"Weeks Instead of Months"-
How We Automate the Data Conversion Process

Our key to saving costs is the use of powerful software tools that automate the conversion and migration process. Working in conjunction with our proven methodology, these tools can help:

• Significantly reduce implementation time
• Significantly reduce the labor costs associated with data management projects
• Adapt your environment to new applications, information strategies or operational systems quickly and efficiently

The Right Tool for Your Project
We take advantage of two kinds of tools for different sizes and types of projects.

1) For projects which require extensive functionality along with direct access to legacy data:

First-generation data conversion tools: These generate the conversion migration programs (usually in COBOL or C) necessary to extract, transform and move data. Tools include Evolutionary Technologies' ETI Solution tool and Prism Solutions Warehouse and Directory Managers.

2) For projects which require less functionality, ease of use, and have limited budgets:

Second generation data conversion engines: These tools use specialized engines through which the data is passed, apply transformation functions and generate transformed data, ready for loading into the target database. This group includes Informatica's Powermart® and Ardent's DataStage®.

*Data conversions, as used here, refer specifically to the "convert data" component of traditional conversion efforts.