It’s the tail end of the Great Recession, and this pilot fish works for a manufacturer that uses aging automated systems that are already paid for — and given the economy, it has no interest in trading up.

“The automated systems use software that monitors the systems and writes to an Access-type database, giving codes,” fish says. “Problem is, each of the 20 systems has its own PC and its own database, and to get reports you have to go to each and every PC and make a copy of each database.”

Fish is tasked with coming up with an easier way to get reports — and while he’s at it, to see if he can make the system send out text messages or email notifications when certain conditions are met.

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