A business scenario for AS400 users.

(1) Smart scenario to add new functions (2) How to establish solid integration

(3)Easy-to-implement & open solution

AS/400 modernization

Audience: CIO, CFO, general management

This presentation reflects a “build” with an old release ([1:3] of Harmony – it will be updated by 15 May 2014 –

reflecting many new Harmony featuresOn the last slide there are references to more recent materials

This presentation is copyright protected - you maydonwload and distribute. Modifications are not allowed . You may not use, reproduce, distribute, display or create derivative works of this presentation and/or of any single item in this presentation. Image of Tom copyright Fotalia.

About this presentation

• we use a business scenarioo introducing Tom, a hard pressed CIO, and his

challenges• we describe the solution:

o Architectureo Productso demo (video, configuration)

• we show how to implemento our recommendationso delivery in 2 weeks - production ready

• Case description• 3 modernization scenarios (slide 11 onwards)

• The integration scenario (slide 19 onwards)

• Proof-of-concept overview (slide 26 onwards)

• How does this work ? (slide 37 onwards)

• 2 week delivery – how ? (slide 42 onwards)

• Useful links/info ( last slide)

Contents

Tom is the CIO at ABC, a large corporation, and he is worried about the AS/400 supporting the logistics process (ERP) ....

Meet Tom

• a "standard" AS/400 ERP packageo in use since 1998 o 40% still "standard"o 60% custom developed using RPGo poorly documented

• which runs on the IBM i platformo "5250" black/green screens

• supported by in-house staffo that have lots of expertiseo Hard to recruit professionals

o There’s a need to fill-up positions considering the average age is 52

The logistics process is supported by:

Amsterdam, 14-03-2013

Tom,The board has approved our proposal to restructure our warehousing and purchasing process. Such in order to improve efficiency and lower our costs.Immediate action is required - our systems need to change!

John Ranking, CEO ABC corporation

order to restructure

• Implement one warehouse per countryo current: multiple warehouses

• More EU suppliers will be contracted• Increase supplier involvement in logistics chain

o more insight into our orders + suppliers' purchasing expertise = efficiency !!!

o outsource transport planning• Increase user & IT productivity

o More workers output, in same time, at same costs!

business requirements:

Tom conducts a "satisfaction survey", checking with the heads of the departments to check overall performance

AS/400 satisfaction survey

• Performance• Stability• Core functionality• Business process support for the logistics

flow• Quick turn-around time by IT department

o fixeso minor functionality updates

Users are satisfied with AS/400

• Outdated (5250) interface• [lack of] flexibility• management information

o not timely / not up-to-dateo no "self-service" possible

• Turn around time is too low for:o major functionality updateso new applications, like:

customer self-service (web shop) mobile app support for

• suppliers, transporters and customers

• Business Intelligence requirements

User are dissatisfied with

A solution is needed

Tom is aware he needs to act. What are the options open to Tom ?

Possible scenarios

• I: new standard software package• II: plan new developments on AS/400

o RPG and web UI development• III: new development on other platform

o Unix? supported on IBM i [hardware]

o open source? limited investments

o .NET ? already used for Office Automation

I: New standard software package ?

After some research it turns out that this is not a viable option. because ...

New package is no option

• Hardly any AS/400 packages available• Non AS/400 package (like SAP)

o high initial costs (investment)o additional development would be needed

current AS/400 ERP system: > 15 years of "fine-tuning"

o disinvestment of AS400 ERPo training of staffo implementation & migration

takes a long time is expensive

Tom thinks it is risky to consider developing new functionality on the AS/400 using RPG ...

II: new developments on AS/400

• Increases "customization" ratioo ratio stands at 60% [custom developed]o would be even harder in future to migrate

• Additional hardware is requiredo + software licensing costs up by > 15%

• Performanceo AS/400 tuning is labour intensive

• Long term AS/400 outlook is bleak o AS/400 market is "shrinking"

less standard applications less expertise available.

risks and impact

Tom is not in favour of developing applications on other platforms like Linux or .NET. He worries about ...

III: New development on ....

• Stabilityo is this the same as AS/400 ?

• Connectivityo not easy to connect to AS/400

• Scalability and performance• Investment in hardware and software

o + disinvestment of AS/400 • Re-training IT staff

o development and systems supporto (also considering the "age" factor)

• Tom sees this as a "Big bang" scenario

Unix, OpenSource or .NET platforms

Tom concludes that this is not the right time to outphase the AS/400.

Overall conclusion

He decides to develop new functionality on top of the AS/400 backend.

Tom needs advice ...

The experts advice @Tom: smart decision [to retain AS/400]

Implement a business services layer to create new business logic "on top of the AS400. A “state-of-the-art” user interface will replace 5250.

We have the expertise,the experience and the solutions .... our advice ....

Tom’s dilemma

A business services layer, sounds complicated! What about integration with the AS/400? Can you show me how this would look like?

I am here to help you reduce ALL testing effort to max <40%

We're here to help

It'll take me max 2 weeks to implement integration with the

AS/400.

It'll take me max 2 weeks to implement

the business logic

Business services (logic, rules)

Presentation tier

“standard”RPG / COBOL *pgm

“Headless”(Open Access) Copy of *pgm

Integration requires "headless" programs

business services / rules

JavaScript for presentation "logic"/dialogs

“standard”RPG / COBOL *pgm

Webservices to access AS/400

dev framework

Smart solutions require an architectureHTML(5): content/stucture

CSS: structure/look and feel/layoutPresentation

tier

Harmony

“standard”RPG / COBOL *pgm

WAS400: Webservices Adapter AS/400

Isis (JAVA) / Sencha

HTML5 / Java script / Sencha

Our recommended solutions

The Proof-of-concept

Impressive slides, but, given the business requirements (improve the purchasing process) , can you show me in a POC ?

The Proof-Of-ConceptWe have created a flowchart and "animation“ of your “new" purchasing process

There's a lot of stuff ... Please (re)view with your IT experts

We have analyzed the AS/400 sales and purchasing integration.

Your business users/experts can modify/maintain themselves - no need for (expensive) IT staff!

This flowchart is available online to share/modify. Saves time & money!

The overview of your purchasing process

Sales Order Entry

“co”-existence old & new

Harmony purchasing business rules

WAS400 web services for AS/400

Modern UI-browser AND mobile

Business logic & business rules-easy to maintain

Web services

1

2

3

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

Business services layer (all Logic)

The solution in actionRPG program started; user enters data, order files + stock are updated0

0

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

HARMONY Business services layer (all Logic)

The solution in actionIf WAS400 detects a database change it sends the change to Harmony1

1

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

HARMONY Business services layer (all Logic)

Issue an PO?

The solution in actionHarmony receives the transaction – calculates stock level and issues a PO

(Purchase Order) when stock level falls below threshold

2

2

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

Business services layer (all Logic)

Issue an PO?

PO >

10.000?

The solution in action PO value more than 10,000 ?

-> approval required

3

3

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

Business services layer (all Logic)

Issue an PO?

PO >

10.000?

The solution in action Manually start “Receive

goods” process

4

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

Business services layer (all Logic)

all goods received?

Issue an PO?

PO >

10.000?

The solution in action Check if PO quantity

is “open”

5

5

Sales Order Entry WAS400: monitors database & applies changes

Business services layer (all Logic)

all goods received?

Issue an PO?

PO >

10.000?

The solution in action Harmony submits

goods received to WAS

WAS400 sends data to

AS 400

6

7

6

7

AS400 AND “NEW” PURCHASINGEstablish integration

Integration between sales & purchasing

1. Sales orders are created on AS/400a. after order is created an RPG program checks to see if a

purchase order has to be created (for a specific warehouse)

2. AS/400 purchasing =hard coded logica. We'll move all logic to the business services layer

Integration between warehousing & purchasing

1. Goods received at a warehousea. a RPG program checks all goods are delivered and updates

stock on the AS/400 (for a specicific warehouse)

2. We'll move all logic to the business services layera. and we'll create new application for goods reception

1. WAS400, our AS/400 web services adaptera. monitors all sales order transactionsb. generates web services

2. Harmony, for the business services layer, to control

i. If a Purchase Order (PO) has to be raisedii. Approval when a PO exceeds a certain amountiii. To check if all goods are received

3. Goods reception, warehousing, applicationa. Standard process step.

i. (browser and mobile version)

b. WAS400 will update stock QTY in AS/400 DB.

What is needed to solve this

DEMO ON YOUTUBEshowing the real stuff .... 4 minutes of your time ….

Great stuff. POC well done!You understand our business and the solution promises to be very flexible. Please implement & train my staff.

Implementing the processNikola: The best things about Harmony

a. it's all based on spreadsheets

b. powerful and easy

c. scalable and fast !

• I have used the Flowchart (slide 28) to generate the new process [in Harmony]

• I have modified this process:a. added products & supplier data

i. (included the AS/400 key fields)

b. implemented decision logicc. implemented orders "push" to spreadsheetd. added VAT adapter (for new foreign suppliers)

Configuring the AS/400 adapter

• Installed and configured the monitoring of sales orders

• Created AS/400 <-> Harmony mapping Using datamodel (and assisted by developers)

a. AS/400 order details to "sales sensor"b. Goods received mapped to RPG program

Paul: WAS400 best featuresa. All RPG functionality is exposed !

b. Simple and powerful mapping

c. great performance / minimal overhead

Creating the test stories

• I have used the Harmony configuration that Nikola created to configure initial tests

a. Using AS/400 test data which was supplied by your users

Minto: Automated testing = Testimonya. Testing becomes fun!

b. Anyone can use it!

Wonderful job done! The results are impressive - delivering a working and tested solution in 2 weeks!

Closing@Tom, thank you for your compliments.

If you or your staff need support - let us know - and we will collaborate online. We use Google DOCS - great for sharing ... saves time (& money)!

Purchasing implementation detailsPart Number of Total rows

Rules 20 (50) -

Dialogs (process steps) 10 (15) 60

Reference files 2 (4) 120

MDT none (1)

DT 1 (4) 10

Expressions 5 (10)

Templates 3 (5)

Groups 5 (8)

POC (full version + roll-out)

2 (4)

(in brackets) is the estimate for a fully developed versionPOC = 2 weeks / fine tuning & roll-out another 2 weeks

MDT = multi-dimensional decision table.

For more information

• Visit

• www.liquidsequence.com• Release overview

– (all new features)

• Business process flowchart

• click here to view the Lucid Chart online

• WAS400, Harmony and Testimony videos on YouTube

• http://www.youtube.com/user/LiquidSequence/

• WAS400: How to implement a business services layer on top of the AS/400

For RPG developers and system engineers

• http://www.slideshare.net/LiquidSequence/was400-web-services-adapter-for-the-as400

• How to create your process with Harmony

• Available soon

• Creating and running tests with Testimony

• Available soon

• Architecture overview (cloud / private enterprise)

• click here to view the Lucid Chart online