No software solution for Y2K bug

MUMBAI, JUNE 11: No software package or enterprise solution can guarantee total shielding from the thousand tricky ways of the Year 2000 ...

MUMBAI, JUNE 11: No software package or enterprise solution can guarantee total shielding from the thousand tricky ways of the Year 2000 bug, as Y2K readiness in itself is a continuous process rather than a one-time achievement, say experts.

8220;One can only be more or less prepared for the Y2K problem. No solution in itself can ensure that an organisation would be 100 per cent Y2K proof as year 2000 dawns, because of the complexity of the problem,8221; Gautam Mitra of Siemens Information Systems said at a seminar on Y2K management here today.

8220;It is not enough that different automation systems in an organisation are individually Y2K compliant. But even their compatibility, when they are networked, has to be Y2K ready,8221; said it secure software managing director Peter Theobald.

8220;Similarly when two organisations interact, even if they are Y2K compliant in their own rights, new problems may crop up during the interface. These will have to be tackled on an entirely new footing,8221; he said.

8220;Thus Y2Kreadiness is a continuous process that runs parallel to and grows with the main business of the company,8221; he added.

8220;The problem solving part lies in anticipating as many difficulties as possible which the Y2K changeover can create in an organisation, and being prepared with the pre-emptive solutions for each of them,8221; Mitra said. 8220;This part done, what one can do is to wait and see. When year 2000 is actually here, one might face several problems that had escaped notice earlier. These will have to be tackled then onwards,8221; Mitra said.

Senior manager with consultancy firm Ernst and Young, Haridas Raigaga, said an organisation which is Y2K compliant internally also could get affected when dealing with non-compliant suppliers and customers.

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8220;In today8217;s interconnected environment, an enterprise depends on a host of other enterprises for products and services. Hence not only internal compliance but achieving external preparedness is also essential,8221; he said.

On the problems faced in businessaccounting, Raigaga said 8220;some firms tackle their business accounting problems by postponing or preponing their accounting years as well some critical operations.8221;

Theobald said 8220;Y2K management is a matter of self-assessment and self-certification by an organisation.8221;