Y2K: Door creaks open on data for Year 2000 readiness

By Bruce McClintock

The closed door to information about the testing and fixing of date-reliant computer and electronic systems around the country is about to open.

A clear signal of the trend was last week's announcement by Microsoft NZ that it had set up a Year 2000 support line. What wasn't widely reported was that of the 1600 products that Microsoft has tested, up to 93 per cent are apparently compliant. In other words at least 7 per cent are not.

But the significant point is that Microsoft saw the need to get this message out to its customers, as will most other providers of affected products and services as momentum builds over the first half of 1999 for active communications to business partners, customers and the public about Year 2000 readiness.

Get used to being told that certain products and services will not survive the year's end. But get ready, too, for communications which tell customers and business partners that, regardless of problems which are sure to arise, the enterprise expects to be ready. Early completion of testing, and early communication of readiness (or not), will be key competitive advantages for 1999.

Another bell-wether announcement for the year ahead was the appointment of John Belgrave as head of the State Services Commission's new Y2K Project Office.

At his appointment, Mr Belgrave said he was optimistic there was still enough time for the task. In other words, don't necessarily expect the job to be finished in time. We're going to see many stories around this theme - particularly in relation to the public sector.

Private industry has been onto the Year 2000 bug for a long time now. The lesson Y2K project leaders have learned is that, next to starting two years ago, the best thing to do is to set priorities and to plan for the problems that will inevitably arise after January 1, 2000.

* Bruce McClintock is a technology partner at Russell McVeagh. He advises on Year 2000 issues.