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Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
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April 2023 #15285 Page #54
Backwards Compatibility: Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Investment By Rob Bellian Sales and Marketing Manager
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ackwards compatibility is a feature that allows newer versions of software or hardware to successfully work with older versions. This point came to mind during my recent visit to one of our long-time Vekta customers. This plant in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia has been operating for over 20 years, and to my surprise actually had purchased their very first Vekta Saw 14 years ago (and it’s still going strong, thanks to regular service and preventative maintenance). Designing solutions that are backward-compatible has many benefits, including the ability to use older equipment and software, saving money on upgrades, and reducing the learning curve for new users. One of the other significant benefits of having backwards compatibility is the ability to use legacy systems. Many component manufacturers today are still relying on older software and hardware to run their operations, and the thought of upgrading can be costly and time-consuming. But, if the right investment decisions and choices had been made early on, backwards compatibility would allow these plants to continue using their existing systems while also benefiting from new features and functionality into the future. Backwards compatibility also makes it easier for new users to learn and adapt to a system. During my visit to the Melbourne manufacturer, our conversation included the question of whether there was a need to invest in a new saw or expensive re-engineering and integration. Of course, after 14 years, in most cases the response normally will be yes or “it’s definitely time for an upgrade/replacement.” However, this is where the Vekta design philosophy shines. We design and develop desirable products that are profitable and sustainable over the solution’s life cycle, and in this Vekta customer case, that’s fast approaching 20 years!
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