De Stentor reported that due to a software glitch, 35 Shell gas stations in the Netherlands were forced to close shop; after having received the wrong software update from head-offices. It's a bit like the NS-glitch that affected Postbank customers earlier this week. Or the typical Friday thirteen hitch that hit VISA's card processing last week (see BBC-article).
Some other errors occuring in the US lead to PaymentsNews Linda Elliot commenting on the dependence we have on transaction systems and the necessity of being constantly alert:
Businesses who based at least part of their value proposition on fault tolerance in the past should be studied by those new comers who offer compelling services, but have found that always-on service requires finesse, precision and constant attention.
