IBM

Lotus Notes and the GDPR conundrum

Many organizations have yet to start the process of migrating their data and applications away from the Lotus Notes platform, and while there are many reasons as to why this is so, probably the two key ones are a truly compelling event that forces the issue and a lack of expertise. This is according to Jon Pyke, CEO, CIMtrek Ltd.

“That compelling event is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which becomes UK law on 25th May 2018. It is compelling because organizations are expected to create a single view of a customer – leaving data in old Notes databases is likely to render users non-compliant,” stated Jon.

New web interface for IBM i performance management solution available

PETERBOROUGH, NH – July 27, 2017 – The new web interface for SUPERMON for iSeries, the IBM i performance management solution from SoftLanding® Systems, a division of UNICOM® Global, provides an easy, convenient way for companies to keep a watchful eye over the performance of their entire network of IBM i systems.

The SUPERMON for iSeries web interface displays real-time metrics for multiple IBM i systems in an interactive performance dashboard, as Jim Fisher, SoftLanding Operations Manager, explains:

Study: IBM mainframe shops crave alternatives to the classic green screen mainframe interface

Over half say web and mobile access to more applications would help them maximize use of their mainframe systems

71% of IBM mainframe customers questioned in a new poll said the growing shortage of IT staff with mainframe experience makes it more important than ever to provide user-friendly alternatives to the platform’s classic ‘green screen’ 3270 interface. 54% state that being able to deliver web and mobile access to more applications – something not possible through a standard 3270 interface – would help their businesses get the most out of the z/OS platform. However, costs and a lack of resources are an obstacle.

Lack of skills is main barrier to digital transformation on the IBM i suggests new research

61% of IBM i user organizations have implemented digital initiatives, but half of them say the shortage of IBM i skills is a barrier

PETERBOROUGH, NH – July 07, 2016 – 61% of IBM i users revealed in a new poll that their organization had rolled out some type of digital transformation initiative on the platform, typically adding web interfaces to IBM i applications or switching from paper to digital presentment of documents. However, the growing shortage of IBM i skills came out as one of the biggest barriers to transformation projects on the IBM i.

SoftLanding launches enterprise content management solution for IBM i users

Provides a fast, cost-effective way to transform content from IBM i applications for web, mobile and email

PETERBOROUGH, NH – September 7, 2015 - SoftLanding® Systems, the IBM i software division of UNICOM® Global, today announced the launch of an enterprise content management solution that quickly transforms existing system output from IBM i business applications to work with digital channels such as the web, mobile and email.

The Columbus software, developed by Macro 4, the specialist document management division of UNICOM Global, is now available for the IBM i platform as part of the SoftLanding solution portfolio.

Quoting IT: Andy Grove on Job Creation

"You could say, as many do, that shipping jobs overseas is no big deal because the high-value work—and much of the profits—remain in the U.S. That may well be so. But what kind of a society are we going to have if it consists of highly paid people doing high-value-added work—and masses of unemployed?"

Andy Grove, Intel CEO 1987-2005, Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs, BusinessWeek, July 1, 2010

Big Blue, Drupal, and Open Source

The online magazine CMS Wire recently posted an article titled, "Feeling Blue, IBM Courting Drupal". In the article, author Scott Frangos writes:

Hot off the gossip wire: IBM is falling for Drupal. Hmmmm. ECM leader IBM has developed a series of nine tutorials for Open Source CMS Drupal. And as it turns out, Drupal runs rather well on IBM Linux servers while plugged-into IBM’s DB2 Express-C database. The final tutorial covers just exactly how to do that.