Hard and Soft Costs Are Often Only Discovered After Installation of No-cost, No-support Software
ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 2009 – GT Software (www.GTSoftware.com) will expose one of the biggest myths of enterprise software, with a new webcast explaining the pitfalls of "free" tools for managing, integrating, and service-enabling mainframe software. A leading provider of mainframe integration and data access solutions, GT Software has scheduled the webcast for Dec. 2, 11am Eastern; registration is available on the company's
web site.
The webcast will use specific examples to explain what customers are really getting, and what they can expect to encounter, when they opt for “free” SOA tools provided by some system vendors. Presenters Rob Morris, Chief Strategy Officer and Don Spoerke, Mainframe Integration Expert at GT Software, will discuss proven mainframe integration projects that achieved their objectives without breaking the bank.
"In times of economic stress and tight IT budgets, it is natural to look for solutions that will cut costs. While the word 'free' can be very appealing, it is also misleading" said Morris. "Like a moth attracted to a flame, within a few days or weeks after installing free tools, enterprises can be burned by the need to hire outside consultants to implement, integrate, or support tools that come without all the elements that are necessary for success."
The webcast will include some actual examples of customers that have extinguished the flame by eliminating free tools in favor of enterprise-worthy software.
“Companies are beginning to realize that free tools, or those bundled with a system purchase, come with a hidden price tag: they rarely accomplish what professionally sold and supported software does”, Morris said. “The price is exacted both in soft dollars (delays in implementations) and hard costs, including hiring of consultants and integrators, as well as opportunity costs, when businesses are forced to divert development resources to supporting the unsupported software.”
"No one can debate the relevance of the mainframe in the enterprise, but leveraging mainframe applications and data requires adding new tools and technologies," said Morris. "The allure to use seemingly 'free' tools is powerful. But enterprises cannot afford to settle for complex, sub-standard solutions that have hidden costs, limited capabilities, and also add MIPS to an already overtaxed environment."
