With Thanksgiving under our belts, we’ve shifted our mindset to the holiday season. As you begin to brainstorm what gift to give loved ones in your life, there’s one very special someone (or rather, something) that should also be considered – your IBM i.
Everyone just wants to feel seen and your IBM i system is no different. Show it you care by taking an interest in its health and well-being. It’s not enough to just create patches, make improvements! Have an RPG Developer and a System Admin on-hand so you can catch errors before they spiral out of control.
One of the best ways to show your affection towards the midrange system is to modernize the IBM i. By modernizing your hardware and software you are investing in the future of the system and your company. Keeping your hardware current ensures you stay on IBM I support and allows you to stay current with software upgrades. Subsequently, by updating your IBM i OS and/or RPG code, you will open your system to a world of possibilities whether that be GUI interfaces, API capabilities, or other possible enhancements.
One of the basic necessities according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is safety and for your IBM i, it’s no different.
While it is true that the IBM i is a secure machine, if your system is connected to any third-party applications or access points, its infosec standing is of the utmost importance. Be sure to test your disaster recovery plan, make sure you are saving to tape, and do annual security audits to make sure you’re practicing best security practices.
Don’t let safety needs scare you off, you should be connecting your IBM i to other tools. The fact that the IBM i is able to integrate with other systems and tools is one of its biggest advantages and as a backend system, it’s interconnectivity is what makes it so powerful. There are plenty of middleware tools out there that can help connect your IBM i and allow you to improve business efficiencies and functions.
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that don’t cost much at all. Take advantage of the powerful machine you already have. Whether on-premise or in the cloud, your ERP is, or at least should be, the nucleus of your business. WMS, financials, distribution, inventory - all of these things can and should be running through your IBM i and it’s up to you to make that happen. You’ve already invested time, energy, and money into your system, allow it to live up to its potential by giving it the tools, love, and maintenance it deserves.
Happy gifting and happy holidays to the IBM i community!
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