IBM i Brings Critical Value to Any Digital-First Strategy
April 6, 2023
Digital transformation and modernization initiatives continue driving businesses forward. These businesses are actively developing digital-first strategies and seeking out tools to accomplish everything from managing operations and workflows, to reducing costs and boosting productivity. In all the momentum and excitement for modernization, there have been myths that IBM i is dead, which Rocket Software and IDC completely disagree with. High-end, enterprise-class systems that are so well-established, like IBM i, sometimes fail to capture the same amount of attention as other, more flashy areas might get.
Often considered an ‘over-the-hill’ platform, IBM i has long suffered from a perception problem with some seeing it as non-essential moving forward. And while modernization efforts have reached the platform in some cases, it’s generally seen as a costly, time-consuming endeavor that only adds more complexity to the lives of IT teams. The reality though, is quite different.
According to a recent IDC Spotlight report, there is still an important role for IBM i to play in a digital-first business strategy. However, for that to be true, businesses that leverage these systems can’t sit idle. Just because IBM i technically can run on decades-old user interfaces and operating systems, doesn’t mean they should. Businesses that leverage the right modernization tools can enable these critical systems to be just as innovative and competitive as newer systems.
IBM i Modernization Requires a Commitment to Continuous Improvement
When it comes to modernization in IBM i, IDC Research Vice President Peter Rutten notes that the best approach isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest footprint. Instead, it’s about incremental and consistent modernization progress in day-to-day activities. For organizations that operate with those high-end, enterprise-class platforms, like IBM i, that would mean, according to Rutten, “a constant cadence of smaller and larger initiatives over time, such as staying up to date with new hardware releases, or at least not falling more than one generation behind.”
Taking a Holistic Approach to Modernization
According to IDC, any attempt at IBM i modernization needs to be rooted in a comprehensive approach. These platforms have many components and pieces to them, so if a business is going about modernizing in a disorganized, haphazard way, the chances of long-term success are dramatically reduced. As Rutten explains, “don’t modernize one part of the platform without quantitatively determining whether that part is indeed of the highest priority.” With that in mind, for anyone considering beginning an IBM i modernization project, working with a trusted partner that offers a breadth of solutions sets is critical, delivering the right tools to address every aspect and component that needs modernizing.
IBM i Adds Value to Your IT Operations
IBM i is a truly unique operating system, offering the businesses that leverage it integration with the virtualization layer, transactional system, database, and application servers, which in turn provides a solid foundation for innovation while greatly reducing operating costs. As IDC notes, with such a deep level of integration, businesses don’t need to tie up a large number of IT staff to run it, leaving IBM i to reliably handle operations and run on its own.
With all that in mind, the value of IBM i is clear, but the path to modernization isn’t always that easy. IBM i modernization has a reputation for complexity and complication. But with the right tools, like the Rocket® Modernization Solutions for IBM® i, businesses can modernize critical systems while ensuring they stay aligned with their digital-first business strategies.
Find out what else the IDC team recommends to fully tap into the potential of your IBM i.
