“Sooner or later, you need to bite the bullet and modernize. If you want to keep the application and the value it gives, you’ve got to modernise it.”
Mark Even, IBM System Lab Services
Working, as I do, with BCD Software (now Fresche Solutions)’s complete suite of IBM i development, modernisation and mobilisation tools, I was very interested to read one of the articles published in ibmsystemsmag.com published last month, entitled ‘Making the case for modernization. Why updating application makes good business sense’.
The article provided a detailed examination of the various business drivers for modernisation of IBM i platforms. For businesses wishing to continue to leverage the value and ROI of IBM i applications the drivers for modernisation can be categorised into five areas:
- Improving the user interface
- Ability to maintain applications
- Improving performance
- Database requirements
- Globalisation
Modernising existing 5250 green screens to provide a new modern user interface through a web browser is a very common business driver. Coupled with the requirement to access applications through a variety of different devices, including tablet and smartphone, the requirement for a web-based browser becomes even more important.
An organisation may, for instance, have invested in new, modern applications and tools within their operation which all feature a web graphical user interface (GUI). Users may have to switch between 5250 green screens and web pages for different applications and are requesting a common web GUI across all applications. Indeed, the new generation of employees may never have even seen a 5250-style green screen, let alone used one before joining the business.
From a technical perspective, modernising an existing application can be driven by the need to maintain and add new functions as the demands of the business change. This can be particularly important in industries, such as financial where regulatory changes are frequent and require applications to be updated to comply quickly and efficiently.
Businesses require more and more applications to interact with each other internally (and with external customers and supplier applications) seamlessly, which can be difficult without modernising AS/400 databases to an IBM DB2 for instance.
Whatever the driver, the benefits of modernisation of existing applications are many. Not only will you be able to improve the user interface, you will also be able to develop an application that makes it easier to maintain, extend and integrate with other applications, platforms and systems.
Find out how Proximity can help develop and modernise your existing IBM i (AS/400, iSeries and System i) applications with BCD Software’s suite of tools by contacting us now.
Posted by Paul on 6th August 2014.