In 2025, enterprises that have long relied on the reliability and scalability of IBM i (AS400) systems are facing an urgent need for user experience transformation. While the platform’s core is rock solid for complex transactional workloads, it’s the aging green screen interfaces and limited interactivity that are slowing down innovation, workforce onboarding, and cross-platform integration.
For organizations that depend on AS400 for mission-critical operations, modernization is a strategic imperative. And this is where AS400 modernization solutions and tools come into play.
Why IBM i/AS400 Still Powers Enterprises
Despite being over three decades old, IBM i systems:
- Deliver unmatched reliability and uptime for core operations
- Are deeply entrenched in financial services, manufacturing, logistics, and retail ecosystems
- Offer tight integration between database (DB2), application, and OS layers
- Remain extremely cost-effective for transaction-heavy workloads
But with that strength comes one critical weakness: the user interface. The native 5250 green screens built for function, not for, don’t meet modern expectations of usability, agility, or integration.
The Modernization Mandate: What Has Changed?
UX is No Longer Optional
Users today expect:
- Responsive design that works across devices
- Visual dashboards instead of text-heavy menus
- Intuitive navigation and self-service capabilities
Modernization is crucial not just for aesthetics but also for employee productivity, satisfaction, and recruitment. Today’s tech talent is less inclined to work on “archaic” terminal-based systems.
Skills Gap Is Widening
With senior IBM i developers retiring, organizations are left with:
- Limited in-house expertise in RPG, COBOL, or CL
- Fewer developers who can decipher legacy monolithic codebases
- High dependency on external partners for even basic changes
Enter AS400 Modernization Tools: Bridging the Old and New
AS400 modernization tools simplify the transformation of green screen apps into web, mobile, and GUI-based applications – without replacing the underlying IBM i system.
Top IBM i Modernization Tools in 2025
- Profound UI – Converts green screens into rich browser interfaces with RPG support
- LANSA’s LongRange & RAMP – Helps create web and mobile apps without HTML or JavaScript
- BCD Presto – Provides instant GUI overlays for existing 5250 screens
- Open-source APIs + Node.js/ReactJS integrations for hybrid modernization strategies
Read more: Top 20 AS400 Modernization Tools in 2025
What Can IBM i Modernization Tools Actually Do?
- Reface 5250 screens with web and mobile-ready UI
- Build drag-and-drop applications with no HTML/CSS dependency
- Enable RPG developers to work in modern frameworks like Node.js or Angular
- Add centralized dashboards, web portals, and self-service flows
- Simplify workflow design with graphical editors
- Create modular components for reuse and scalability
- Inject SQL-based intelligence into legacy DB2 structures
- Layer API-based integrations with external systems and CRMs
7 Business Benefits of AS400 Modernization Tools
- Faster Time-to-Market: Rapid development environments speed up project delivery
- Reduced Dependency on Legacy Skillsets: GUI tools are accessible to new-age developers
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership: No need to rewrite entire applications
- Enhanced Productivity: Simplified workflows and intuitive UIs
- Data Democratization: Improved access to insights through interactive dashboards
- Scalability: Apps are ready for cloud or hybrid deployment
- Security: Modern tools offer baked-in protection from SQL injection and data leaks
Planning Your Modernization Journey the Right Way
Step 1 – Assess What to Modernize
Conduct an audit of:
- Green screen interfaces that impact end-user productivity
- Legacy RPG code that’s hard to maintain
- Databases still reliant on DDS (versus DDL)
Step 2 – Pick the Right Tool for the Right Goal
Choose based on:
- Do you want GUI overlays or complete re-architecture?
- Are you retaining RPG or moving toward Node.js/.NET?
- Is cloud-readiness a requirement?
Step 3 – Engage a Trusted IBM i Modernization Partner
Due to the complexity of legacy systems, a specialist partner can:
- Streamline modernization without breaking mission-critical processes
- Train your internal teams to use the tools
- Provide long-term support and optimization
Count on Our IBM i Modernization Expertise
At Nalashaa, we help organizations modernize IBM i systems using industry-best tools and practices. Whether it’s green screen transformation, cloud migration, RPG modernization, or data-driven insights, we provide a scalable, secure, and future-proof approach to digital transformation.
Our services include:
- UI/UX modernization using tools like Profound UI, LANSA
- Free-form RPG transformation and support
- Cloud readiness and database migration
- Custom dashboard and API integration development
If your IBM i applications need a facelift to match 2025 expectations, we’re here to help.
Let’s Modernize Your IBM i Applications
Stop letting your legacy systems hold you back.
Reach out to us at info@nalashaa.com or fill out the contact form to explore how AS400 modernization tools can bring a user-first, cloud-ready, and developer-friendly facelift to your IBM i investments.
