imPower Technologies

The most effective IBM i professionals today understand how to combine RPG and SQL to build applications that are easier to maintain, more efficient, and better aligned with modern development practices.

SQL is the foundation for data access, analytics, APIs, modernization initiatives, and increasingly, AI-driven applications. The more organizations look to unlock the value of their IBM i data, the more important SQL skills become.

We've also seen a shift in the role of the IBM i developer. Today's developers are expected to work across applications, databases, integrations, and business processes. SQL helps bridge those worlds by giving developers a deeper understanding of the data that drives the business.

That's why we continue to invest in SQL education through workshops like our SQL Queries Workshop featuring industry expert Birgitta Hauser. Whether you're new to SQL or looking to strengthen your existing skills, learning how to write effective queries is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your IBM i career.

Learn more about our SQL Queries Workshop: https://impowertechnologies.com/sql-queries-workshop/

AI is changing the conversation around IBM i.
A recent case study from Jack Henry highlights how IBM Bob helped accelerate RPG development, improve code quality, generate documentation, and unlock knowledge hidden in decades of existing applications. In one example, a task that previously took up to a week was completed in just a few hours.
What's most interesting isn't the technology itself. It's what this means for IBM i professionals.
The developers who will create the most value in the years ahead won't simply know how to write code. They'll understand RPG, SQL, APIs, business processes, system architecture, and how to leverage AI tools effectively. AI can accelerate development, but it still depends on skilled professionals who understand the systems, data, and business logic underneath.
As AI becomes more integrated into the IBM i ecosystem, the importance of foundational skills only grows. The future belongs to developers who combine deep IBM i expertise with a commitment to continuous learning.
That's why investing in education today isn't just about keeping up. It's about preparing for what's next.
Read the case study: https://www.ibm.com/downloads/documents/us-en/16951f13ae617611

www.ibm.com

Big news is coming for the IBM i community.

IBM has announced a new IBM Bob Premium Package for i, set to become available June 24. This is another important step in how IBM continues to evolve and streamline access to modern capabilities across the IBM i ecosystem.

While details are still emerging, the direction is clear: making it easier for organizations to adopt and package modernization capabilities in a more structured, accessible way. For teams working in enterprise development, integration, and platform modernization, this is worth paying attention to.

What stands out most is the continued momentum around simplifying how IBM i environments can extend into modern architectures, whether through APIs, integration layers, or new bundled offerings like this one.

Exciting times ahead for the community as we continue to see investment and innovation in the platform many organizations still rely on every day.

Read the announcement: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/offers-premium-package-ordering-option-bob-2026-05-21

IBM i community on the West Coast, this is one of those dates worth putting on your calendar now.

TechCon26 is coming this summer, and it’s shaping up to be a strong educational opportunity for developers, architects, and IT leaders who want to stay close to where the industry is headed.

Hosted by OCEAN, this event brings together practitioners and thought leaders for hands-on learning, technical sessions, and conversations that go beyond theory into real-world application.

Save the date: TechCon26 presented by OCEAN
📅 July 23-24, 2026
📍 Costa Mesa, California

Events like this matter because they create space for shared learning, especially in a world where technologies like APIs, modernization, and integration strategies are reshaping how systems like IBM i continue to evolve.

Learn more: https://www.oceanusergroup.org/

OCEAN User Group of Southern California

At imPower Technologies, we work with companies training new developers, junior hires, and internal talent who are stepping into IBM i for the first time. Our IBM i concepts course gives them the foundation they need to stop feeling lost and start being productive.
In this course, students learn:
✔ Core IBM i concepts and architecture
✔ Db2 for i fundamentals
✔ How to navigate the system confidently
✔ Modern development and tooling basics
✔ The operational knowledge needed to work in real environments
For employers, it’s about accelerating onboarding and reducing ramp-up time.
For learners, it’s about finally making the system click.
IBM i isn’t going anywhere and neither is the need for skilled developers who can step into it with confidence.
If your company is investing in IBM i talent, this is where that foundation starts: https://impowertechnologies.com/concepts-class/

Concepts Class - impower technologies An 8 week self-study concepts class that helps inexperienced users/developers to get acclimated to the IBM i operating systems and associated software

One of the biggest mistakes organizations make during modernization is assuming technology alone drives transformation.
It doesn’t.
People do.
A recent piece from George VanEaton explores an important reality many IBM i teams face but rarely discuss openly: the human side of change. Fear of new tools. Fear of losing relevance. Fear of failure during modernization efforts.
In the IBM i world, we often focus heavily on what teams need to learn, but as educators, we’ve learned something equally important:
Successful modernization depends on whether developers feel supported while learning those skills.
Training is not just about transferring technical knowledge. It’s about building confidence, creating psychological safety, and helping experienced professionals evolve without feeling left behind.
The strongest IBM i organizations in the next decade will not be the ones that simply adopt the newest tools fastest.
They’ll be the ones that create cultures of continuous learning.
Because modernization is ultimately a leadership and education challenge as much as it is a technical one.

Blend Break: Know Your Beans Blend Break: Know Your Beans First Sip I was at the IMUG Nashville meeting this week, talking with a room full of IBM i developers. Different companies.

AI is only as powerful as the data behind it.
And for IBM i environments, SQL is what unlocks that data.
Modern AI tools depend on fast, structured, accessible information. If your business data is trapped in legacy access methods or siloed applications, AI initiatives struggle before they even begin.
That’s why SQL has become one of the most important skills for IBM i developers today.
SQL helps organizations:
✔ Access and organize business data efficiently
✔ Prepare data for AI and analytics tools
✔ Connect IBM i systems to modern applications
✔ Build APIs that deliver structured data
✔ Improve reporting, automation, and decision-making
✔ Modernize without replacing core business systems
The companies succeeding with AI aren’t just adopting new tools. They’re building strong data foundations.
For IBM i shops, SQL is a critical part of that foundation.
If APIs are the bridge to AI, SQL is the engine that powers the data behind it.

Learn about our SQL course: https://impowertechnologies.com/sql-queries-workshop/

If you want to prepare for the future of AI on IBM i, start by learning APIs.
Why?
Because APIs are what allow IBM i applications to connect to modern AI tools, automation platforms, cloud services, and external applications.
AI doesn’t magically plug into legacy systems. It relies on structured, secure ways to access and exchange data, and that’s exactly what APIs provide.
For IBM i developers, API skills are becoming one of the most important modernization skills you can learn right now.
With API knowledge, you can:
✔ Connect IBM i applications to AI platforms
✔ Enable automation workflows
✔ Share business data securely across systems
✔ Integrate with cloud and SaaS applications
✔ Future-proof existing IBM i applications
✔ Make legacy business logic usable in modern environments
The companies getting the most value from AI won’t be the ones chasing hype. They’ll be the ones with developers who know how to integrate trusted business systems with modern technologies.
For IBM i professionals, APIs are no longer optional. They’re the bridge to the future of AI-enabled development.

Learn about our new APIs course: https://impowertechnologies.com/restful_apis_ibmi/

Interesting takeaway from this recent article in IT Jungle: the expected “GenAI bump” for Power Systems hasn’t fully arrived yet, at least not in the way many expected. But that doesn’t mean AI isn’t impacting the IBM i world. In fact, it may signal something even more important.
The real challenge is preparing IBM i environments to actually use AI effectively.
That means organizations need:
✔ Modern data access through SQL
✔ APIs that expose business logic securely
✔ Integration capabilities across platforms
✔ Clean, usable business data
✔ Developers who understand modernization and automation workflows
The companies that benefit most from AI won’t simply upgrade infrastructure. They’ll build the integration and modernization foundation that allows AI to connect with real business operations.
IBM i has always been home to critical business data and processes. The opportunity now is making those systems AI-ready.
How is your IBM i shop doing this? Let us know in the comments below.

Power Systems Still Waiting For The GenAI Bump - IT Jungle With the Power11 systems upgrade cycle only nine months old and with price increases that have been happening monthly since early April 1 and possibly continuing through the end of the year, we expect for the Power Systems business to be up in 2026 for the full year. In the first quarter of 2026 end...