In the past 12 months, we have experienced exponential change in the way we work.  Demands on the IT department continue to grow while the resources allocated to reach these high expectations, continually squeezed. 

The modern IBM i IT department needs to refocus to be able to counter these problems while simultaneously raising the bar.  The answer is to consolidate many of the individual routines, bespoke code and single-purpose programs into one central solution that not only simplifies and lowers IT resource but also speeds up development, adds functionality and reduces overheads.

One such solution for the IBM i is RouteOne.  RouteOne allows you to consolidate many disparate processes you may already have in place while providing additional benefits to your business.

RouteOne provides a central solution to all your data transformation and export requirements.  From producing and distributing fully formatted electronic forms and reports [PDF, XLS and more], to creating JSON/XML/SQL/CSV extracts for other systems, RouteOne does the lot. 

Through adopting RouteOne, IT resource is reduced.  Our ‘no coding, query like'  rules engine allows you to extract selected data from a spool file, DB2 or a mix of both and then transform it to all popular formats and deliver by a method of choice.  From creating ETL procedures for an SQL data warehouse to HTML emails, RouteOne can do it for you.

Should you be interested in lowering overheads with the potential of removing unsupported software or redundant RPG code, learn how RouteOne can help transform your business. 

Utilities 400 Partner, MNI Services enjoy another happy RouteOne customer according to a recent case study published by the company.  Within the case study, the customer explains that RouteOne helped the business exponentially with their reporting requirements - creating reports simply, with full automation capabilities and all without coding.

To read the case study in full, please click the button below.

Commissioned by IBM, Forrester Consulting have released a report that details the cost savings and business benefits enabled by IBM i running on Power hardware or in the cloud.

The report highlights the reliability and security of the IBM i and with the integration of the operating system with the database, provides the best environment for business to reduce system downtime and admin support costs, as well as improving productivity too.
The three key takeaways within the report are as follows [ROI/NVP based over a three year period]:

The report also detailed the unquantifiable benefits including trust and peace of mind against uptime and security while detailing the integration options and flexibility of the platform.

In summary, the Total Economic Impact [a methodology developed by Forrester Research] of adopting the IBM i platform as the primary enterprise solution for business was sound.  Indeed, the three year figures suggested that (against the previous enterprise incumbents) IBM i provided the perfect blend of technology, security, uptime and productivity. 
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For more details, you can download the Forrester report using the button below. 

Quite literally out of the blue, IBM have further invigorated support for their 10-year-old operating system by allowing the OS to run on its latest architecture, the Power9 – a processor type that it was never supported on.
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IBM i 7.1 was originally launched on April 13th 2010 and is the longest supported release of any IBM i midrange platform in the family history since the birth of AS/400.  In October 2020, IBM announced that 7.1 will enjoy a support extension of two years, but even with this, this still limited the platform to incumbent servers and there wasn’t even the hint that Power9  would or even could be supported in the future. 

This is great news for IBM i shop of whom were limited on potential server upgrades, but it does come with some caveats.  First, upgrades are limited to a select few options – Power9 servers with the designations 9009-22A & 22G.  Next, there are some I/O restrictions which may have implications depending upon configuration.  Also, you will have to purchase your new box with 7.3 or 7.4 and you will have to be on software maintenance too.  Only with these, on a qualifying server, will you be allowed to download your 7.1 keys.  Even then, you may find your service fees double as you will also have to pay for the 7.1 service extension.

All being said, IBM have done the business in providing an upgrade path to their latest technology.  This is great news for businesses running on legacy IBM i.

For further reading please see the official IBM i release notes ​and the excellent article in IT Jungle.

Due to #Covid19UK restrictions this month, the date of the next @i_ug_uk education event i-POWER Midlands has changed from Tuesday 10th November to Thursday 10th December.

REGISTRATION OPEN HERE:
https://www.i-ug.co.uk/

Utilities 400 are proud members of #iUG and look forward to the rescheduled event.

#IBMi #AS400 #iSeries

From 'what is a Barcode' to investigating turn-key real-time barcoding solutions - we'll introduce you to what you need to know to help transform your barcoding potential. 

Successful IBM i enterprise use barcoding within all aspects of their operation.  From tracking work in progress, directing shipments to identifying appropriate parts and material and document control, the benefits of accurate information, real-time visibility and a highly efficient work force are clear. 
 
Join IBM i experts Utilities 400 for a webinar on everything you need to know on Barcoding for your IBM i enterprise.
 
During this 30 minute webinar, we’ll introduce you to

• Why barcoding is required.
• The different barcode types.
• How to create barcodes in an IBM i environment.
• How to choose the correct barcoding device for your processes.
• The importance of looking beyond ‘batch’ processing.
• Real-time, multi-faceted point of transaction technologies.
• How to deliver native IBM i barcoding that integrates with your ERP.

 
By the end of the webinar, you’ll have a fundamental understanding on how you can introduce real-time barcoding into your IBM i enterprise and the associated benefits. 
 
ShowMe Barcode offers a simple but powerful method of introducing barcode technology and/or upgrading from batch to real-time processing.  Using ShowMe Barcode applications provides business the opportunity to reduce errors and make huge gains in efficiency.  ShowMe Barcode works in parallel with your ERP providing appropriate information and instruction to the barcode operative while providing fully validated, live reading and writing to your IBM i.

REGISTER NOW to join us for this webinar on 4th November:

In this clip from the Dewhirst Group ShowMe Barcode Case Study, Paul Medforth, IT Manager discusses why they chose ShowMe Barcode to replace the incumbent barcoding systems within their #IBMi enterprise.
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For the full video case study, see our ShowMe Barcode page

.Utilities 400 provide B2B eCommerce for business both on and off the IBM i.  For more details please see ShowMe Webshop for on-premise IBM i eCommerce and iVolution Webshop offsite and non-IBM i installations.

IBM i 7.1 was launched on April 13th 2010 and is the longest supported release of any IBM i midrange platform in the family history since the birth of AS/400.  Before now, IBM i 7.1 had support for 2,929 days, against an average of 1,436 days across 25 releases since June 1988 when the AS/400 was launched.  With the proposal that 7.1 will enjoy another support extension, this time of two years, we will have seen an incredible 4,755 days of support.

Here's a chart originally published by IT Jungle that details the release cycle:

Alison Butterill, IBM i office manager said of the proposed extension, "We have a number of clients who have not yet moved for a variety of reasons, some of the reasons for customers staying with IBM i 7.1 are due to applications, some are due to support for peripheral devices they need.”

Utilities 400 are committed to supporting our IBM i customer base on multiple levels of IBM i OS.  Indeed, we still will have a partition on our development box that runs on v5.3.  So, if you still have a box that's over 15 years old, we still have iterations of our solutions that can support you.  ​

A recent report completed by IDC suggests that modernised IBM i and System Z applications enjoy both a higher satisfaction rating and lower overall costs than migrating off those platforms.  

IDC measured the results of modernisation and migration projects by surveying IT leaders at 440 businesses in Australia, India, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States and published the results in their 'Quantified Business Benefits of Modernising IBM Z and IBM i to Spur Innovation'.   The report investigated a range of metrics including performance, experience, security, web enablement, agility and more and across ALL metrics, the businesses that modernised their applications scored higher than their migrated counterparts. 

The study pointed out that modernising not only reduced risk from replatforming but also improved innovation potential and allowed the business in question to grow faster.  The IDC report found that stigma against legacy machines is unfounded and that using the rich information collated by the incumbent systems can be reused and repurposed to great effect. 

Indeed, businesses that modernised their IBM i enterprise have done so with a view on improving key areas with the most popular digital transformation initiatives for IBM i businesses including IoT, Analytics and Web enablement.

In conclusion, the study highlighted that there are great opportunities for IBM i businesses to improve their operations through modernisation.  Applications from business such as Utilities 400 can help empower business to enact on new technologies WITHOUT the need to migrate. 

IBM continue the growth of its Power Systems.  In the second quarter ended in June, the server market turned in one of the best quarters in its history – even when you consider the inflation adjusted revenues from the peak Dot-Com Boom nearly two decades ago as 2000 was coming to a close. According to the research done by IDC, server spending rose by 19.8 percent to $24.04 billion, and server shipments rose in near parallel by 18.4 percent to 3.19 million machines. 

For the full story, please read the article at IT Jungle:
https://www.itjungle.com/2020/09/14/just-how-big-is-the-whole-power-systems-business/

Join us on Tuesday 18th August for a webinar regarding the impact of COVID-19 on B2B purchasing decisions.  During this 25 minute session, we'll analyse the key points highlighted within the latest industry reports and discuss the trends for B2B purchasing, the risks of continuing conventional methodologies and how best to improve business opportunities through an eCommerce strategy dedicated towards your IBM i enterprise.
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To join the webinar, please first register using the button below:

The session will be recorded so should you register and not be able to attend, then you will receive a link to view webinar at your convenience. 

Each attendee [live or recorded] will receive a link to download our whitepaper 'Killing COVID-19 through eCommerce'

At Utilities 400, we understand how difficult it is for the IBM i Enterprise to provide Business Continuity during the COVID-19 crisis.  To this end, we've launched a campaign to help deliver business critical data, documents and reports to your remote workers, suppliers, partners and clients through the use of a FREE license of RouteOne.

For more information on how to take advantage of this offer (and our own statement on business continuity), please visit or COVID-19 page at www.uti400.com/COVID19 

We wish you all the very best during these difficult times.  Please stay safe.

​Andy Nicholson | anicholson@uti400.com

Turn green screens into automation is a video from a recent Utilities 400 webinar.   During the webinar we explained how you could remove manual, error prone data entry through the use of iKeyer, our automated virtual terminal.

​During the session we were joined by Jacqueline Jeffrey, IT Manager of Eclipse Blinds.  On 13:00, she explains how iKeyer helped her business save many thousands of pounds per year.  Later, on 20:00, Steve Close, our IT Director provides a demonstration using example data from our real-life business experiences. 

You can now view the video from the webinar below:

Utilities 400, one of the world’s leading independent software houses on developing enterprise solutions for the IBM i enterprise, has welcomed two new specialists to its development and support team.

Utilities 400 R&D and support team are excited to welcome Diarmuid Drew and Des Hyde as senior development and product consultants.

Diarmuid enjoys 30 years of IT experience working predominantly as a senior analyst programmer. In addition to being well versed in all phases of the software development lifecycle, he’s also a keen fisher and in his spare time, can be found wallowing in the banks of rivers searching for bass.

Des too has a 30 year history in IT as a programmer and support lead on IBM i. She specialises in warehousing and interfaces but also has broad career in helping businesses improve processes and functionality. Des also enjoys Campanology, a study of the craft and play of bell ringing.

Please join us in welcoming Des and Diarmuid to the Utilities 400 family!

For International iPower, we built a quick, fun application in ShowMe+ to showcase the solutions speed and real-time prowess.  The application was based upon barcode scanning and designed as a fun game in which delegates could compete.

The rules are simple, scan 20 unique barcodes in as quick a time as possible.  Whomever scans all 20 in the quickest time, wins!

Following the iPower event, we decided to give it a go ourselves... but who won within the Utilities 400 team?

First we have Filippo.  Filippo is a developer and is of Italian descent.  As such, he's basing his quick firing tactics on the work of legendary Spaghetti Western director, Sergio Leone. Good, Bad or Ugly, Filippo is determined to win either way.

Next up is Jon.  Jon is our principle engineer for ShowMe technologies and Clint Eastwood fan.  With this inspiration, he feels lucky.  Go ahead, make his day.

Finally we have Janet.  Don't let her day-to-day responsibilities as a consultant fool you.  Inspired by Pricess Leia, she's out to prove that the force is strong with this one. ​

The battle was a close run race but there was only one winner.  Can you guess who it was?

If you have an interest in deploying realtime barcoding applications on your IBM i, please see our ShowMe Barcode solution page or email Andy on anicholson@uti400.com

Originally posted some six years ago, this White Paper is perhaps more relevant today than it was then.  During these austere times, the increase in postage costs is an unwelcome consideration for an enterprise looking to lower their operational costs.  Businesses have found themselves in a position where they have three choices:

1. Absorb the increase in costs (or pass the costs on to the customer)
2. Switch from first class post to second class
3. Adopt a new method of delivery

 
This whitepaper explores these issues and options for an enterprise running on IBM i.  In addition it recommends a path forward through integrated solutions and services that can save the business time, money and resource, year on year through taking the four R's:

• Review your document distribution requirements. 
  
• Rationalise your post process
• Reduce your printed post
  
• Replace your internal post systems

Within the whitepaper, we discuss each 'R' and present examples of customers who have deployed solutions that save them time and money. To download the document for FREE, please click the download link below: