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Why an IBM i and Magento Integration Makes Sense Now

Bill Onion
05/2020

ibmi-magento-integrationHow to get over the fear of an integration and get to work. 

As the initial shock of our current world situation wears off and we settle into the new normal, it's time to consider how your company will make it through to the other side of the trauma facing many industries. While it may seem like the time to consolidate assets, pause on major projects, and limit spending, this situation is an opportunity to take stock of what's working, what's not, and how to improve your company for the future.  

In the article How to Survive a Recession and Thrive Afterward, author Walter Frick states: 

It's tempting to think of a recession as a time to batten down the hatches and play it safe. However, downturns actually appear to encourage the adoption of new technologies."  

At a time when the flexibility, efficiency, and operational costs of your organization are of utmost importance, technology projects that improve those aspects of your operations are a great investment. One of the most effective ways to use technology to transform your organization is through an ERP and eCommerce system integration for B2B eCommerce 

That's great, but my IBM i doesn't play well with modern eCommerce. 

If you're like any of our past clients, you may think that your legacy IBM i system isn't able to integrate with a modern eCommerce platform. You may view it as old and creaky, but IBM i is a great platform for business. It has most likely been supporting your business for years, and for good reason:  

  • Stores large amounts of data 
  • Easily handles complex business logic 
  • Uptime of over 99.9% 
  • Processes transactions faster than any other system 

You don't need to replace or ignore your IBM i, you need to figure out how to tap into it. That's where an integration project excels.  

Sounds like a good idea, but we just don't have the capital right now. 

We hear you; to do an integration project appropriately requires a significant budget and resources. But there is plenty of prep work that your team can do now, without investing in software or outside help. By tackling the first steps of the project now, you will be able to hit the ground running when resources open back up.  

Where should we start? 

Some of the most important foundational work for an IBM i and Magento integration requires only time and business expertise. Start by asking your team some questions:  

  • Who are we selling to?  
  • How are or will we be using eCommerce within our sales cycle? 
  • What is the overall goal of our eCommerce site?
  • Reducing operating costs? 
  • Automating business processes? 
  • Enhancing customer experience? 

All of that info is crucial to the success of your B2B eCommerce site and costs only time to accomplish.  

What comes next? 

After you've combined the business expertise of those in your organization to set the foundation for a successful IBM i and Magento integration, it's time to think about the strategy for your project. Our team has spent years perfecting our proven integration strategy to ensure success for our clients. Here are our best practices:  

  • Define the eCommerce strategy 
  • Engage the sales team 
  • Determine the project leader 
  • Identify the primary data source 
  • Put the business logic where it belongs 
  • Use the best methodology available.  

It sounds simple, but it definitely isn't easy. Implementing an integration project requires experience, both in the business (that's you!) and the technology being implemented. This is where relying on a trustworthy partner comes in.  

Our team is ready to walk you through these best practices to help you achieve the B2B eCommerce site of your dreams leveraging IBM i and Magento. To learn more about our methods for success, download our IBM i and Magento integration guide. 

Download the IBM i and Magento Commerce  integration guide. 

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