Ep. 251 Breaking Through Bureaucracy: Modernizing Federal Systems in an Era of Digital Urgency

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Many of today’s archaic federal systems have been built over decades. As a result, they are perfected but also fragile. One obvious source of vulnerability is the workforce that created it.

It is hard to believe that COBOL was released in 1960 and is still active in some federal systems. The individuals who developed the code for these systems are now long past retirement age. Some code was accurately documented, and some were not. As a result, the process of transferring to a newer environment is fraught with concern.

Until AI, the only way to understand the underlying code was for a human being to review it line by line. Everyone realized that this process was so tedious and time-consuming that an informal policy emerged, essentially patching the system. They kicked the can down the road for the next generation.

Well, AI is her. It has the unique ability to review code, identify problems, and provide solutions quickly. This will drastically reduce the risk of moving antiquated systems from aging code systems.

Today, we sat down with Kartik Mecheri from Karsun Solutions and Alan Thomas, former Commissioner of GSA FAS. During the interview, they offered suggestions on how best to accomplish the challenging task of digital modernization.

Kartik emphasizes the value of a platform like ReDuX. Utilizing Amazon’s Bedrock, ReDuX allows system developers to create a blueprint for the existing system. When combined with humans, this platform will save money on maintaining older systems and bring much-needed flexibility to new applications.

Listen to learn how Karsun Solutions can reduce costs, increase flexibility, and improve efficiency in the process of digital modernization.

The conversation also touched on the challenges of mission-critical systems, the role of AI in reducing risk, and the evolving job market, suggesting a shift towards strategic and innovative roles.