You May Need Help – Even If You Don’t Think So
7 Year Delays, Coupled With Over $300,000 In
Transition Maintenance, Is The “Average!”
Even with the decision to leave the iSeries platform and migrate to a new platform combined with the most comprehensive planning and aggressive time schedules, you will probably hang on to your iSeries longer – a whole lot longer – than you expect.
Most Users That Migrate Away From Their iSeries Keep It For 7 Years Or More!
80% of the clients that notified us of their plans to discontinue their iSeries are still operating their iSeries server at least 7 years after initial notification to us – some as long as 15 years!
Industry studies bear out this same outcome – iSeries users that migrate to different platforms retain their iSeries for 7+ years.
How come?
Are You Affected By One Of The 5 Most Common Total iSeries Phase-Out Delays?
1) Migrations always take longer than you think because:
- new software does not work as expected
- new software requires more training than originally anticipated
- new software requires more customization than initially thought
- sometimes new software does not satisfy the reasons for the migration
- even with best efforts to avoid, scope creep (a growing list of “must-have’s”) expands the migration effort to make for a more complex moving target to final cutover
2) Migrations are often trickier than believed because of:
- Complex file layouts
- Old data fields not compatible with new layouts
- Inconsistent, non-standard or undocumented use of fields in current application make bringing the old data across difficult
3) There are applications that are low priorities to migrate or used infrequently so you chose not to migrate – and just let them die.
4) It is just easier to keep the old iSeries for occasional inquires or access to archived data.
5) The original application experts have gone, and a few old-times still know how to get at some of the data – but not completely for lack of documentation and clear recollection of how it works.
How We Can Help
We are iSeries/AS400 experts since 1988 (when the AS400 was first introduced).
Our services include:
1) IBM i/OS400 cloud hosting can be less expensive than paying hardware and software support on a legacy iSeries server.
2) Cost-slashing hardware maintenance for server and peripherals – we can save you up to 70% off IBM list – this can mean savings of $5,000 – $20,000+ per year.
3) iSeries server features and peripherals break-fix preparation for items that fail most frequently:
- RAID Cache battery
- Tape drive read-write head
- Disk
- Cooling fans
- Power supplies
- Mother boards
- Twinax controllers
- Feature cards
- External tapes, including 7208 8mm, 3570, 3580 and 3590
- Printers – matrix, shuttle matrix, line printers, desktop printers
- UPS and batteries
4) Error message hotline. SRC codes and other error messages and how to respond. Our hotline support helps you to take the correct steps to protect critical data and applications when you have little or no iSeries expertise. If you understand the SRC codes, you may be getting early warning messages before they become a bigger problem that cost BIG BUCKs as well as avoid delayed access to key data.
5) iSeries and OS400 software support when you terminate SWMA or lose in-house or consultant iSeries expertise. This can save you $8,000 – $60,000+ per year.
6) Professional services:
- File migration to new applications
- Legacy programs analysis and bug fixes when the original developers are gone or you have stopped paying for support.
7) Tips to reduce ongoing costs as you wind down the iSeries.