Talsco Weekly: Top 5 Trends in ERP, Modernization, and Digital Transformation

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: IBM PTF Guide. Fresche is launching a subscription-based pricing model for all of its offerings.
AI: Keeping up with AI.
Development: Node.js v20.10.0. Coding in RPG (IBM i/AS400). Using WHEN-IS and WHEN-IN. The best way to extend the reach of your RPG applications.
Leadership: Today's Challenges Call for a New Approach.
Trends: Top 5 Trends in ERP, Modernization, and Digital Transformation.

IBM i Brief

IBM PTF Guide In case you missed it:

There are some new patches for IBM i 7.2, which were updated on November 14, 2023.
There is also a security vulnerability you need to be aware of, specifically Security Bulletin:

Multiple Vulnerabilities in IBM Java SDK affect IBM WebSphere Application Server and IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty due to the October 2023 CPU

There is a “rundown of PTF groups by IBM i release level. For a quick overview, you can read more about it here. Fresche is launching a subscription-based pricing model for all of its offerings In March 2024, IBM will shift towards a sole subscription model for the IBM i stack. “While Fresche is offering a subscription model, it will not force customers to move away from the traditional acquisition method of buying a license plus paying annual maintenance on its software. “However, they are betting that customers will want to move to subscriptions for a number of reasons, not the least of which is it is a lot more palatable to pay an annual subscription fee than it is to argue for a much bigger ticket perpetual license plus an annual maintenance fee.” The move to subscription-based pricing has been in the works for several years.

AI

Keeping up with AI In the past, Moore's Law claimed that technology advances every 18 to 24 months. Will that continue to be the case with AI? Or, will it be even faster? Every six months? Every two months? That being said, all must dive into AI to get a better understanding of how or if it should be used.

Generative AI continues to disrupt business and present new challenges, but it also presents high rewards. How do you balance it?

IBM has launched an AI Academy that helps businesses understand how they can best use this "new class of flexible, reusable AI models that can unlock new revenue, reduce costs, and increase productivity.”

Development

Node.js v20.10.0 For IBM i developers using Node.js. Coding in RPG (IBM i/AS400). Using WHEN-IS and WHEN-IN Here is the new feature SELECT with operand and WHEN-IS/WHEN-IN can be used in RPG. (Video) The best way to extend the reach of your RPG applications There are countless (~~four~~) reasons API’s are beneficial for your company and your IBM i environment.

Leadership

Today's Challenges Call for a New Approach Are you a leader on the IBM i who is preparing to start a modernization or digital transformation project? The challenges are not just technical. They are business, process, and cultural as well.

"Most organizations today were formed and still operate based on industrial-age thinking. We rely largely on command and control, separating people and functions into parts or groups where each part is optimized. “But in these times of rapid change and disruption, old-school thinking and ways of organizing ourselves are failing us. Today’s times call for adopting a more forward-thinking mindset and approach, considering the present and future."

Trends

Top 5 Trends in ERP, Modernization, and Digital Transformation Here are the top trends that should be top of mind for you and your organization as we go into 2024.

Realization of AI and Analytics: In 2023, there was a breakthrough in AI and analytics with ChatGPT. While consumers experimented with it in the past, now it will make its way into the enterprise.
Digital Transformation Failures: Digital transformation failures are increasing. Many enterprise vendors are pushing on-premises systems to the cloud. It is creating an artificial demand spike all at once. Many organizations are not ready for it. Thus, we are seeing more failures and some of the cloud solutions are not as mature as the on-premise solutions. We are also seeing a labor shortage. It is proving difficult to staff all of the transformations at once. It’s like 1999 going into Y2K again. Expect to see the failures increase.
Deterioration of ERP systems: The major ERP players will lose market share. Other categories of systems will come into the market. There will be software platforms that provide more flexibility than the traditional ERP. The best-known example is Salesforce. It has been opened up for customers to build things however they want. Another category is the best of breed model. Instead, focus on individual pieces within the organization. Maybe it is best to focus on CRM instead of ERP. We will see a focus on the deployment of more targeted systems.
Software Platforms: They are a trend of the future and the direction that organizations are going. They are not doubling down on one technology. This reduces the risk of deploying technology without changing everything at once.

Example: low-code and no-code movement IT offers less tech expertise to deploy enterprise-side. There will be more momentum in this area going forward.

IT labor shortages: This is happening now and will accelerate in 2024. It's hard to find good IT talent for current systems as well as those who have skills in the cloud. IT is such a specialized labor force, combined with so many transformations happening at once. This creates a dynamic where you have to support your current environment while trying to move transformation projects forward. It’s challenging.

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.

Do you know of someone who could benefit from Talsco Weekly? If so, please use the social media buttons to spread the word. Thank you!