South Africa`s largest nation-wide community radio broadcaster has partnered with EasiRun Software to revamp its technology infrastructure, gearing up for the millennium switch as well as reaping the advantages of modern computing systems.
Radio Pulpit opted for a technology overhaul because its hardware platform, nearly 20 years old, was heading for obsolescence. The
outdated proprietary system required heavy-duty maintenance and was not year 2000 compliant, says Radio Pulpit`s MIS manager Johann Petrick.
After implementing Acer hardware, EasiRun Software`s two-phase contribution to the project entailed converting legacy software and data files to AcuCobol running on two Unix servers and switching the job control language to EasiRun`s FlexGen menu processor, then preparing and testing for year 2000 compliance.
The initial conversion phase involved about 1 500 programs and utilities - including 800 in-house developed Cobol programs - along with about 350 data files. EasiRun is the sole local distributor of AcuCobol, while FlexGen is the company`s powerful and flexible application development tool.
The Christian radio station runs an in-house IT department, but brought EasiRun on board to supplement its skills and knowledge, as well to overcome time and resource constraints.
Systems involved in the project handle the processing of donations - on which the station depends - as well as marketing initiatives, point-of-sale, assets, general ledger, debit orders and other business systems. The entire administration system, all financials, bookstore data, music catalogue, interviews and study material are also maintained on the in-house developed system.
Year 2000 compliance and testing of the converted programs and data was completed in just two months.
"The switch has provided us with a far more cost effective technology platform," comments Petrick. "It is also significantly faster. Programs which previously had to be run overnight on the old machines can now be run within an hour.
"We also have all the advantages of open systems, including the ability to link PCs and peripherals into the system. The old technology did not offer this level of flexibility."
"In addition, the new system has proven to be highly reliable."
Radio Pulpit has signed a 12-month support contract with EasiRun, as users adapt to the new system, during which support will be provided on a telephonic, on-line and on-site basis.
Radio Pulpit caters for all of South Africa`s major language groups, broadcasting Christian programming 20 hours a day countrywide. Nearly 20 years old, Radio Pulpit is South Africa`s largest nation-wide community radio broadcaster. Its listenership is nearly 500 000.
It also produces programming for transmission by other broadcasters.
EasiRun provides year 2000 solutions, software tools and services to a variety of organisations, developing and marketing its own products as well as importing and distributing solutions on behalf of major international vendors.
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