#as400 cloud migration solutions

[integrative-systems]

AS400 Migration to Cloud the Ultimate Solution to Legacy AS400 Applications

The advent of cloud computing has opened new avenues for numerous organizations that still depend on AS400 systems around the globe.

There are many businesses to execute their mission-critical functions using AS400 applications. 

Now it may be time for an upgrade. 

AS400 migration to cloud is an opportunity for those thousands of organizations that currently rely on IBM Power Systems 

With cutting-edge tools, you can migrate critical applications like ERP systems from IBM’s physical servers to a cloud platform. it will increase scalability and maintain a competitive advantage for a company.

Why Migrating from AS400 to the Cloud Makes Sense

Organizations need to keep their mission-critical applications updated to avoid facing business challenges. Legacy systems can cause several issues such as high server costs, poor usability and management, data security concerns, inability to adopt modern business solutions and emerging technologies, and incompatibility with the cloud. 

Fortunately, AS400 migration to cloud can help overcome these challenges. By moving legacy IT assets from on-premises to the cloud, businesses can become more agile and efficient by quickly adapting to changing business needs. Let's take a closer look at why cloud migration makes sense:

Reduced Operational Costs: Businesses often choose to run crucial ERP systems on outdated technology such as AS400 Systems, which can lead to issues with scalability and high maintenance costs. However, by migrating their workloads from AS400 to the Cloud, enterprises can reduce operational costs and improve the scalability of their IT assets. 

Architecture Flexibility: On the other hand, migrating workloads from AS400 to Cloud is unmatched flexibility. When applications migrated to the cloud platforms from on-premises they no longer rely on hardware resources. It makes systems future-ready. 

Low Maintenance Overheads: Moving applications to the cloud helps businesses in reducing the cost of regular system maintenance. 

Quick Disaster Recovery: Organizations relying on legacy assets like AS400 Systems face persistent threats of IT disasters. Whether triggered by hardware malfunctions, software glitches, or malicious ransomware attacks, such disasters can result in the loss of crucial data and system accessibility. 

Moving on-premises workload to the Cloud is often characterized by its tedious, time-consuming nature, and it can induce a sense of anxiety. This could explain why large-scale enterprises relying on AS400 systems tend to steer clear of undertaking workload migrations to the Cloud.

What do you gain with AS400 Cloud Migration?

AS400 Cloud Migration is not just a technical shift but a strategic move that can positively impact various aspects of business operations, from cost efficiency to innovation and competitiveness in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Let's explore the gains you can expect:

-> Costs may not be the primary concern today. but as an IT leader, when it comes to presenting your IT ROIs, the costs saved will be your victory card in the game.

66% of businesses reported cost savings with cloud migration ~A Study by Flexera

-> With on-premises servers, there is a certain limit to operational scalability and your business growth. AS400 cloud migration enables you to unlock business growth.

62% of businesses observed improved operational scalability with cloud ~ Survey by Vanson Bourne

-> Leverage the AS400 migration with accessibility & availability of resources. With the growing business collaboration and productivity cannot be lost.

59% of respondents reported improved collaboration & productivity ~ A Study by Frost & Sullivan

Why Should You Consider AS400 for Cloud Migration?

AS400 migration to cloud is helpful if there are critical workloads on applications on AS400. This is the only way to achieve higher scalability, agility, and cost benefits.

Business Benefits that AS400 to Cloud Migration Drives

Empower your AS400 applications for all the physical audit compliances and required cloud security and availability capabilities.

AS400 migration makes significant savings on data center operating costs.

Convert your capital expenditure (CAPEX) to operations expenses (OPEX).

Staffing & Expertise Benefits that AS400 to Cloud Migration Drives

Work with IBM-certified cloud partners to leverage the AS400 cloud expertise and modern innovations.

IBM Cloud partner helps you coordinate IT configurations and will take up the responsibility for your operational needs. 

IBM power systems maintenance is the cloud partners' responsibility.

Technological Benefits that AS400 to Cloud Migration Drives

Ensure scalability by adding disk, memory, or CPU capacity on demand. 

The backup and recovery mechanisms are reliable and constantly active, with cloud backups added security. 

Flexibility to manage backup schedules and restore data anytime. 

The system is monitored 24/7 with any issues escalated promptly.

Rehosting the application on cloud platforms to keep using it for operational needs at a low cost is the best way to process it.

Choose Integrative Systems as a partner for the AS400 Migration.

At Integrative Systems, we are an IBM-certified cloud partner, facilitating 20+ years of expertise to help you achieve your cloud migration goals at twice the speed and half the price.

With our decades of experience in helping multiple businesses migrate their existing setup to the cloud, we foresee the challenges, employ the best industry practices, and drive your business growth like our own.

Meet our AS400 cloud migration experts at contact@integrativesystems.com or call us at 1.800.468.7974 (INTSYSI) and get professional guidance.

[softwareappblogs]

Modernize your IBM i/AS400 systems with our cutting-edge AS400 modernization solutions, designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s businesses. We specialize in transforming legacy systems into scalable, efficient, and user-friendly platforms. Our services include converting outdated RPG code to modern free-format RPG, enhancing UI/UX with web-based designs, and integrating your AS400 systems with cloud platforms and third-party applications. Additionally, we offer performance optimization to handle high-demand workloads and seamless data migration to the latest IBM i versions with minimal disruption. With our IBM i modernization expertise, we ensure your systems are equipped to support innovation and maintain a competitive edge. Retain the reliability of your trusted IBM i platform while unlocking its full potential. Partner with us to future-proof your enterprise and drive innovation with expert AS400 modernization services. Contact us today to learn more

[listiqueblog]

8 Ecommerce ERP Integration Patterns & Data Orchestration Frameworks

ERPs reduce a business’s risk in uncertain circumstances and are perceived to have a positive impact on organization performance, including the improvement of productivity and profitability.

ERPs are the lifeblood of large retail operations. There are serious financial and non-financial boosts to a company who can organize itself around an ERP.

Historically, however, in order to properly organize and orchestrate ERP data flow, customer-facing tool options have been limited.

This is because ERPs rely heavily on EDI and APIs to sync with outside systems.

EDI is the more traditional approach and still often used in B2B and wholesale channels, and Walmart specifically.

APIs are the more modern approach, and used by SaaS services and tools that enable marketing teams to move quickly, while ensuring proper data orchestration is not disrupted.

Steve Deckert, Co-Founder, Smile.io

ERPs are essential in allowing retailers to offer multichannel experiences to their customers.

They allow the retailer to have a single, comprehensive view of their customers, orders, inventory, etc. The alternative is to have a disjointed understanding of your channels which results in a disjointed customer experience – and lower revenue. 

The API Economy & Innovation as the Crux for Future-Proofing

Cloud and thus SaaS platform APIs vary based on platform. Call limits are important considerations for brands looking to integrate with a SaaS solution.

Nonetheless, nearly all SaaS solutions have APIs, and with the rising tide shift from on-premise and custom built technology to cloud solutions (which decrease tech debt and speed up GTM), the API Economy has taken off.

The benefits of SaaS integration, specifically for the ecommerce channel, are huge.

As Amazon continues to own the commodity market and 55% of U.S. consumer product searches, and micro-brands begin to disrupt their legacy competitors, innovation and speed to market have become table stakes in the retail industry.

Innovation has historically been seen as the final step to realizing ERP benefits – but too few brands have gotten to that step, and fewer still have been able to innovate as effectively as Amazon or the litany of rising micro-brands.

Once scalable and quick innovation GTM can be met for specific channels – in this case ecommerce – even more can be automated and then forecasted for better business decisions and increased time and capital resources.

SaaS solutions like BigCommerce enable innovation on the cloud, while providing unlimited API call volumes syncing data in near real time.

This is the typical BigCommerce framework for retailers with existing ERPs:

Of course, the ecommerce platform is only a cog in the machine of complete data orchestration for retailers.

And, there are a variety of ERP framework theories and options based on a retailer’s needs and priorities.

That’s why BigCommerce partnered up with eBridge Connections, a systems integrator, to depict the most common ecommerce ERP data orchestration frameworks as built out for large retailers using a variety of ERPs, including:

IBM AS/400

SAGE

SAP

EPICOR

Microsoft Dynamics

Netsuite

Acumatica

Brightpearl

info

INTACCT

SYSPRO

Traverse

First, let’s look at the 5 most common ERP integration patterns.

Want more insights like this?

We’re on a mission to provide businesses like yours marketing and sales tips, tricks and industry leading knowledge to build the next house-hold name brand. Don’t miss a post. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

5 Most Common ERP Integration Patterns

Modern retailers require modern data management and orchestration. For many organizations, an ERP fulfills this need.

ERPs can automate processes, enable planning and forecasting, and ultimately enable innovation by giving teams across an organization the ability to access and leverage the most up-to-date customer, product and accounting information in order to streamline business processes and create the most effective services and solutions.

In order for it to happen, businesses need to develop an ERP integration strategy to make sure it connects with the necessary enterprise systems. In other words, data orchestration is required.

When considering the variety of ERP integration needs, common patterns emerge. Patterns, as denoted below, are the most logical sequence of steps to solve a specific type of ERP problem, and are established from actual use cases.

The most common ERP integration patterns are:

Migration.

Broadcast.

Aggregation.

Bi-directional synchronization.

Correlation.

Jordan Brannon, President, Coalition Technologies

ERPs operate as a hub and collaboration center for various business functions and department.

A well integrated and accessible ERP allows each business unit to access much needed information and data, and can help tear down silos within an organization that can lead to costly mistakes or missed opportunities. 

1. Migration ERP Integration.

Data migration ERP integration is moving a specific set of data at a particular point in time from one system to another.

A migration pattern allows developers to build automated migration services that create functionality to be shared across numerous teams in an organization.

Developers can set the configuration parameters to pass into the API calls so that the migration can dynamically migrate scoped ecommerce data in or out of the ecommerce SaaS platform (like BigCommerce) either on command or on an as-needed basis via an API.

2. The Broadcast Pattern.

The broadcast ERP integration pattern moves data from a single source system to multiple destination systems in an ongoing, near real-time, or real-time basis.

This a one-way synchronization from one to many. Typically “one-way sync” implies a 1:1 relationship; the broadcast pattern creates a 1:many relationships.

Broadcast patterns keep data up-to-date between multiple systems across time and allows for the immediate transfer of data between systems.

For instance, broadcast patterns update inventory levels across omnichannel sales touch points including marketplaces, brick and mortar stores, your branded website and wholesale partners.

3. The Aggregation Pattern.

The aggregation ERP pattern takes or receives data from multiple systems and copies or moves it into just one system.

Aggregation removes the need to run multiple migrations on a regular basis, removing concerns about data accuracy and synchronization. It is the simplest way to extract and process data from multiple systems into a single application or report.

The aggregation ERP pattern enables the extraction and processing of data from multiple systems and merging them into one application.

This ensures that data:

Is always up to date

Does not get replicated

Can be processed or merged to produce any desired dataset or report.

4. The Bi-Directional Sync Pattern.

Bi-directional sync ERP integration patterns unite multiple datasets in multiple different systems, causing them to behave as one system while allowing them to recognize the existence of different datasets.

This type of integration comes in handy when different tools or different systems, which are needed for their own specific purposes, must accomplish different functions in the same data set.

Using bi-directional sync enables both systems to be used and maintains a consistent real-time view of the data across systems.

Bi-directional sync integration enables the systems to perform optimally while maintaining data integrity across both synchronized systems.

5. The Correlation Pattern.

Correlation and bi-directional sync ERP integration patterns are very similar but there is one important difference:

The correlation pattern singles out the intersection of two data sets and does a bi-directional synchronization of that scoped dataset, but only if that item occurs in both systems naturally.

Bi-directional synchronization will create new records if they are found in one system and not the other.

The correlation pattern will synchronize objects as long as they are found in both systems.

Dave Malda, Sales Manager, eBridge Connections

The truth is that without a rock-solid ERP, big brands selling online can’t keep up with Finance + Operational data and processes. Especially as they grow and sell across multiple channels.

Keep in mind too that ERPs are not one-size-fits-all. At eBridge, our customers usually figure out their business priorities, and then back into the right ERP for their biz before they come to us for eCommerce integration.

You see, some ERPs are better suited for product lots, or for shipping, or even for growth across multiple locations. 

Leading Global Brands are Choosing Open SaaS

Make your retail site more flexible and innovative while also saving time, money, and launching your site faster.

Download this guide to learn how top brands tackle:

Direct-to-Consumer & B2C Implementations

Headless Commerce (API-First) Initiatives

And more.

Download Your Guide

3 Ecommerce ERP Integration Frameworks

Now that you understand ERP integration patterns, let’s look at a variety of ERP integration frameworks to get the full picture.

We’ll begin up close looking at the APIs and webhooks required of a modern SaaS ecommerce platform for ERP integration.

We’ll then back out to get a fuller view as complexity increases.

Krista Fabregas, Editor, FitSmallBusiness, Ecommerce and Retail

An ERP is the only sensible way to approach and sustain an omnichannel operation.

These systems ties all elements into one data-backed system. ERP sounds big and expensive, but most business order management systems and omnichannel ecommerce platforms, like BigCommerce, are built on or ensure they easily integrate with an ERP of your choice.

1. EDI Integration for Omnichannel Warehousing Solution AS400

In the ERP integration framework above, a system integrator converts data from APIs and sends them to the ERP through the necessary EDI protocol.

This particular framework showcases a bi-directional ERP integration pattern for 3 information points simultaneously:

Order

Inventory

Shipping

2. Complete Ecommerce ERP Integration Framework Visualization for Simultaneous Data Orchestration

The ERP integration framework above is a zoomed out view of the one prior it. We are still looking primarily at the ERP integration functionality between an ERP and a retailer’s ecommerce channel.

In this view, you can see the role of the system integrator much more clearly as data is passed through via bi-directional and correlation patterns –– or more simply, through a pipeline.

Pro Tip

All 5 of the EDI/API patterns above are forms of a messaging system. ESBs (and webhooks for that matter) are “push” systems, where there’s a conveyor belt of messages that are sent to some destination.

APIs are “pull” systems, where the consumer of the information requests some information, and then there is a response (request/response).

This is still an API to EDI example, but API to API works similarly as information is validated, transferred and converted for automation.

In this model, various information points are being synced, including:

Orders

Customers

Products

Inventory

Shipping

3. Full ERP Integration Ecosystem Framework

In the above framework, you can see the full omnichannel ERP integration framework, including integrations with a PIM, CMS and ESP.

This is the full view of a possible ERP integration and data orchestration framework for a large omni-channel, international retailer.

Nearly all of of the ERP integration patterns are used in this scenario, as well as a system integrator.

Emil Kristensen, CMO and cofounder at Sleeknote

It can be easy for large brands to lose a high-level view of all the processes within the business such as marketing, sales, inventory, finance, product planning, etc.

By implementing ERPs to keep track of these processes in real-time, you can reduce time–consuming tasks such as testing, training, configuration, documentation, and more.

Executive Summary

For those retailers looking to move to a modern ERP integration framework, you’re in luck.

Modern ERP integration frameworks are one way for businesses to realize innovation speed and profitability among fierce competition from Amazon and micro-brands.

That said, ERPs have some serious weaknesses that APIs and service-oriented architectures were meant to solve.

Many large brands choose a combination of both for quick speed to market along with advanced data orchestration.

After all, legacy retailers wrestling with data orchestration are being squeezed from both the top and the bottom –– while trying to manage existing systems and allow for marketing innovation that solidifies your place in market.

For your ecommerce channel, the best way to do that is utilize a SaaS solution like BigCommerce that allows flexibility at the presentation layer for UX and innovative experiences, as well as extensibility at the API layer including unlimited call volumes.

For those considering a migration, here is a simpler workflow for how BigCommerce plays in to your data orchestration.

Want more insights like this?

We’re on a mission to provide businesses like yours marketing and sales tips, tricks and industry leading knowledge to build the next house-hold name brand. Don’t miss a post. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

8 Ecommerce ERP Integration Patterns & Data Orchestration Frameworks published first on https://goshopmalaysia.tumblr.com

[rootstockerp-blog]

A Brief History of ERP Software Part Two – From Client-Server to On-Premise

https://goo.gl/4SGNr3

Pat Garrehy knows ERP software. The founder, President, and CEO of Rootstock Software, Mr. Garrehy has over 30 years of management, sales and technical experience as a software architect and engineer. Mr. Garrehy recently sat down to share his thoughts on how ERP software has changed over his distinguished career. Here is Part Two of that discussion.

Part Two – From Client-Server to On-Premise

It seems that everyone uses the word ERP today but the true thread for comparison are those product based companies of today that manufacture, distribute, service and/ or remanufacture. They use ERP software that can manage the supply chain and has the software to  support engineering, procurement, sales, planning, inventory, cost accounting, scheduling and even financials.

The 1990s

In the early 1990’s we had client-server and Windows and that technology came with many moving parts. You had operating systems, windows, database management systems and programming languages. Integrations to other software packages were difficult and problematic because each software package used their own independent versioning control. Because of this, software vendors had no choice but to put all ERP functionality into a single package, and that caused the software to become bloated with with functionality that the customer didn’t need or want. Implementations were difficult and time-consuming because the customer was confused about what software switches to turn off and on.

In this era of bloated software, some of the software was bought from other companies and difficult to integrate even though it was packaged and promoted as one-stop software that had all of the functionality.

The hardware (IBM, HP, SUN UNIX-based hardware) and the database management software (Oracle, Informix, Sybase) were reliable when compared to the Windows software of the time, which was constantly experiencing programming bugs. Large companies whose main plants ran on mainframes migrated to this new client-server architecture. By the mid 1990’s, second tier plants were  running on minicomputers such as IBM’s AS400 Series.

On-Premise

Since the late 1990s, SAP and Oracle have dominated on-premise ERP in large Tier-1 manufacturing enterprises, but primarily as the ERP system at the corporate level. They have not been that successful in being implemented in Tier-2 small and medium sized plants. Therefore, most of what is written about Tier-2 ERP understandably discusses different types of solutions being considered for the large enterprises’ next tiers’ plants and divisions, and how they will integrate with these larger, Tier-1 corporate systems. As late as 2009, Gartner reported only on-premise ERP software vendors in their Tier-2 ERP magic quadrant.

But this on-premise pricing model and the old architecture required you to stuff all of the options in the same software, still burdening every customer with many features that they couldn’t use. This old architecture contained complexities in the use and certainly in the implementations as to which switches to set to ‘turn off’ functionality that they didn’t need.

On-Premise vs. the Salesforce Cloud

Today we see a lot of companies that are on AS/400s running older, proprietary IBM-based systems such as BPICS and MAPICS. These companies are now looking at cloud ERP to lower IT costs, improve operational performance, and get faster deployments and easier upgrades. So now these companies are finding Rootstock.

The Salesforce cloud lets us decide what core functionality should be inside the package and how tailoring can be easily done outside the package. For example, Rootstock has a customer that is an industrial, medical and special gases provider who supplies compressed, bulk and pipeline gases, chemicals, engineering solutions and equipment. They had a special project to track the chemicals and gases for one of their customers, who is one of the world’s largest and highest valued semiconductor chip makers. The solution provided was a combination of the standard Rootstock functionality with extensions that were easily developed using Salesforce technology. This solution couldn’t have possibly been developed in the budget and time frame required with an older on-premise software package, regardless of the functionality of that standard ERP legacy package.

[integrative-systems]

Transform your Business Landscape with AS400 Migration to Cloud

AS400 Migration to cloud empowers the AS400 application for all the physical audit compliances required. The security and availability features offered by cloud services are superior to those of on-premises servers.

Moving your AS400 to the cloud, you can save a significant amount in data canter operating costs. AS400 systems are reliable, stable, and used for heavy applications in industries like banking, insurance, retail, manufacturing, etc.

However, these on-premises servers require good maintenance and a team of AS400 experts, so many businesses opt for the AS400 migration to cloud approach. For the leaders, the migration process makes it easier to manage their IT applications and focus on other IT goals.

As AS400 is still considered one of the most reliable systems in use today, many businesses want to continue using AS400 systems. With constant updates, businesses can enhance their AS400 environment to improve performance, achieve high uptime, and strengthen security.

However, to reduce AS400 system complexity and costs, the best approach is AS400 Migration to Cloud. This will enable businesses to optimize their operations and take advantage of the benefits of the best cloud platforms.

AS400 Migration to Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud

Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud are the better cloud solutions of choice for AS400 users who want to protect their data on AS400 applications. Moving to Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud the benefits are immediate financially, operationally, and strategically.

There are many challenges faced in AS400 application systems. AS400 Migration to Azure, there are many industries have businesses may also want to migrate legacy applications and data to the cloud.

Migrating AS400 to the cloud can offer several benefits such as cost savings, improved functionality, and scalability. However, a successful migration process requires a strong strategy. If your legacy system wants to take advantage of newer, cutting-edge technologies, then you should consider migrating AS400 to cloud platforms like Microsoft azure and IBM cloud. Let's discuss more about this.

AS400 Migration to Azure

AS400 people migrate their as400 workload from on-premise environments to Microsoft Azure, so they can continue using the same data protection.

 If you have plans to continue using your existing applications written in RPG, COBOL, and CL languages for the next few years, but at the same time, you want to move your workloads for AS400 Migration to Azure, there is an interesting solution available.

To make the applications compatible with Azure, they need to be converted to C and JAVA programming languages. Additionally, you are also free to modify the C and JAVA source code rather than the original legacy source code.

AS400 Migration to IBM Cloud

Migrating to IBM Cloud is a strategic move that can enhance the agility, scalability, and performance of your IT infrastructure. This process involves moving your data and applications from other systems to a dynamic cloud environment that offers the flexibility to scale resources on demand.

IBM Cloud provides advanced technologies, and robust security measures, and complies with industry standards, making it a safe and reliable choice for businesses. By embracing IBM Cloud, you can future-proof your business and adapt to changing landscapes in a digital-first era. This transformative journey is not just moving data. it's a leap toward a future-ready infrastructure that can propel your business to new heights.

AS400 Migration with Integrative Systems 

Integrative Systems offers a comprehensive solution to seamlessly back up, recover, and migrate data for AS400 hosted on Azure cloud data centers. Our services make it effortless for businesses to backup, recover, and migrate data from their on-premises as400 systems to Microsoft Azure.

As we partner with Microsoft enables us to provide the confidence to run their most business-critical workloads on Azure, knowing that their data is reliably protected and easy to recover.

Our cloud experts support businesses in modernizing and migrating their workloads and applications to Microsoft Azure. Feel free to contact us at contact@integrativesystems.com for any cloud-related issues.

[integrative-systems]

A Robust Solution to Reduce Operational Costs – AS400 Migration

What is your primary objective as a technology leader?

Reduce the technical debt and achieve higher operational performance, isn’t it?

Organizations that migrated from AS400 to modern platforms have experienced an average cost reduction of 40%, with lowered maintenance and operational expenses.

~ According to a study by Forrester Consulting.

76% of respondents reported that cost saving is the primary driver for AS400 migration.

~ According to a survey by Fresche Solutions.

Well, we agree that it’s not always the cost that bothers technology leaders to take that plunge – AS400 migration to cloud.

But would you agree with the benefits that AS400 cloud migration brings up besides improving operational efficiency?

Read More: https://www.integrativesystems.com/as400-migration/