Quit BUGGING
Let the good times roll!" might be the growing feeling of information technology professionals as 1999 ushers in the new millennium.
For many businesses, IT and computer programmers may be their only saviour. After spending millions in new technology to upgrade the service to their customers, many companies are now waking up to the realization that they may have to fork up even more to save themselves the embarrassment of break-downs and the litigation that may follow.
Y2K? A short reference term for the phenomenon computer experts
predict will either crash systems totally or create substantial
havoc to render them useless. Businesses around the world will
spend billions (averaging $2 million for larger corporations),
diverting funds from from new technology and business growth for
an exercise that will virtually have no returns.
With computers playing a more active role in business development,
many entrepreneurs and small business owners may not have the
resources to adequately meet Y2K requirements. Is there hope for
the orderly survival of their business' data and records when
the year 2000 rolls around?
Programmers such as Dave Ghosh of Ravel Software Inc have offered
a novel solution to the problem, particularly for small businesses.
His interest in the problem first started when he noticed a widespread
disregard for compliance with Y2K requirements among sellers and
programmers. Not only were the applications non-Y2K-compliant,
but software engines used to customize them rendered them even
further away from Y2K salvation.
Ravel's first Y2K assessment programme was launched in 1996 and
has since grown into "Unravel 2000," a tool designed
to analyse and assess any existing problems and the estimated
cost of fixing it.
However, a serious drawback for companies spending money on Y2K
resolution is that they could end up churning out millions of
dollars to detect a problem that probably does not exist. Until
the year 2000, no one will know for sure!
"Even if a problem is found, there is no added benefit of
fixing the problem, you just get to continue working.," says
one expert. "It is a hit-and-miss testing procedure of figuring
out what, if anything, might affect your system. So, some are
waiting in hopes of a last minute messiah -a cheaper, easier solution.
For information about subscriptions and advertising for both the "Online" and in the printed version.
