AS/400 & IBM i Support for New England Businesses

What does AS/400 support include?

AS/400 support means keeping the system that runs your core business reliable today while making sure it fits where the company is headed.

In practice, that work falls into four areas:

• Stability. Keeping the environment, its database and related middleware running with the performance and security your applications depend on.
• Integration. Connecting IBM i to the ERP, CRM, accounting and custom applications the rest of the company uses.
• Planning. Deciding when to update, migrate or extend the platform, and doing it without losing business continuity.
• Hands-on help. Remote and on-site assistance from a Newton-based team when something needs attention.

Why do companies still run AS/400 and IBM i?

Companies keep AS/400 and IBM i because it does its job: it runs critical business applications reliably, often for decades.

Many order entry, inventory, billing and financial systems were built on the platform and refined over years to match how the business actually works. Replacing them is expensive and risky. The practical question is rarely “should we keep it?” but “how do we keep it healthy and connected?”

What are the biggest risks of running an older AS/400?

The biggest risks are usually not the software itself but the people, hardware and connections around it.

• Staff retirement. The person who has run the system for years may be the only one who knows how it fits together.
• Aging hardware. Older equipment and storage can become harder to maintain and harder to plan around.
• Integration gaps. Data stays locked inside IBM i while newer applications and reporting tools sit outside it.
• Security and recovery. Backups, restore points and access controls need regular attention, especially as ransomware targets every kind of business.

How do you connect IBM i to the rest of the business?

We connect IBM i to your other systems so data flows between them instead of being re-keyed or exported by hand.

That can mean linking IBM i to ERP, CRM and custom applications through our integration services, supporting and optimizing Db2 and WebSphere, or extending IBM infrastructure into Azure, AWS or a private cloud. The goal is better visibility for managers and finance, with IBM i still at the center.

When should you start planning what comes next?

The right time to plan is while the system is still running well, not after a failure forces a decision.

Planning might lead to updating the current environment, adding modern interfaces and secure connectivity, moving workloads to the cloud, or a gradual migration. Our approach is to keep what works, modernize what matters, and preserve the investment you have already made. When you are ready to go further, see our IBM i modernization page.

How does working with Systems Analysis start?

It starts with a phone call and a conversation about your environment and what worries you most.

• Call 617-965-4615 or send us a message.
• We review how your IBM i system is set up, what it connects to, and where the risks are.
• We explain your options in plain terms, then agree on a plan.
• Our team handles the work remotely or on-site, with ongoing support afterward.

Why choose a New England partner for AS/400 support?

A local partner can be in your building when it matters, and is accountable in a way a remote vendor often is not.

Systems Analysis has supported New England businesses since 1978. We are a senior engineering-led firm headquartered in Newton, an authorized IBM reseller, and we also support other legacy platforms such as Niakwa and Wang-based systems. Learn more about Systems Analysis.