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How to Respond to Mainframe Challenges

 
People have predicted the “death of the mainframe” for years now, but it’s not happening. In fact, it’s just the opposite since big data and analytics technology keep mainframe technology relevant and essential for organizations around the globe. Scroll down to find out how to respond.

%

of organizations using mainframes depend on it for their business-critical applications

%

of companies using the mainframe believe in its long-term viability

%

believe mainframe will support growth in new workloads

%

of executives recognize the mainframe as a platform for growth

Mainframe Remains on Top for Businesses…

of the world’s top 100 banks

out of 10 of the world’s top insurers

of the top 25 retailers

%

of Fortune 500 companies

Managing COBOL is Essential…

%

of in-person transactions process using COBOL

%

of ATM swipes use COBOL

%

plan to modernize their COBOL applications rather than replace them

The average COBOL application code base size rose from 8.4 million in 2017 to 9.9 million in 2019, indicating continued expansion in critical business systems.

But a Global Pandemic Further Exploits the Talent Shortage

 
Many businesses needed to spend rapidly to put remote work technology in place due to COVID-19. And, in many cases, the workload for mainframe systems is skyrocketing.

When large-scale computer systems run on mainframes with millions of lines of code, it often happens that COBOL is buried under layers of newer code. Younger IT employees often don’t know how to manage the COBOL. Baby boomers are retiring and taking their mainframe knowledge with them. Only 7% of mainframe employees are under 30-years-old.

Now a global recession demands that organizations take a hard look at the cost of their database administration and other operating expenses. At the same time, workers with skills in talent-starved areas like mainframe expertise are asking for good salaries, robust benefit packages, and better work-life balance.

Solving the Mainframe Talent Shortage

Train younger staff on mainframe skills to allow them to continue to work on the latest technology, while supporting mainframe systems.

Treat the mainframe experts on your staff with upward mobility, higher salaries, better benefits, and free them from boring technical work.

Partner with a managed service provider to outsource part of or all technical tasks so that your mainframe talent can perform challenging, strategic tasks, and improve work-life balance.

Datavail’s Database Managed Services

At Datavail, we offer 24×7 support coverage, database administrators with hands-on experience working with IBM Db2 and other services to support your in-house staff.

Control your IT budget by only paying for the services you use. Our customers save an average of 20 to 50 percent in recurring costs by partnering with Datavail for their data management services needs. We can help handle your urgent projects and scale quickly regardless of what challenges are thrown your way.

Contact us to achieve full mainframe-powered potential.

Give us a call: 866-834-4810 or fill out the form on this page.

Further Reading

DB2 Mainframe Migration to Open System

This case study details how Datavail helped a communications organization migrate its DB2 mainframe to an open system in two weeks during the peak holiday season.

Learn More »

Adapting to the IBM Db2 Mainframe Talent Shortage

Big data and analytics technology keep mainframe technology relevant and essential for organizations throughout the globe.

Learn More »