

Three cheers for the IBM i Series – it is an oldie and definitely a goodie
If you are using an IBM i Series and considering either upgrading your warehouse management system (WMS) solution or switching from a paper based warehouse to software control, talk to Indigo Software.
As software developers, we are always on the lookout for the latest innovations in technology and new product launches. It’s what inspires us. There are sometimes – rarely mind – cases where the latest and newest products on the market are not necessarily better. Some more mature technology platforms consistently deliver an outstanding performance compared with new arrivals. They have stood the test of time. One excellent example is the IBM i Series.
In a world dominated by discussions recommending cloud migrations and ‘everything as a service’, you might be wondering how any self-respecting software company would say this. After all, the i-Series was originally known as the AS/400. It’s origins were in the late 1980’s ERP explosion. That is how long it has been in use. The IBM i celebrated its 35 year anniversary last summer. Yet, in spite of all the hype about clouds and anything rental services, the i Series remains very highly regarded among enterprise users to this day.
As a solution developer, we fully agree. Indigo Software started out offering applications for the IBM i Series and we continue to rate the platform extremely highly. Here’s why.
Security. Multiple research studies have highlighted the very real and costly threat of cyberattacks. Data breaches due to hackers cost businesses an average of US$4.35 million in 2022 and globally there were around 236.1 million ransomware attacks in the first half of the year alone. Almost 40% of UK businesses suffered a cyberattack during 2022. These days it’s not a question of IF your business will face a cyberthreat, but when, and how.
CEOs admit that one of their biggest concerns (and threats) is cybersecurity, so no wonder that the IBM i Series is still so highly regarded. It is trusted and renowned for having a highly secure operating system, offering several features that protect data and applications from unauthorised access. For instance, through role-based access control, encryption and due to it providing a full data audit trail.
IBM Security provides a comprehensive range of solutions to protect against advanced malware, ransomware, data breaches, and insider threats, with five separate layers offered within the IBM’s i Series. This has benefited from significant advancements over the years and it now also incorporates advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to detect and respond to security incidents more effectively. IBM’s security solutions use machine learning algorithms to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies, enabling proactive threat hunting and faster incident response.
High availability. Today’s digital businesses operate around the clock. They need a platform they can completely rely on. The IBM i is designed to be highly available and comes with a 99.999% availability SLA. This means businesses can be fully confident that applications will be up and running when they need them.
Integration. The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to become totally mainstream in the next decade, with over 29 billion connected devices anticipated worldwide by 2030, according to Statista. Clearly some sectors will have a higher incidence of connectivity than others, with warehousing and logistics being a prime example. It’s an industry that relies on real-time data and decision making, which equates to a heavy reliance on connected devices and the Internet of Things.
Companies use integrated devices to automate their warehouses, track assets through the supply chain and notify customers when a delivery is completed. The IBM i series doesn’t disappoint here either, it was designed to easily communicate other systems, technologies, and applications. Even though it was developed decades ago, before IoT was even a consideration, the i Series still supports open connectivity.
Cost-effectiveness. Minimising total cost of ownership is a critical issue and the IBM i is a highly cost-effective operating system. It is efficient to maintain and, because it is regarded as a legacy asset that will have already ‘paid for itself’ over the years of ownership, continuing to use the platform actually saves companies money. Rather than moving to a cloud environment, which can end up costing a lot more in the long run, sticking with the i Series ensures that IT budget resources can be allocated to other areas where the investment returns are greater.
And if these benefits are not enough to justify why sticking with the IBM i makes commercial sense, there’s always the advantage of scalability. As one user commented in a peer review study, “It is not just an ideal platform for growth but speaks to modern markets where businesses must remail agile and adapt to demand.”
Clearly the IBM i Series has earned its enviable reputation for being such a reliable, cost effective and high performing platform. It may have been around for over three decades, but it continues to address key corporate goals and requirements. In short, it delivers.
If you are using an IBM i Series and considering either upgrading your warehouse management system (WMS) solution or switching from a paper based warehouse to software control, talk to Indigo Software. Indigo WMS is one of the original WMS solutions designed for the i Series and we offer a proven environment with advanced, sector specific functionality. We have been at the forefront of modernising the operating systems UI to a point where it is indistinguishable from any other browser delivered software allowing businesses to deploy a modern application with an impressive backbone that will allow you to put down real foundations on which to build a business.