AS400 Consulting for the Modern Enterprise: Trends, Tools & Transformation

AS400, now more commonly called IBM i, still powers mission-critical systems across manufacturing, distribution, finance, and retail. But the conversation about AS400 consulting has changed. It’s no longer “legacy or replace”. It’s “modernize, extend, and monetize”. That shift is why smart enterprises are rethinking AS400 services and AS400 managed services as strategic investments, not stopgap fixes. 

Why AS400 Consulting Matters Right Now 

Many IT leaders assume the AS400 story ended decades ago. That’s wrong. Recent industry data shows IBM i users report exceptional platform ROI, and they’re doubling down on upgrades and integrations rather than ripping and replacing.  

According to Fortra’s 2025 IBM i Marketplace Survey, most organizations using IBM i see strong value in the platform. An overwhelming 96% of respondents said the platform gives them a better ROI compared to other operating systems. The shift to newer technology is clear as well. More than half of the respondents have already moved to Power10 hardware, and adoption of IBM i 7.5 is climbing fast—rising from 19% to 32% in just a year. 

So, the platform is robust. But the challenges are real: skills gaps, security requirements, and the need to integrate modern services such as APIs, cloud, and AI. That’s where focused consulting and managed services add tangible value. 

Trends Shaping AS400 Consulting Engagements 

Supporting IBM i isn’t just about keeping an older system alive anymore. It’s about helping enterprises get more out of a platform that quietly powers some of their most critical work. 

As teams deal with shrinking skill pools, rising security pressures, and growing expectations for cloud and API-driven experiences, the way companies approach IBM i projects is changing fast. These trends are redefining what modernization really looks like: 

1) Skills and Talent Scarcity 

Firms report that IBM i skills are now one of the top concerns when planning IT strategy. Fortra found 60% of respondents flagged IBM i expertise as a top issue—ahead of modernization in many cases. That’s driven a surge in outsourcing to specialists and managed services providers who can keep systems running, patch vulnerabilities, and modernize codebases safely.  

Rather than moving everything off IBM i, organizations are adopting hybrid models: keep core transactional workloads on IBM i while exposing business functions via APIs. IBM’s own resources and service programs are geared toward flexible migration models and commercial offerings to help customers modernize without disruption.  

AI is entering the IBM i space in earnest. IBM and ecosystem vendors are building code assistants and analysis tools to speed refactoring of RPG and COBOL, and to extract business logic for API wrapping. Programmers.io and other providers point to new offerings like a Watsonx Code Assistant for IBM i that accelerate code modernization and impact analysis. Consulting engagements are increasingly expected to include AI-assisted code discovery and transformation tools.  

As IBM i systems hold sensitive data, compliance teams are scrutinizing them more than before. Fortra’s survey also shows broad year-over-year growth in security tooling adoption for IBM i environments. That drives demand for IBM iSeries services that include vulnerability scanning, monitoring, and managed security operations as part of AS400 managed services.  

What Modern AS400 Consulting Looks Like 

Reliable consulting isn’t a single project. It’s a program. 

You must start with discovery. This should be followed by mapping applications to business processes and documenting the interfaces to establish a clear understanding of system interactions. Identify data flows and dependency chains. Use automated tools where possible—static analysis for RPG, API mapping, and automated test harnesses. Then take a balanced approach: 

A single vendor rarely covers every need. The best providers work with a partner ecosystem that includes API gateways, observability tools, security vendors, and cloud providers to create a roadmap that fits the business. 

Tools and Patterns Defining AS400 Engagements in 2025 

Enterprises are actively exploring tools and patterns that make these platforms more agile and future‑ready: 

Why Organizations Leverage AS400 Managed Services 

AS400 environments are still the backbone of many operations, and keeping them healthy isn’t a small task. It takes people who know the platform well, constant upkeep, and the time to watch for issues before they turn into problems. Many companies lack that level of in-house capacity.  

That’s why so many teams are leaning on AS400 managed services. It’s not only about basic maintenance. It’s about reducing the risks that come with an aging system, filling the gaps left by shrinking IBM i talent, and getting a more predictable plan for how the environment should grow and evolve. 

Three reasons dominate: 

1.Risk Transfer: Managed services shift operational risk to providers who specialize in IBM i operations. 

2. Skill Augmentation: Providers bring deep, niche IBM i talent while clients focus on higher-value digital projects. 

3.  Cost Predictability: Managed models convert unpredictable upkeep into a fixed operating line item. 

If you’re evaluating iSeries managed services or IBM iSeries services, prioritize providers that offer a clear modernization path, from stabilization to API enablement to cloud extension. 

A Practical Checklist for Choosing a Partner 

Choosing the right AS400 partner is about finding a team that understands your business, your pace, and the realities of your environment. The best partners don’t overwhelm you with jargon or push one-size-fits-all solutions.  

They show clarity, proof, and a genuine commitment to long-term value. A quick checklist helps cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. 

The Business Case: Numbers You Can Rely On 

You don’t need to buy a full replatform to capture value. Fortra’s 2025 survey shows growing confidence in IBM i ROI and a willingness among customers to invest in upgrades and extensions rather than wholesale replacement; that’s a powerful economic argument for modern as400 services over costly rewrites. Upgrading to modern IBM i releases (e.g., IBM i 7.5) and Power10 hardware is already a trend among adopters.  

IBM also publishes support lifecycle details you should consider when planning upgrades and consolidations. Thus, knowing OS and support timelines is vital to reducing long-term risk. 

Conclusion 

If your AS400 runs the ledgers, the order books, or the inventory systems, it’s a strategic asset. Treat it accordingly. Start with AS/400 consulting to map the landscape. Use AS400 Managed Services to stabilize and secure operations. Then modernize incrementally. Small changes compound into meaningful, long-term agility. 

Modernization doesn’t mean abandoning what works. It means extending value. It means taking a system that has served you for years and giving it the flexibility to serve the business you’re becoming. For many organizations, that shift alone unlocks faster delivery cycles, better insights, and fewer operational fires. 

Need a starting point? Commission a short discovery assessment. Get a one-page roadmap. That alone will reveal where quick wins live, and where you should invest for the next five years. And once that picture is clear, the path forward stops feeling like a major transformation and starts looking like a series of manageable, high-impact steps you can execute with confidence.