hours, and access to the private GitHub repository. The first year is bundled into the purchase price. If you choose not to renew, you keep the right to run the version you licensed, but no further patches or upgrades are provided.

Do unused support hours roll over? No. Support hours reset at each annual renewal.

What if I stop paying the annual fee, or what happens if Cedar Hills Group is unavailable? SWS is a perpetual, per-environment license. The installed code is standard PeopleSoft Integration Broker technology with no external runtime, no phone-home, and no SaaS dependency — once SWS is in your environment, it keeps running whether or not Cedar Hills Group is reachable. If you choose to stop renewing annual support, SWS continues running on the version you installed; you simply forgo future patches and upgrades. Renewing reactivates patches, upgrades, and support.

What happens if I exceed my web service limit? You can upgrade to the next tier at any time. The upgrade price is the difference between your current tier and the new tier.

Do I need a PeopleSoft developer? For most use cases, no. SWS web services are created through configuration by a PeopleSoft power user who can write SQL. PeopleCode development is not required for standard SWS GET services.

How long does installation take? SWS installs as a standard PeopleSoft Application Designer project. Self-service installation typically takes under an hour. Enterprise and System Integrator tiers include guided installation via Zoom.

Does SWS modify delivered PeopleSoft objects? No. SWS is delivered as a standalone Application Designer project with its own custom objects. Zero delivered PeopleSoft objects are modified, which means SWS will not conflict with PeopleSoft updates or patches.

Can SWS support AI and LLM integrations? Yes. SWS exposes PeopleSoft data as clean REST APIs that return structured JSON, which is exactly what AI systems need for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines, LLM integrations, and chatbot backends.

Which tier is right for my institution? If you have a small number of targeted integrations, start with Junior. If you have an active integration program with multiple vendors, Pro is a strong fit. If you are pursuing digital transformation with broad data access needs, Enterprise gives you unlimited capacity. System Integrator is designed for consulting firms managing multiple client environments.

License terms and compliance

The pricing tiers above are governed by a written license agreement. Each tier includes the same compliance model: a perpetual, per-environment license, verified annually by a short customer-run self-audit.

• License Agreement — scope of the license, restrictions, confidentiality of source, audit rights, and governing terms.
• Self-Audit Procedure — the single SQL query you run once a year against the SWS configuration table to confirm your active web service count. Cedar Hills Group does not connect to your systems.
• Copyright Notice — the header text embedded in every delivered SWS file and your obligation to preserve it.

Ready to get started?

Contact Chris Malek for a personalized consultation and to discuss which tier fits your institution’s needs.