Public sector technology projects have not had the best reputation in recent years, and only seem to grab the headlines when they run over-budget or fail to deliver what they promised.
Which is probably why the Revenue Commissioners went live today with a new automated entry process for the Irish customs service with relatively little fanfare.
AEP II, as the name suggests, is the second version of a managed service that specialist software firm Icarus provides to Revenue.
The system effectively allows customs' customers to trade electronically with the authorities
"We ensure the absolute integrity of data and, importantly, the identity of users before transactions take place," explains Stephen Treacy, managing director of Icarus.
AEP II has been developed in response to the new Customs Code introduced in 2005 by the EU, with which member states have two years to become compliant.
The code was designed to reflect the realities of international trade, and in particular the increased use of technology and electronic data by European customs services.
The original system has been a low-profile success for Revenue since it went live in 1999. In the interim 12 million messages have been transmitted through the system, which equated to over €50 billion of international trade in 2005 alone.
AEP also withstood the threat of the millennium bug in 2000, the introduction of the euro and the CAP, and the increased workload placed on it by Ireland's bourgeoning economy.
"In some part Icarus played a role in facilitating the Revenue Commissioners achieve their stated objectives over these past eight years - those of compliance, better customer experience, and revenue collection," says Treacy.
"To this end, 90 per cent direct trader electronic trading has been achieved in a relatively short period of time."
AEP II will enable the Irish customs to apply the more demanding security requirements that have been mandated post-September 11th, and also usher in a paperless regime.
As long as it continues to literally and figuratively deliver the goods, Revenue and Icarus will probably be happy that it avoids the glare of publicity.
