Understanding the Growth of IBM i Footprint in the 2020 IBM Marketplace Survey

The 2020 IBM Marketplace Survey highlights that many companies are expanding their use of IBM i despite tough economic conditions. The reasons behind this growth are multifaceted and highlight the strong performance and reliability of IBM i solutions. In this article, we will delve into why IBM i is becoming a preferred choice for businesses and applications.

Expanding Workloads and Improving Performance

Current users of IBM i see their workloads expanding steadily. The platform continuously demonstrates strong improvements in price/performance, making it an increasingly attractive choice for businesses. A well-designed application based on ILE RPG, SQL, RDi, and DB2 for the i along with the OS for i often stands out for its efficiency and reliability. These integrated components are seamlessly designed to work together, providing a robust and efficient platform for enterprise-level applications.

Adapting to Other Environments

With many users adopting RPG for their primary application development, they are also exploring other environments like AIX, PHP, and even cloud-based solutions. The IBM i environment offers a highly reliable and accessible infrastructure that allows seamless integration with databases and existing applications. This adaptability can help businesses expand their digital footprint without incurring significant additional costs. Moreover, existing staff can often be trained to support new environments with minimal extra expense.

The Cost-Effectiveness of IBM i

While some view the IBM i as expensive, it is often cheaper in the long run compared to other solutions. For instance, Visual Studio and SQL Server licenses are much costlier. Although RDi (IBM's Integrated Development Environment for RPG) may seem pricey at first glance, the overall cost-effectiveness of using IBM i is undeniable. Businesses can save on licensing and maintenance costs while benefiting from the platform's reliability and scalability.

Interchangeability with Other Platforms

It is important to note that while IBM i is a unique platform, it is not necessarily interchangeable with other application development platforms. Each platform comes with its own set of rules and protocols, making it challenging to switch between them. Once a company commits to a platform, it is often expensive to change. This inflexibility can be a significant drawback but also contributes to the platform's stability and long-term support.

Historical Context and Lessons from the Past

Looking back at the heyday of the IBM i, during the early days of the System/38, IBM could have made a strategic decision to double down on marketing and evangelism. By focusing on platform development and providing more support, IBM could have captured more customers and kept them for a longer period. The future value of a revenue stream lies in capturing it early and leveraging it effectively, as seen in other successful technology platforms.

Conclusion: The Golden Handcuffs of IBM i

While the initial cost of setting up an IBM i environment can be high, the overall cost-effectiveness and reliability of the platform make it a preferred choice for many companies. The incremental cost of maintaining and expanding the use of IBM i is relatively low compared to the benefits it provides. Companies that rely on IBM i are often less concerned about changing platforms, as the additional technical debt and the high cost of switching can be prohibitive.