Talsco Weekly: The Many Hats of IBM i Professionals

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: AI-powered testing tool arrives for IBM i.
AI: 🎥 Video: Modernizing RPG Applications with AI.
Development: A Strong Case for PHP on the IBM i (Video).
Hiring: 👨‍💻 IBM i: Have Job Titles Lost Their Meaning?
ERP: 💼 Cloud ERP market surges, but on-prem persists.
Leadership: 🌐 Remote work thrives on trust, not time.
Learning: 🎓 Scrimba: Interactive Coding Platform.
Modernization: ☁️ Cloud migration vs. futurization: A critical choice.

IBM i Brief

AI-powered testing tool arrives for IBM i

Abstracta launches a new GenAI copilot for software testing, including IBM i systems. The browser-based tool uses NLP to simplify database access, API interaction, and mainframe operations. It rapidly generates user stories, test cases, and documentation, aiming to boost productivity and reduce costs. This follows IBM’s announcement of an AI accelerator for Power systems and their upcoming RPG coding assistant.

Takeaways: There are now a number of AI enabled testing tools available for the IBM i.

AI

🎥 Video: Modernizing RPG Applications with AI

In this insightful video, learn how AI can be leveraged to modernize and enhance RPG applications on IBM i systems. Discover practical approaches to integrating AI capabilities with existing RPG code, potentially improving functionality and user experience.

Have IBM i shops dodged a bullet?

The IBM i shops that have avoided modernizing our IBM i green screens until now may have dodged that bullet. We might be able to avoid screen modernization altogether. The days of filling in fixed forms to share data, whether between individual customers and businesses or business to business, may soon be coming to an end.

AI reshapes IBM i user experiences. Traditional data entry screens are giving way to AI-driven interfaces. LLM chatbots extract information from conversations, eliminating form-filling. Predictive AI manages business processes autonomously. IBM i’s reliability and processing power position it well for this transition. Generative AI aids in creating integration layers and modernizing legacy code, allowing incremental adoption of these transformative technologies.

Development

A Strong Case for PHP on the IBM i (Video)

The IBM i is an amazing platform. When it comes to web development, there are three very popular choices IBM i shops are turning to for web development.

Here Andrew Nicholson from Proximity, interviews Alan Seiden on the benefits of using PHP on the IBM i. If you are curious to learn more about why PHP might be a option for you, I highly recommend watching the interview.

Hiring

👨‍💻 IBM i: Have Job Titles Lost Their Meaning?

In the IBM i market, job titles often fail to capture the full scope of an individual’s responsibilities and expertise.

As most of us know, IBM i-ers wear multiple hats, having broad and deep experience across the IBM i platform. In fact, you might be one of them.

Often times, a Sr. Programmer Analyst is:

a Developer with RPG (all versions)
a Business Analyst
an EDI Coordinator
an IBM i Administrator
an ERP Administrator
and now a Web Developer (PHP, Python, Node.js)

On the other hand, it seems like the greater tech industry is grappling with rampant title inflation. That is what they do does not always align with their title.

The once-prestigious “senior” designation is really not that senior. Developers now reach senior status faster, often with just 3-4 years of experience. This trend muddles career progression, confuses hiring processes, and erodes the significance of professional milestones. The inflation stems from talent competition, personal branding pressures, and misguided retention strategies, ultimately threatening industry integrity. Read more here.

IBM i Hiring & Succession planning

When working with our clients in the IBM i space, especially managers that are new to the IBM i, we find there is often a disconnect with the Title and what the individual actually does. It often, has hiring managers spinning their wheels as they try to deal with succession planning and modernization.

Need help hiring? Contact us.

On the flip side, IBM i professionals searching for new roles often face challenges due to misaligned job titles and descriptions. The versatility of IBM i developers, who excel at solving business problems with technology, isn’t always reflected in traditional job listings.

This disconnect highlights a unique aspect of the IBM i community: the depth and breadth of skills possessed by its professionals often transcend simple job titles. From legacy systems to modern web development, IBM i developers wear multiple hats, adapting to evolving technology landscapes.

At Talsco, we navigate this complex job market, it’s crucial for both employers and professionals to look beyond titles. Instead, focus on the actual skills, responsibilities, and problem-solving capabilities that make IBM i developers invaluable assets in today’s tech-driven business world.

So, we ask you: Is your job title a true reflection of your skills and responsibilities?

ERP

💼 Cloud ERP market surges, but on-prem persists

Overview: The global cloud ERP market is booming, projected to reach $181 billion by 2032 with a 15.5% CAGR. While cloud adoption dominates at 70.4% in 2024, on-premises solutions maintain relevance at 29.6%. Factors like security concerns and customization needs keep some organizations committed to on-prem deployments, despite the cloud’s growing allure.

There are some interesting takeaways here:

Cloud ERP isn’t always ideal: Some SAP customers find S/4 HANA lacks needed functionality, especially customization options. This affects IBM i and Power Systems users too, showing on-premises solutions remain relevant for specific business needs.
Customization remains crucial: Some organizations, particularly in the IBM midrange, value the ability to tailor ERP systems. This customization capability, often seen as a competitive advantage, may keep a segment of businesses committed to on-premises solutions.

Leadership

🌐 Remote work thrives on trust, not time

The IBM i community has benefited greatly from remote work.

When you don’t have to check the onsite box, your candidate pool exponentially increases⬆️.

Here are some of the benefits of Remote and Onsite work.

Remote work

[ ] Increased talent pool
[ ] Reduced overhead costs
[ ] Improved work-life balance

Onsite

[ ] Face-to-face collaboration
[ ] Easier team building
[ ] Access to physical resources

This expansion of talent options has been a significant advantage for IBM i shops looking to fill critical roles.

It has been critical for IBM i shops:

dealing with succession planning
looking to modernize
needing an expert with a not-so-popular ERP system that is vital to business operations

However, when business process redesign is needed or when there’s heavy interaction required with manufacturing, shop floor personnel, or shipping and receiving departments, being onsite and face-to-face becomes essential. These instances demand direct, in-person communication to ensure clarity, efficiency, and successful implementation of changes or processes.

Shift in Thinking

Managing remote teams effectively requires a shift from traditional supervision to an output-based approach.

Here are some things to consider:

Trust is crucial, allowing flexibility and reducing pressure
Challenges in hybrid setups include unequal visibility and promotion opportunities
Documentation and asynchronous communication are vital
Managers play a key role in preventing burnout and maintaining engagement
Technology tools support efficiency
Occasional in-person meetups foster connections

Learning

🎓 Scrimba: Interactive Coding Platform

RPG and IBM i Developers looking to jump into Open Source (Python, Javascript, CSS, TypeScript, React, etc..) should check out Scrimba.

Scrimba is an innovative online learning platform for web development.

It offers interactive coding courses where learners can pause the video at any time and edit the code directly in the browser.

This hands-on approach allows for immediate practice and experimentation, making it an effective tool for both beginners and experienced developers looking to expand their skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks like React.

Key features of Scrimba include:

Interactive screencasts with editable code
A wide range of courses from beginner to advanced levels
Community support and code challenges
Certificate of completion for courses

For IBM i professionals looking to enhance their web development skills, Scrimba could be a valuable resource to talk your career to the next level.

Modernization

☁️ Cloud migration vs. futurization: A critical choice

As enterprises grapple with legacy systems, they face a pivotal decision.

Cloud Migration vs. Futurization:

Cloud migration is like moving to a new house – you’re changing where you live, but essentially keeping all your furniture and belongings the same. Futurization, on the other hand, is more like renovating your home from the ground up – modernizing the foundation while preserving the elements that make it uniquely yours.

Cloud migration offers immediate benefits like reduced costs and improved scalability, but may not address fundamental challenges.

Futurization, transforms legacy code into modern languages while preserving business logic.

Join

Contact us

If you are an RPG programmer looking to explore opportunities or a client who is looking for a talented IBM i professional, please contact us. We look forward to assisting you.

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