In recent surveys, some of the iSeries users indicate that the feeltheir existing legacy AS/400 applications, such as EnterpriseResourcePlanning systems, were out of date, therefore a modernization project was planned or underway.
Successful modernization projects are initiated and guided by business drivers that will help to take advantage of business opportunities. Some of these business drivers can be:
Application Integration
Business Process Integration
Improvement of the user experience (and therefore productivity) with an efficient environment
The need of re-architeching core applications to support new technologies
Some of the C-executives of your may wonder why is it necessary to modernize their AS/400 applications. The reliability of an iSeries is well known and it has generally supported several kinds of businesses throughout the years. However, it is undeniable that there are some implicit benefits that have to be considered to justify the modernization of your legacy systems:
User productivity
Modern interfaces can be more productive and provide a better experience for employees and partners. Some people still maintain that 5250 interfaces are better for heads down data entry, but they are not being realistic about the power and productivity of a modern interface. Even for data entry, a purpose-built Windows interface will leave a green screen behind, simply because of its ability to respond to individual keystrokes rather than block mode entry fields.
Lower Training Costs
New employees are by nature used to Windows and other graphic environments, representing lower costs of training to the modernized user interface. On the other hand though, a few peopleknow how to drive a 5250 interface without specific training.
Improve Application Perception
Green screen applications and the AS/400 platform that supports them sometimes suffer from an image problem, especially in large organizations. For Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) with an existing solution with a 5250 interface, getting new customers and retaining existing ones may be an increasingly difficult task. A modernized user interface combined with the performance and reliability of the iSeries / IBM i platform can improve the image of an application and produce an excellent combination.
