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The Defense Business Management System (DBMS), a major legacy accounting system, was retired during a virtual celebration on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Distinguished speakers, current and past employees, and several customers gathered to recognize the accomplishments of those who supported the system over the years.
The history of DBMS
For many decades, DBMS was an integral part of Department of Defense accounting efforts. Originating in the 1960s, DBMS began as the Automated Payroll, Cost and Personnel System, or APCAPS.
"The system grew from being an idea into what might have been the first uniform automated system to provide maximum standardization of systems, methods, documentation, and techniques among operational elements of what was then the Defense Supply Agency," Defense Finance and Accounting Service Director Audrey Davis explained during her remarks.
Over the decades, the system added functions and customers, and parts of it changed hands along with agency names during the 1970s and 80s. DFAS officially opened its doors in 1991, and during that first year, the name APCAPS officially changed to the Defense Business Management System. At one point, up to 190 people worked on the system at the same time, and they were integral to keeping it going.
"DBMS was a huge part of our portfolio of systems and DFAS workload, but also a huge part of our customers' business," said Pamela Franceschi, DFAS Columbus director, during her remarks. "We laid a foundation with our defense agency customers in DBMS and continued to strengthen that partnership throughout the years.
To know that DFAS successfully supported and sustained some of our very first favorable audit opinions for the Department with DCAA and DeCA, that is very impressive. As I reflect over the years, not only did we support our customers in DBMS, but we then helped migrate them to their ERPs."
The retirement of DBMS
DBMS officially decommissioned in January after the final customer moved off of the system in October 2020. DFAS began transitioning customers away from DBMS in 2003. A total of 16 customers moved out of DBMS, including the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Defense Commissary Agency, and DFAS. The Defense Logistics Agency moved to Enterprise Business System (EBS), DFAS migrated to eBIZ, multiple customers shifted to Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs), and the remaining agencies went to the Defense Agencies Initiative (DAI).
"DBMS was the 14th system retired under our RLS, or Retire Legacy Systems, strategic initiative. Our efforts will ensure continued cost savings for the federal government and ultimately save money for the American taxpayer with a projected savings of $872,000 annually," said Paul Gass, Information Technology director.
RLS has been a key part of agency strategy for years, and it took the hard work and dedication of many people to make the transitions possible.
"I am proud of DFAS, proud of the team of teams that each played a role in this system over the last 50 years. As we retire DBMS, it serves as a point of reflection on all those who made DBMS able to accomplish its mission for so many years. I want to add my thanks to all who made DBMS a successful part of our DFAS history and to those who helped transition that capability into DAI. Congratulations to each and every one of you," said Aaron Gillison, DFAS Operations deputy director.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2021 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 412042 |
| Location: | CLEVELAND, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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