TCM Questions the adage, “We have always done it that way”

Collin Yates at the very bottom of England preparing for a cycle ride that would take him far outside his comfort zone.

When it comes to planning a trip, whether by car, cycle or simply on foot, there comes a time when seeking a better way becomes critical; if your GPI has led you to the edge of an uncrossable lake or to a clifftop, its time to consult a map. Directions provided by more knowledgeable parties, familiar with the locality and have already made the journey offer a way out. An alternate path that is less demanding and in reality, saves wear and tear and most likely time. The opportunity to spend more time at your destination is always a welcome outcome.

Closer to home, the knowledge needed to traverse a country requires additional support including the presence of knowledgeable parties familiar with the route. In this case, it was TCM’s own Collin Yates who road his bike from Land’s End to John O’Groats. From England to Scotland following historical roads and pathways, it proved to be as challenging as it was invigorating. And he reached his destination almost a thousand kilometers “up the road.”

For many of us, access to good maps is an essential tool whenever we venture into something new. A destination we might be unsure about or just a reunion of long-ago forged friendships. Perhaps as simple as finding a new place to dine or to just explore, maps serve a useful purpose. And behind every map are individuals well versed in setting expectations and then giving you enough information to plot the best way to reach your destination.

When it comes to the NonStop community central to our coming together for a conference or event is the understanding that maps will be everywhere we turn. The objective of course is to discern what might make the best contribution to a technology journey. Many options do exist but how to decide which map to follow? Just as important, who is providing the map. There is no better forum for determining outcomes best suited to your own needs than hearing from those who have already made the journey.

Shortly, the NonStop community will gather in Monterey, California, for the annual NonStop Technical Boot Camp 2024. For many NonStop community members this is the highlight of the year. Organized by those experienced in conducting such conferences and ensuring a lively mix of vendors, consultants and influencers, it is easy to see the value proposition such conferences afford participants. However, what might be overlooked is just how diverse the experiences are likely to be when such a gathering takes place. International diversity? Product variances? Personal networks? It’s all showcased at these events.

NET working should never be confused with NOT working. And SocialiZING has nothing to do with Social CLIMBING. Irrespective of the perceptions of those we work with about what transpires at NonStop conferences, it is perhaps the off-cuff anecdote or the headline of supporting collateral that catches our attention. The absolute best way, as marketing messages might suggest, will always be controversial even as we all can agree that better ways exist. The possibility that attendees will come across something that accelerates their usage of NonStop in support of a new application is highly likely.

“For as long as we have supported the NonStop community, there has always been the need to promote new ideas,” said Danial Craig, TCM Managing Director. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise to the NonStop community that with the projects we do and from the NonStop customers with whom we interact, we are perhaps the best resource to access when looking at how best to capitalize on the value provided by NonStop systems today.” It’s never NOT working when you can discuss your ideas with those who have successfully completed the journey you consider pursuing.

For us at TCM, with the presence we enjoy across the NonStop community, it never ceases to surprise us that with NonStop system and solution refreshes, there is no deeper understanding of what the new NonStop system might deliver. There is always something about installing a new NonStop system that deserves consideration – why was this new system developed and what was the end-use case that fueled a decision to do something different. “That’s the way we have always done it may not be sufficient an excuse to ignore all that has become available; think Uber and even AirBNB who went out of the way not just to diverge from any perceived model but to smash them entirely,” said TCM’s Andy Vasey. Possibly it’s respective of how I was raised, my father always told me, question everything, never take anything for granted”.

“So often we see a new NonStop system being installed, data being replicated from the old to the new and the same strategies, processes and scripts in use on the older system simply transferred to the new system,” said Andy Vasey. “It may not be obvious at first to the NonStop customer but at TCM, we have likely already completed a number of refreshes involving the new system and are in an ideal position to better inform the NonStop customer about new capabilities that in all likelihood offer them a better way to do their job. And don’t forget too when it comes to modernization projects, few companies can match the skillsets TCM has developed.”

Collin Yates never questioned cycling routes he had always done as he pushed himself and completed something entirely new. Yes, he covered the distance making to the very end reaching the northernmost top of Scotland.

At TCM we see this often where these NonStop customers are not getting the best from their upgraded NonStop systems. Not asking those parties that have already experienced the full value on offer with the latest NonStop system are opportunities missed. At a fundamental level, asking questions and discussing options simply means a NonStop customer wont accidently face the edge of a lake or stand atop a cliff face. And there is no greater collection of experienced parties that you will come across than what you will encounter at events like the upcoming TBC 2024.

There is always a better way. Business can be improved upon when a refresh proves to be an opportunity to rethink an approach. Faster database access. Better storage options. Serious upgrades to security. For TCM, our consultants also come with tools and utilities designed to make any NonStop refresh more productive and if you join in the conversations at TBC 2024, you will hear firsthand of what can be expected from a refresh.

NET working is definitely far from NOT working. And yet, how many times have we heard about attendees downplaying the importance of the many sidebar conversations that take place, with real NonStop customers and with NonStop’s team members only too willing to offer guidance. It is from NET working that maps can be obtained and where the wisdom of those who have gone before can be leveraged. Whether it is the services of TCM that are recognized or even the products provided by TCM including TCM InSight, expect to hear everything about us at TBC 2024. And watch too for further updates on social media as our collective get together in Monterey draws near.

We hope to see you as we hope too that you will enjoy the opportunities to socialize and network. After all, since the time of the very first computer, it’s been a continuing exercise in learning and with the latest iterations of NonStop – traditional and virtual – there is wider recognition that yes, tackling a new deployment of NonStop, there is always the option to pursue a better way!

nonstop@tcm.uk.com   www.tcm.uk.com