TRAVEL businesses have been warned that this is their last chance to prepare themselves for the millennium bug. Action 2000, funded by the Government, has launched a campaign to encourage everyone in the industry to make sure they can carry on working in January.
“Taking no action is not an option if you want to stay in business,” said an Action 2000 spokesman.
“This is a foreseeable act, rather than an act of God, so people may find that if they don’t take any action and things go wrong, they will be in breach of contract.”
The millennium bug is a computer error due to the fact that machines cannot recognise the year 2000 and Action 2000 said that building security, ordering and invoicing are just some of the areas that may be at risk if people have not ensured their computers are completely millennium compliant.
As part of a contingency plan to tackle the bug, Action 2000 said businesses must check that key personnel and external suppliers and consultants will be available to work during the holiday period over new year.
It is also essential to make electronic and hard copy back-ups of business data, and keep off-site copies of back-ups.
Action 2000 advises travel businesses to reschedule route tasks such as invoicing, payments and stock taking so that they are completed before the end of the year. Overdraft facilities should also be negotiated to protect against short-term cash-flow difficulties brought about by customers having millennium bug problems and not being able to pay invoices.
For more information on contingency planning, visit the Action 2000 site at w.bug2000.co.uk or telephone 0845 601 2000.
n Be prepared to back up any statement you make about the millennium readiness of your company or products by appropriate documentation. Check what your staff have said about millennium readiness and take any appropriate action if they have over-committed. Keep written records of your millennium bug actions in case you have to demonstrate due diligence in cases of legal action against you.
n If you find yourself in dispute with either a supplier or customer, consider alternative dispute resolution as the timely way of resolving the problem rather than resorting to court proceedings.
n Check the health and safety implications of potential equipment failure and that employee safety regulations will be met if your business is operating over the millennium date change period.
n Check your contractual commitments to your customers for millennium period deliveries. Check the obligations of your suppliers to you.
n If purchasing new software or equipment, make sure it is millennium compliant. Check for year 2000 exclusions in sales contracts and warranties.