Many businesses still rely on IBM i systems to run critical operations such as manufacturing, distribution, finance, inventory, order management and enterprise resource planning. Although the platform has evolved significantly from the original AS/400, organizations can face challenges when they need experienced developers to maintain applications, integrate modern technologies or modernize legacy code.
For companies looking to extend the life and capabilities of their IBM i environment, hiring experienced IBM i AS/400 developers can be a practical alternative to replacing business-critical applications.
The right development team can help maintain existing RPG applications while gradually introducing modern interfaces, APIs, databases and integration capabilities.
Why Businesses Still Need IBM i AS/400 Developers
IBM i applications often contain years of business logic that supports important operational processes. Replacing these applications completely can involve significant cost, risk and disruption.
IBM describes application modernization as an approach that can involve updating application architecture, code or infrastructure while carefully assessing, planning, implementing, testing and monitoring the changes.
Experienced IBM i developers can help organizations:
- Maintain existing applications
- Develop new IBM i applications
- Modify and enhance RPG programs
- Work with Db2 for i databases
- Integrate IBM i with other business applications
- Modernize traditional interfaces
- Support ERP applications
- Troubleshoot application issues
- Improve application performance
- Prepare legacy applications for modernization
Instead of abandoning a reliable platform, businesses can use skilled developers to improve and extend their existing IBM i investment.
What Skills Should You Look for When Hiring IBM i Developers?
The IBM i ecosystem includes several technologies and programming languages. Therefore, technical experience should be one of the most important factors when choosing an IBM i development partner.
Depending on your project, look for developers with experience in:
RPG and RPGLE
RPG remains an important technology for many IBM i applications. Modern RPG can be written using free-form syntax and integrated with contemporary development practices.
IBM's current modernization resources specifically address modern RPG, modular development and approaches for updating older RPG applications.
ILE
ILE RPG experience is valuable for organizations maintaining modular IBM i applications. Developers should understand how programs, service programs and modules work within the IBM i environment.
COBOL
Some organizations continue to run important business applications written in COBOL. Developers with IBM i COBOL experience can help maintain, enhance and integrate these applications.
SQL and Db2
IBM i applications frequently depend on Db2 for i. SQL knowledge is therefore important for application development, database work, reporting and performance optimization.
CL and IBM i Administration
Knowledge of CL can be useful for managing jobs, system operations, application processes and automation.
Saamsha Technologies states that its IBM i team works with technologies including RPG, ILE, COBOL, SQL, CL and Db2, along with IBM i application development and maintenance.
When Should You Hire IBM i AS/400 Developers?
You don't necessarily need to hire a large permanent team. Businesses can bring in IBM i developers when they have a specific technical requirement.
1. Legacy Application Maintenance
If your existing RPG or COBOL applications are business-critical, experienced developers can maintain them, troubleshoot problems and implement required enhancements.
2. New IBM i Application Development
Companies may need new applications while continuing to use their existing IBM i infrastructure. An experienced IBM i development team can build applications that work with existing databases, programs and business processes.
3. IBM i Modernization
Modernization is one of the most common reasons organizations seek IBM i specialists.
Modernization can include:
- Converting older RPG code to modern RPG
- Improving application architecture
- Modernizing green-screen interfaces
- Adding APIs
- Integrating web applications
- Improving database access
- Connecting IBM i with cloud or third-party systems
IBM describes RPG modernization as a way to update existing RPG applications while preserving valuable business logic rather than automatically replacing everything from scratch.
4. IBM i Integration
Modern businesses rarely operate with a single application. IBM i systems may need to exchange information with CRM platforms, ecommerce applications, warehouse systems, payment platforms, analytics tools and other enterprise applications.
IBM i developers with integration experience can help connect existing applications with modern systems through appropriate interfaces and APIs.
5. ERP Support
IBM i environments may run ERP applications such as Infor LX/BPCS, JD Edwards or custom-developed ERP applications.
Saamsha Technologies specifically lists IBM i ERP production support for BPCS/Infor LX, JD Edwards and home-grown IBM i applications among its services.
Benefits of Hiring Dedicated IBM i Developers
Faster Access to Specialized Skills
IBM i development requires platform-specific knowledge. Hiring an experienced specialist can provide access to skills that may be difficult to develop internally.
Lower Modernization Risk
Developers who understand existing RPG, databases and business processes can modernize applications incrementally instead of making unnecessary changes to proven systems.
Flexible Team Scaling
Businesses can add developers for a specific project, modernization initiative or application support requirement.
Saamsha states that it provides IBM i developers for team augmentation and offers developer engagement on hourly, weekly or monthly arrangements.
Better Knowledge of Existing Business Logic
Legacy applications often contain business rules that are not fully documented. Developers familiar with IBM i can analyze existing applications and help preserve that knowledge during enhancement or modernization.
How to Choose the Right IBM i AS/400 Development Partner
Before hiring an IBM i development company, evaluate more than just the number of developers available.:
Technical expertise: Check experience with RPGLE, ILE RPG, COBOL, CL, SQL and Db2.
Industry experience: A developer familiar with your industry may understand your business processes more quickly.
Modernization capabilities: If modernization is part of your roadmap, choose a partner that understands both traditional IBM i applications and modern development approaches.
Integration experience: Ask about previous projects involving APIs, third-party applications, ERP integration and web technologies.
Support model: Understand whether the provider offers ongoing application maintenance and production support.
Engagement flexibility: Check whether you can hire individual developers, dedicated teams or project-based resources.
Why Consider Saamsha Technologies for IBM i Development?
Saamsha Technologies provides IBM i (AS/400) solutions covering application development, legacy application maintenance, migration, modernization and integration.
Its IBM i team works with technologies including RPG/RPGLE, ILE, COBOL, SQL, CL and Db2, while also supporting IBM i ERP environments such as Infor LX/BPCS and JD Edwards.
Saamsha also provides IBM i AS/400 team augmentation, allowing businesses to add experienced developers to their existing teams when they need additional technical capacity or specialized IBM i expertise.
For businesses that want to modernize without immediately replacing their core IBM i applications, this type of expertise can help create a more gradual modernization strategy.
Final Thoughts
IBM i and AS/400 systems continue to support important business processes across many industries. The challenge for organizations is often not whether these systems still provide value, but whether they have access to the right technical expertise to maintain and modernize them.
Hiring experienced IBM i AS/400 developers can help businesses maintain existing applications, develop new functionality, integrate modern systems and gradually modernize legacy environments.
Whether you need an RPG developer for application maintenance, an IBM i specialist for ERP support, or a complete development team for modernization, selecting a partner with both IBM i expertise and an understanding of modern technology can make the process more manageable.
For businesses looking to strengthen their IBM i development capabilities, working with an experienced provider such as Saamsha Technologies can provide access to specialized IBM i development, modernization, integration and team-augmentation services.
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