THE SOLUTION

Walker now offers the first single-source, end-to-end Y2K service solutions for the mainframe financial business systems of large enterprises. Our solution services encompass the full-solution spectrum of analysis, planning and delivery. Walker is also uniquely positioned to provide both industry-leading business solution applications and Y2K-experienced services professionals to replace or fix non-Y2K compliant mainframe financial applications.

ALL WALKER PRODUCTS ARE YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT

All Walker applications are Y2K compliant--have been for years. However, every Walker customer has other systems which feed or interface with their Walker applications that may not be Y2K compliant. Because financial applications are the hub of any business system enterprise, they receive transaction data from various other operational- or commerce-related systems. Whether these non-Y2K compliant systems are in-house developed or packaged, they will need to be fixed or replaced to ensure they do not adversely effect critical business operations.

Fix or replace?

Something's broken--do you fix it, or replace it? Like anything else, it's a question of time and money. Do you have the time to fix it, and is it more expensive to fix than replace? For most organizations, resources are scarce enough for handling value-added projects, let alone staffing projects like Y2K which promise to deliver little or no added value. And couple the complexity of most legacy systems with the lack of documentation and internal resources who are knowledgeable of their workings, the cost of fixing them most likely outweighs the cost of replacing them.

There is also the complication of the accounting treatment of the costs associated with fixing or replacing non-compliant systems. Generally accepted accounting principles state that repair costs related to the Y2K issue must be expensed. However, if the systems are replaced, the resulting expenses can be capitalized--resulting in a much more favorable impact on a company's bottom line.

What if the application is so unique it can't be replaced?

All companies vary slightly in the mix and approach of their business and information systems. Variances in a company's industry, size, business segment, resources and technical platform all have a role in determining whether their systems can be purchased or whether they must be developed. Over the years, many companies found it necessary to develop business systems that, although critical to their business operations, were not readily available in the software market. Others have found it necessary, at the time, to develop their own custom applications in order to gain competitive advantage.

Regardless of the reason for the uniqueness of these business systems, for some the fact remains that replacement is not an option. For these applications, modification for Y2K compliance is a must. Identifying the Y2K impact to these systems is vital. Finding the right solutions partner to help resolve it can be even more significant.

How do I know how big my Y2K problem is?

Determining the impact of the Y2K phenomenon on an organization is crucial to securing the appropriate amount of funding and resources necessary to resolve it. This is especially true with the limited time remaining (less than 150 weeks). A focused impact assessment can significantly maximize solution implementation effectiveness and minimize delivery cost. Walker provides organizations with the methodology, tools, business knowledge and resources to accurately determine what needs to be fixed, how to fix it, and most importantly--what doesn't need fixing.

How many year 2000 solution providing companies must I engaged to solve my problem?

For mainframe financial applications, the answer is one--Walker. Walker's new solution services encompass analysis, planning and implementation. Walker provides a single source for best-of-breed Y2K solutions for the finance systems of large companies. Walker uniquely has the methodology, products and services to replace or fix non-Y2K compliant financial applications.

METHODOLOGY

Our solution methodology fully leverages Viasoft's Enterprise 2000, which combines a proven repeatable process, world-class technology and professional services to handle the Y2K challenge. Viasoft's Enterprise 2000 minimizes the risk and disruption associated with Y2K solutions by accelerating assessment processes and increasing productivity.

PRODUCTS

Our products allow organizations to replace their existing non-Y2K compliant mainframe applications with industry-leading enterprise client/server business solutions. Walker is widely recognized as the premier provider of enterprise client/server finance and administration applications and services for Global 2000 organizations with high transaction volume requirements.

The Walker's complete suite of solutions includes Tamaris C/S core financials and the Business Framework Series of financial management and planning products. Tamaris C/S is the only client/server financial suite running native in the IBM S/390 Parallel Sysplex MVS/CICS/DB2 environment. Tamaris C/S modules include general ledger, fixed assets, project cost management, accounts payable, purchase order, inventory management and accounts receivable. The Business Framework Series offers budgeting and financial consolidation. All may be accessed through Walker's flexible, user-friendly WalkerClient desktop that offers a choice of Windows, Web browser or character-based interface.

SERVICES

Our Y2K Solution Services are the key enabler to resolving all non-compliant financial applications. The focused approach of our services is the key differentiation for delivering the most thorough and cost-effective solutions possible. Focusing the assessment portion of any project significantly maximizes the effectiveness of the solution implementation. Especially in Y2K projects, high emphasis on focus can substantially minimize the cost of delivering compliant solutions.

In order to minimize risk and costs in a Y2K effort, it is imperative to assess and prioritize all impacted elements of an organization's business systems. This prioritization will drive the order and emphasis of the project, and will also identify the areas that do not warrant the investment or risk to convert. The ability to accurately assess the impact of Y2K conversion is as important as the ability to develop and delivery the components of the Y2K solution. Walker leverages the industry-leading Y2K methodology, tools, business knowledge and resources to focus on exactly what needs to be fixed, how to fix it, and most importantly--what doesn't need fixing.

As experts in financial business solutions, we at Walker provide the full spectrum of necessary expertise to bring any mainframe financial application to Y2K compliance. We have vast experience in financial applications, project management, mainframe and enterprise client/server technology, and providing Y2K solutions. Walker is also uniquely qualified to augment, or to completely comprise, an organization's financial systems Y2K effort.

As a financial application developer and business solutions provider, we are able to offer our customers "one-stop-shopping" for a comprehensive set of solution services and Y2K-compliant financial applications. Our wide range of Y2K expertise includes the following:

• Financial systems experts to help analyze finance and administrative systems for compliance, design and develop an appropriate fix/replace strategy for Y2K compliance.
• Mainframe technical resources to help analyze, design, and develop a custom solution or implement packaged mainframe solutions for Y2K compliance.
• System integration specialists with expertise in building and implementing interfaces with surrounding process- or data-dependent applications.
• Project management professionals to help plan and manage an organization's conversion project to Y2K compliance with a proven solution methodology.
• Access to a large, world-wide pool of experienced mainframe COBOL programmers.

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