Replacing an Aging ERP on IBM i

We recently had a client who wanted to replace their ERP, but it was running on an old IBM i environment. When your ERP system is no longer working, but it’s based on IBM i, what do you do? What are your replacement options? Here are three options for replacing your ERP when it’s running on IBM i.

Port to New AS/400

One option is to port your application to a new IBM i. It’s probably the least disruptive option, but it can be a risk for companies who are running older software that can’t run on the new system. You’ll also want to make sure you have all of the source code for your old software.

Pros:

Already familiar with how to run the hardware and operating system
Business users already know how the software runs, so no need for retraining

Cons:

Third-party systems may not be able to make the jump and would have to be replaced
No real change: user experience isn’t modernized, still running the green screen

Go to the Cloud

Another option is to move to the cloud. This is more than just replacing your ERP, however; it’s a software selection and re-implementation project. It’s definitely a more disruptive option.

Pros:

Modern, browser-based UI
Enhances functionality because it’s based on industry best practices
Reduced upfront cost due to not needing to buy hardware or software

Cons:

Workforce will require training on how to use the new software
Business processes may change

Pro/Con: your data is stored in the cloud. While we don’t see that as a concern, some companies are uncomfortable not having their data in the data center and view this as a negative.

On Premise Software

A third option is to look at using another on premise piece of software. There really is no need to build anything from the ground up anymore, what with so many other options available. Some of the pros and cons for this option are similar to moving your ERP to the cloud.

Pros:

New, modern ERP
New, modern user interface
Improved business processes
Enhanced functionality because it’s based on industry best practices

Cons:

Workforce will require training on how to use the new software
Business processes may change
Capital expense questions surrounding whether to buy or rent
Some people consider having all software on premise as a disadvantage
Comparatively high upfront costs

For our client replacing their ERP, they decided to purchase new hardware and continue running the same software on it. All of their old code, which was running on V4R4, ported over to the newer version successfully, making this a fairly pain-free transition for their team.

Do you have an ERP that needs to be replaced, but it’s running on IBM i and you aren’t sure what to do? Contact our team to get started on finding a solution.