How to Modernize an IBM i Environment with Modern IBM i Tools?

Businesses today are actively exploring opportunities to modernize IBM i environments – often while managing limited budgets and competing priorities.

But in reality, successful IBM i modernization needs a strategic approach that helps in transforming your legendary IBM i system into an agile, cloud-driven, and AI-ready platform.

While organizations often focus on people and processes, tools play a critical role in accelerating outcomes. Modern IBM i modernization tools keep your core business logic intact while modernizing the user experience, mitigating talent shortages, and automating code analysis.

Insights from the Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey 2025 – 2026 highlight a clear acceleration in IBM i adoption and modernization –

• 96% report better ROI compared to other platforms
• Platform usage increased by 20%, up from 12% last year
• 70% of organizations plan hardware or software upgrades in 2026
• 57% identify application modernization as a top priority
• 69% cite skills shortage as their #1 concern, surpassing cybersecurity for the first time in nine years

These trends make one thing clear- IBM i modernization is no longer optional – it’s essential.

Let’s explore how you can modernize your environment with AS400 modernization tools effectively this year.

Connect With Us

Why Do Businesses Need IBM i Tools?

In order to integrate core IBM i systems with new-age digital platforms, manage the IT skill gap, and modernize legacy applications, businesses need IBM i tools. These advanced tools support developers in boosting productivity and operational efficiency without hampering the platform’s security, stability, and reliability.

Our IBM i experts help you succeed first by utilizing AS400 tools to –

• Offer drag-and-drop, easy-to-use, and low-code interfaces to scale operations
• Integrate core backend data into modern cloud applications, APIs, and web portals
• Automate repetitive processes, manage systems, and report to boost productivity
• To create engaging and browser-based dashboards from outdated green screens

The best part is that we keep your business logic intact and robust.

To cut a long story short, our expertise uses IBM i tools to modernize

“Codebase + Database + User Interface + Infrastructure”

How Does Integrative Systems Use IBM i Tools?

Strategic use of IBM i (AS/400) tools involves renewing legacy investments rather than replacing them from scratch. The most effective approaches combine cross-platform API integrations, modern AI-driven code translation, and open-source DevOps to lower the IT skills gap and improve developer productivity.

Futureproof Your Codebase with IBM i Tools

Futureproofing legendary IBM i code needs a transition from green-screen utilities to modern environments. By adopting modern IBM i tools, we help organizations optimize the performance of their IBM i systems and improve scalability and maintainability.

Code Documentation

• Standardize header documentation across all programs​
• Leverage AI tools to generate documentation from existing code​
• We add meaningful inline comments to existing programs​

Tools and Technologies – X-Analysis, Hawkeye

Converting to Free-Format RPG

• We improve readability and modern code review practices​
• Enable the use of modules and service programs​
• Use RPG 7.6 to add new BIFs and improve diagnostics​

Tools and Technologies – RPG III, RPG IV, RPGLE, SQLRPGLE, CL, CLLE
Tools – SEU, PDM, SDA

Futureproof Your Database with IBM i tools

Transition from a legendary, system-dependent repository into a modern, SQL-driven relational database engine to futureproof your IBM i database. In order to make it happen, we convert your Data Description Specifications (DDS) to Data Definition Language (DDL/SQL) by utilizing native IBM i tools and services.

Our IBM i experts ensure the continuity of your business rules while unlocking modern cloud integrations, machine learning analytics, and standard web application APIs.

Transitioning to SQL

We use IBM i database tools to modernize schema design and unlock relational capabilities –

• Define PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, and CHECK constraints​ to ensure data integrity
• Convert DDS-defined physical and logical files into DDL/SQL-based structures
• Enable identity, sequence, and generated columns​ for automation
• Implement rich data types – TIMESTAMP, CLOB, partitioning​
• Add row change timestamp to support audit trails​

Tools and Technologies – DB2/400, DB2 SQL

ODBC Off-Box Sync

• Choose any external database for analytics access​
• Direct ODBC connectivity for BI and reporting tools​
• Custom SQL transformations or API layer

Tools and Technologies – APIs, ODBC, Power BI

Futureproof Your User Interface with IBM i Tools

Transforming legendary 5250 green screens into browser-based web applications while keeping your RPG business logic intact. By adopting low-code visual frameworks, utilizing instant UI transformation software, and enabling API-driven architectures, we help businesses futureproof IBM i user interface.

Screen Scraping – A Quick UI Upgrade

• Quick visual uplift with limited configuration​
• Limitations – bound by existing page content structure​
• DDS maintenance is still required

Tools and Technologies – LegaSuite, Profound UI

Web Frontends with RPG Backends

• Reuse existing business logic; refactor gradually​
• No disruption – incremental rollout by function​
• Full web page capabilities unlocked

Tools and Technologies – APIs, JSON Handling, REST API Consumption

Free RPG API options – IWS, HTTPAPI, SQL services

Full UI Transformation

• New programs can call RPG services​
• Can run on IBM i or a separate application server​
• Goal – role-optimized, intuitive UX for modern workforce

Tools and Technologies – Next.js, Node.js

Futureproof Your Infrastructure with IBM i tools

Futureproofing your IBM i (AS/400) infrastructure relies on modernizing applications, integrating with the cloud, and adopting open-source tools. These strategies help preserve tailored business logic while upgrading user interfaces, boosting security, and facilitating seamless technology adoption.

Backup & High Availability

Db2 Mirror for continuous HA, backup software and systems. Experienced IBM i partners can help you implement the right strategy for your environment.

Tools and Technologies – Db2 Mirror, BRMS (Backup, Recovery & Media Services), Robot

Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery

IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) for disaster recovery, dev/test, and burst capacity – on-demand flexibility.

Tools and Technologies –

IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS)

FTP / SFTP (for secure data transfer)

APIs & REST API Consumption

Web Services (HTTP Server & IWS)

Modern Change Management

Git-based source control replaces SEU/PDM. CI/CD pipelines via Merlin. Automated testing. Partitions for safe staged rollouts. Also, many vendor packages.

Tools and Technologies –

• Git
• Merlin (CI/CD pipelines)
• Turnover, Aldon, Implementer, Thenon
• Remedy (change tracking and governance)

Core Infrastructure & Operations

We maintain a strong operational foundation with efficient system management, job processing, and performance tuning. Optimize workloads and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

Tools and Technologies –

• IFS (Integrated File System)
• IBM i Navigator
• Interactive & Batch Job Processing
• MSGW Handling
• Query Optimization tools

Secure Connectivity & Integration

We enable seamless and secure communication between IBM i and external systems through modern integration frameworks and protocols.

Tools and Technologies –

• FTP, SFTP, PuTTY
• APIs & REST API Consumption
• Web Services (HTTP Server & IWS)
• EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

System Monitoring, Scheduling & Performance

We offer real-time visibility into system health, performance, and job scheduling with AS400 monitoring tools by proactively detecting issues and optimizing system efficiency.

Tools and Technologies –

• Splunk
• Dynatrace
• WVPE
• Prognosis
• Robot Scheduler
• Autosys

Futureproof IBM i Environment with AI Tools

Integrating AI into your IBM i environment transforms legacy systems without replacing core business logic. By utilizing AI for code analysis, developer onboarding, and AIOps, we help companies drastically reduce maintenance times, bridge skill gaps, and future-proof their applications.

• We use AI to read, understand, and interpret legacy code, especially in undocumented systems.
• Give clear and detailed instructions to AI and create APIs and documentation
• To handle repetitive tasks like code analysis and basic documentation

Tools and Technologies –

• Claude
• Prompt Engineering
• AI Pipeline and Orchestration
• AI Agents
• LLM-Powered Development

Connect With Us

How Do Integrative Systems Help You Choose the Right IBM i Performance Tools?

At Integrative Systems, we start by Helping You Succeed First!

We have worked with 85+ clients globally across different business verticals & industries, achieving over 90% client retention.

We believe in forming lasting strategic partnerships where we foster unique business plans for our customers – from tool selection and implementation to modernization of the legendary IBM i system – we do it all by working as an extension of your team.

Drop us a line at contact@integrativesystems.com and our experts will get back to you within 2 business days.

Connect With Us

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to automate backups on IBM i using available tools?

You can make use of licensed IBM products, third-party automation tools, or natively integrated operating system commands in order to automate backups on IBM i. Adopting IBM’s native BRMS, aligned with the built-in Job Scheduler, helps you achieve full backup automation.

2. Comparison of free and paid IBM i performance monitoring tools

To offer exceptional historical analysis, IBM Navigator for i and IBM i Collection Services are helpful IBM i monitoring tools, but these free tools lack live automated alerting. On the other hand, paid tools provide predictive analytics, unified dashboards, continuous monitoring, and, most importantly, boost uptime and streamline capacity planning.

3. Which is the right reporting tool for IBM i?

One of the best reporting tools for IBM i environments is Power BI. In general, choosing the right reporting tools depends on your unique business needs, such as automated spooled file distribution, BI dashboards, query reporting, and database-level compliance.

4.Does IBM i tools allow modern developers to work on IBM i?

Absolutely! New IBM i developer tools are helpful for modern developers to work on IBM i systems, where they don’t really need to be dependent on old green-screens. Other than AI, tools like VS Code, IBM Rational Developer for i, and browser-based tools are significantly helpful.

About the Author

Stephanie Rabbani

Engagement Manager – IBM i

VIEW PROFILE

With over 20 years of experience in IBM i (AS/400) development, modernization, and integration, Stephanie brings a unique combination of technical expertise, leadership, and customer partnership to the team.

She has led multiple modernization projects across global customers – helping them transform legacy systems into agile, cloud-ready, and future-focused environments.