We often look for the latest and greatest thing when it comes to technology. The newest smartphone, the best new app, or the latest smart device for our home are all touted as must-haves. Some technologies have the staying power to continue to be mainstays for years to come. IBM i is one of those technologies.

IBM i (previously known as AS/400) has been around for decades and is still a staple for many industries including banking, retail, manufacturing, distribution, and finance. There really isn’t any sign that this operating system will be replaced or taken out. In fact, a recently conducted survey of IBM users revealed that the majority of enterprises still have 75-100% of their workload on AS400.

In addition, the 2021 IBM i Marketplace Survey from Help Systems found that 73 percent of respondents used IBM i for over half of their core business applications and 67 percent planned to either maintain or grow their existing IBM i footprint in the near future.

What Makes IBM i Stand Out

So why do so many organizations stay with IBM i? There are a multitude of reasons. Here are a just a few.

Compatibility: IBM i/AS400 can evolve and get increasingly robust to meet all modern business needs. It embraces a healthy mix of native and open source development languages to give users a definite competitive edge. The iSeries market is still very strong for enterprise software. With countless solutions available, all you need is a competent partner to transform the face of your existing AS400 application landscape.

Secure and Reliable: Security is a top priority in today’s complex environment. Objects in OS/400 are self-described and monitored. When configured with the right software, AS400/IBM i’s security barriers are impossible to breach. The iSeries has an integrated database, security, networking, web services, and storage management, which makes it built for enterprise-class reliability.

In fact, a recent study suggested that the average Windows server suffers 224.5 hours of unplanned outages annually, compared to IBM i’s 5.2 hours.

Performance: IBM i has CPUs that are 3-5 times more powerful than competitors and is the best bet for applications that require extremely high performance and low downtime. When the setup is hosted on the cloud, ultra-high uptime, enhanced flexibility, and simplified internal IT become the default reality in daily operations.

Easy to Upgrade:
Even applications written in the 1980s can run on the latest IBM Power hardware. This can’t be said for many other systems out there.

What about Migration?

Many may believe that moving from IBM i to another modern environment may be easy and cost-efficient. In fact, a migration is a massive undertaking that involves multiple stakeholders and factors such as change management and replacement/rewriting of systems, which incur time, expense, and risk. Migrating an IBM i application onto another platform can often take anywhere from 3-5 years.

The Future

Some may still believe that IBM i Power Systems can only take their organization so far but evidence is proving that is not the case. IBM did not develop this system to only last for a short period of time but one that can survive with support and regular updates in the software and hardware. IBM i is renowned for its survivability and resilience which is why many industries are hesitant to move to an unfamiliar platform.

API has decades of experience with IBM i Power systems and has an IBM Champion amongst their talented staff. API’s team believes in the longevity of IBM i and is here to support your organization while saving you time and money.