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AS400 Integration Services

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is AS400 still worth integrating with modern systems, or should we just migrate off it?

  For most enterprises running AS400 (now IBM i), a full migration is neither necessary nor cost-effective. IBM continues to actively develop the platform, and over a million organizations across banking, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and healthcare still rely on it for mission-critical workloads. The real challenge is not that AS400 is outdated, but that it was not originally designed to talk to cloud apps, SaaS platforms, and modern APIs. Good AS400 integration services let you keep the reliability and performance of IBM i while extending its data and business logic to CRM, ERP, BI, and cloud environments. This kind of AS400 system integration is usually a fraction of the cost and risk of a rip-and-replace migration.

• How does AS400 API integration actually work?

  IBM i has built-in support for exposing programs and data as web services through Integrated Web Services (IWS), which can turn RPG or COBOL programs and SQL queries into REST or SOAP endpoints. Teams can also use middleware like MuleSoft, IBM API Connect, or custom API layers that call into RPG programs, DB2 tables, data queues, or stored procedures. The right AS400 API integration approach depends on what you're exposing. A simple DB2 query is very different from a complex order-creation flow that runs through existing business logic. A good AS400 API integration vendor will help you decide what to expose as APIs, how to secure those endpoints, and how to govern them over time through an API gateway.

• Do we need real-time integration, or is batch enough?

  It depends on the process. Real-time (or near real-time) integration makes sense for things like order status, inventory availability, pricing, customer lookups, and any flow where users or customers expect current data. Batch IBM i integration still works well for overnight financial postings, reporting data loads, large historical syncs, or anything where slight delays are acceptable. Many AS400 environments use both: real-time APIs for customer-facing flows and scheduled jobs for heavier data movement. Part of the work we do as an AS400 integration company is helping you map which flows genuinely need real-time and which are better left as batch, since real-time adds cost, complexity, and monitoring overhead that isn't always justified.

• What are the biggest challenges in IBM i AS400 integration projects?

  The common ones we see are missing or outdated documentation of legacy RPG and COBOL code, shrinking in-house IBM i talent, mismatched data formats between DB2 and modern databases, CCSID and encoding issues during file transfers, and brittle point-to-point integrations that break after system patches or upgrades. Security is another recurring concern. Exposing AS400 data to external systems without proper controls around authentication, encryption, and access is a serious risk. Most of these issues are manageable with the right planning, but they tend to surface late in projects run without deep IBM i experience, which is where working with experienced AS400 integration experts helps reduce surprises.

• Can AS400 be integrated with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud?

  Yes. IBM i supports modern languages (Java, Node.js, Python) alongside RPG and COBOL, which means AS400 applications can call cloud APIs directly or be fronted by cloud-based API gateways. AWS has published reference patterns for exposing IBM i business logic as REST APIs and streaming data queue events into services like SNS, SQS, and Kinesis. Most organizations adopt a hybrid model, keeping core workloads on IBM i while using the cloud for analytics, customer-facing apps, AI, or elastic storage. IBM i cloud integration services typically focus on secure connectivity, data synchronization, and designing the boundary between what stays on-premise and what moves to the cloud.

• How long does an AS400 integration project usually take, and how do we get started?

  It varies significantly based on scope. A focused integration, for example exposing a few RPG programs as REST APIs to feed a CRM, can be delivered in a few weeks. A broader program connecting AS400 with multiple enterprise systems (Salesforce, Dynamics 365, Snowflake, an eCommerce platform) typically runs into months and is best delivered in phases. A reliable AS400 integration provider should give you a realistic phased timeline early in the engagement rather than committing to a big-bang delivery date. If you need AS400 integration help scoping the right approach, our IBM i AS400 integration experts can map your current environment and recommend a phased plan.

• How much does IBM i integration typically cost, and what drives the price up or down?

  This is usually one of the first questions enterprises ask when shortlisting an IBM i integration company, and there is no single answer because pricing depends heavily on scope, integration approach, and the state of your existing IBM i environment.

  Scope is the biggest variable. Exposing a few RPG programs as REST APIs to feed one CRM is a very different project from building real-time bidirectional sync between AS400, Salesforce, Snowflake, and an eCommerce platform. The first can land in the low five figures; the second often runs into six figures and is best delivered in phases.

  The integration approach is the next factor. Pre-built connectors and middleware platforms like MuleSoft, Boomi, or IBM API Connect reduce custom development time but carry licensing costs. Custom API layers built directly against IBM i give you more control but need more engineering hours. A good IBM i integration provider will help you weigh these trade-offs against your long-term roadmap rather than defaulting to whichever option they happen to specialize in.

  Other cost drivers worth flagging early: the quality of your existing RPG and COBOL documentation, how much business logic needs to be exposed versus rewritten, the number of downstream systems involved, real-time vs. batch requirements, and whether you need managed support after go-live.