IBM i (formerly AS400) is a strategic asset in 2025 for organizations that know how to extract value from stability, resilience, and performance.

Modern IT leaders are no longer asking whether to replace IBM i - they’re asking how to modernize and extend it, using expert AS400 software services that align with hybrid cloud, automation, AI, and security mandates.

This blog outlines why AS400 software services are more critical than ever in 2025, what they look like in practice, and how they’re delivering measurable ROI in highly regulated, transaction-heavy industries.

The 2025 Evolution of AS400 and Why It Still Matters

A Legacy That Refused to Die – And Now Thrives

IBM i, introduced as AS400 in the late ‘80s, was built for scale, security, and simplicity. Fast forward to 2025, and it powers core systems for:

  • 70% of Fortune 100 companies
  • 100,000+ enterprises globally in banking, insurance, manufacturing, and retail
  • Environments requiring 99.999% uptime, airtight security, and extreme processing efficiency

What’s changed is how companies are using IBM i. They’re no longer running it in a silo—they’re integrating it with:

  • Cloud-native apps via RESTful APIs
  • AI/ML engines via data pipelines
  • DevOps and CI/CD using Git, Jenkins, and VS Code plugins

The takeaway? IBM i is evolving – but only if your software services evolve too.

The Modern IBM i (AS400) Stack Built for 2025

Hardware That Scales with Strategy

  • Up to 2.5x performance boost over Power9
  • Native support for AI inferencing at the chip level
  • Multitenant-ready workloads and shared services via PowerVS (Power Virtual Server)

IBM i Operating System

  • Still object-based, still impenetrably secure
  • Native support for open-source (Python, Node.js, PHP)
  • APIs for mobile, cloud, and external integrations

DB2 for i

  • Advanced SQL capabilities, including temporal tables and JSON support
  • Real-time journaling, ideal for audit logging and event-driven automation
  • Seamlessly integrates with Snowflake, Power BI, and data lake ecosystems

Developer Ecosystem

  • Continued RPG/COBOL support with modern IDEs
  • DevOps enablement via Rational Developer for i and Git
  • Real-time error tracing and test automation support

What AS400 Software Services Look Like in 2025

Application Modernization

  • Refactor legacy RPG into microservices
  • Wrap business logic with secure APIs
  • Enable real-time integration with mobile and cloud interfaces

UI/UX Transformation

  • Replace green screens with web-based interfaces using Angular, React, or Vue
  • Enable mobile-first experiences for operations and reporting
  • Increase productivity and reduce training cycles

Integration Enablement

  • Implement API gateways to bridge IBM i and cloud
  • Connect to Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP, Oracle via OData and JSON
  • Orchestrate workflows across platforms using MuleSoft or Boomi

Managed AS400 Support Services

  • Proactive monitoring, patching, and capacity planning
  • Hybrid deployment strategies—on-prem, PowerVS, and cloud sync
  • RPG/COBOL support from hard-to-find legacy experts

Also read: Why are AS400 Health Checks absolutely crucial?

Enterprise Use Cases That Prove the Value

Financial Services

  • Real-time processing for payments, lending, and fraud detection
  • Built-in compliance with SOX, PCI-DSS, GLBA
  • Nightly batch workloads optimized with zero downtime

Manufacturing

  • ERP, MRP, and MES systems run on IBM i
  • Embedded analytics for predictive maintenance and inventory accuracy
  • Integration with IoT devices for real-time production visibility

Insurance

  • Underwriting, claims, and agent portals backed by IBM i
  • Enhanced via REST APIs and AI-based analytics
  • Modernized frontend without disrupting backend processes

Retail & Distribution

  • POS and inventory sync across 1,000+ locations
  • Real-time loyalty and customer engagement tools
  • Integrated eCommerce backend running on IBM i

Strategic Advantages for CIOs and Enterprise Architects

Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

  • Reuse existing infrastructure instead of re-platforming
  • Consolidate workloads to reduce sprawl
  • Avoid licensing and SaaS creep

Security and Compliance at the Core

  • Native encryption and journaling ensure auditability
  • Integration with SIEM and IAM platforms like Splunk and Okta
  • Zero-trust configurations aligned with enterprise frameworks

Agility Without Rebuild

  • Modernize modules, not monoliths
  • Wrap and refactor with business continuity
  • Deliver new features on old systems without downtime

Future-Proofing

  • Bridge to hybrid cloud with IBM Cloud or Azure
  • Extend data to AI engines for decision intelligence
  • Modernize UX, maintain core reliability

Reap these benefits today!

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Challenges Enterprises Solve with AS400 Services

Challenge AS400 Software Service Solution
Aging Talent Pool Dedicated legacy support teams
Integration Bottlenecks Real-time APIs and connectors
Poor UX Browser-based modernization
Cloud Isolation Hybrid cloud enablement via PowerVS
Compliance Risk Hardened configurations & audit automation

The 2025 Mantra - Modernize Isn’t Always a Mandate

You don’t need to sunset IBM i to innovate. You need the right partner to unlock its hidden value.

Replatforming costs are high. Migration often disrupts mission-critical operations. A smarter play? Modernize AS400 in phases while keeping your core running like clockwork.

Start with an AS400 Modernization Readiness Audit

Before committing to a new platform or rewriting core apps, assess your AS400 environment with a 2025 readiness audit.

We'll help you:

  • Identify technical debt & modernization priorities
  • Discover integration & automation opportunities
  • Map a 6–12-month transformation roadmap
  • Estimate ROI from modernization vs. migration

We’ve helped enterprises in banking, manufacturing, insurance, and logistics modernize IBM i without disruption – it’s your turn. Request your free AS400 modernization audit now by filling in the form.