Sometimes the best path forward isn’t about immediate transformation – it’s about making smart decisions about what works well today while planning strategically for tomorrow. In this fifth installment of our 6 Rs of Transformation series, we’ll explore how the retain strategy can be a powerful choice for organizations whose IBM i applications continue to deliver value.
Profound AppEvo supports this strategic approach by helping organizations maintain their systems effectively while preparing for future opportunities.
As a reminder, the 6 Rs provide a comprehensive framework for navigating your futurization journey:
- Refactor: Futurize code while preserving valuable business logic
- Replace: Implement new solutions for obsolete systems
- Rewrite: Build fresh with modern architecture
- Re-architect: Transform application structure
- Retain: Maintain what works while planning ahead
- Retire: Sunset applications that no longer serve your business
In our previous posts, we’ve explored various transformation approaches, from refactoring and replacement to rewrites and re-architecting. Today, we’ll examine a strategy that acknowledges the continued value of well-functioning IBM i applications while ensuring they remain viable for the future.
Understanding the Retain Strategy
Retaining applications isn’t about maintaining the status quo across your entire system – it’s about making informed, strategic decisions about which applications continue to serve your business needs effectively. A key advantage of the retain strategy is its compatibility with other transformation approaches, allowing organizations to preserve well-functioning systems while futurizing others that require updating.
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The decision to retain specific IBM i applications stems from careful evaluation of both business and technical factors. Organizations often choose this strategy as part of a broader transformation approach, strategically identifying which applications deliver optimal value in their current form while targeting others for futurization.
This hybrid approach proves especially valuable when:
- Certain applications leverage specific IBM i platform advantages while others need modernization
- Different business units have varying modernization priorities
- Resource constraints require phased transformation
- Some applications are mission-critical and stable while others need immediate updating
A retain strategy proves especially valuable when organizations have invested in keeping their applications current and well-maintained. These businesses benefit from the platform’s stability while maintaining the flexibility to adopt new capabilities when needed. The strategy also appeals to companies with specialized business processes that their current applications handle exceptionally well, especially when these processes rely on unique features or optimizations developed over time.
How Profound AppEvo Supports Retention
While retention might seem like a passive strategy, successful execution requires active management and strategic planning, especially when part of a broader transformation approach.
Profound AppEvo provides comprehensive support through:
System Optimization & Maintenance
- Performance tuning and enhancement
- Database optimization
- Resource utilization improvement
- Operational efficiency maximization
- Best practice implementation
- Security enhancement
- Consistent maintenance across hybrid environments
Strategic Planning
- Comprehensive application portfolio assessment
- Future readiness evaluation
- Technology roadmap development
- Risk evaluation and mitigation
- Opportunity identification for phased modernization
- Mixed-strategy implementation planning
- Business impact analysis
Selective Transformation
- Retain high-performing applications while transforming others
- Implement different strategies for different business units
- Maintain coexistence between retained and modernized systems
- Enable gradual transformation aligned with business priorities
Unified Management
- Seamless integration between retained and modernized applications
- Coordinated security management across all systems
- Unified monitoring and support
- Consistent maintenance across hybrid environments
Is Retention Right for You?
The retain strategy deserves serious consideration when current IBM i applications continue to meet business needs effectively and efficiently. These systems often represent significant institutional knowledge and refined business processes that would be costly and risky to replace. Additionally, if your applications take advantage of specific IBM i platform features or have been regularly maintained and updated, retention might offer the best return on investment.
Organizations that benefit most from retention typically have:
- Well-maintained and documented systems
- Strong performance metrics
- Satisfied users and stakeholders
- Clear understanding of system capabilities
- Regular update and maintenance procedures
- Stable business processes
Next Steps in Your Futurization Journey
Ready to explore how strategic retention with Profound AppEvo can maximize the value of your IBM i applications while preparing for future opportunities? Reach out to our team at futurization@ProfoundLogic.com for a personalized evaluation of your retention strategy.
Stay tuned for our final post in the series, where we’ll explore the “Retire” strategy for legacy systems.
