Dan Burger
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Meet Watson, Rommety, And The New IBM
February 20, 2017 Dan Burger
Cognitive computing. What’s it mean? It means business. And it means change. The business world is changing. And IBM is changing. It’s the future, but it’s also the present. It’s happening now. Google and Microsoft are chasing the same vision of a data-driven world that is so complex that artificial intelligence is the only way to make sense of it.
At IBM’s PartnerWorld conference last week, cognitive computing was all business. Of course, PartnerWorld is always about business and technology and getting onboard before all the best seats are taken. There’s always the proven versus the prediction.
When does cognitive …
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Like Your Data Access? ProData Gives A Reason To Like It Better
February 15, 2017 Dan Burger
It’s crunch time and the IBM i staff is feeling the pressure. It’s time to step up your information retrieval game. In your tool box is the DBU Database Utility. Is this the right tool for your job? It is if your goal is to access data without writing programs. DBU tracks changes (adds and deletes). It also tracks all the views of company data. And it can be accomplished via green-screen, RDi, or Web interfaces.
The Web interface for DBU Database Utility is called DBU Web. The software, designed and marketed by ProData Computer Services, was introduced in …
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Four Hundred Monitor, February 15
February 15, 2017 Dan Burger
At the top of the top stories list this week is an article that imagines programming as the skilled labor that can revive the job market in the United States. It doesn’t take a big stretch of the imagination to see that. Artificial intelligence and cognitive computing may obsolete some jobs, but Watson can’t out code a good coder.
As long as we’re talking about cognitive, did you hear about the patents IBM collected this year directly related to cognitive computing? You couldn’t count them using all your fingers . . . even with 200 of your friends helping out …
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ERP Modernizations, Migrations, And Maturations
February 13, 2017 Dan Burger
There are many reasons to re-evaluate business processes. And one of the first places to look is the current state of your ERP software. How old is it and what are its strengths and weaknesses? A character-based interface might have been appropriate when the software was purchased, but for many shops it has wounded productivity and efficiency by stalling process improvements and technology implementations that could be adding value to your organization.
The interface, however, doesn’t deserve all the attention. It’s just a visual cue like grey hair and wrinkles. A lot of value can be found behind the inescapable …
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ARCAD Upgrades DevOps Software For IBM i
February 8, 2017 Dan Burger
For IBM i shops that have been using change management software for years, DevOps looks very familiar. Both improve quality and lower risk. And both make use of a framework and collaborative achievements. The major distinction for DevOps is that the collaboration involves a much wider universe of contributors. It takes into account other IT platforms and blows up the individual siloes by integrating tools and processes. And it further integrates IT and business with incremental improvements and enhancements continuously tested and put into production.
ARCAD Software, a company with a history in IBM i change management, includes DevOps …
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Four Hundred Monitor, February 8
February 8, 2017 Dan Burger
While IT Jungle is pretty thorough when it comes to covering the IBM i and Power Systems market as well as adjacent areas that will ultimately affect the IBM midrange community, we are not the only source of information out there.
That was why we created Four Hundred Monitor so many years ago: to make you aware of all of the other relevant content out there on the Internet as well as to have a list of new resources and a calendar of events, all in one place. Now, Four Hundred Monitor is being incorporated into our flagship publication, The …
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Mobile, Cloud, And Analytics Spark Growth For VAI
February 6, 2017 Dan Burger
In the ERP software business, you must be on your game to compete with the massive, meat-eating beasts that that have devoured huge portions of the market. VAI competes very well. Its combination of innovation and customer service propelled the company to 11 percent revenue growth in 2016, according to a company statement released last week. That’s not bad at all for a relatively small fish swimming with the sharks.
VAI didn’t buy its way into the ERP market like Oracle and Infor. Its growth is predominantly organic and its reputation is built on customer service. Its 30-year history …
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Cilasoft Polishes IBM i Security And Compliance Auditing Software
February 1, 2017 Dan Burger
Regulatory compliance mandates have forced many companies to examine their security policies and procedures. But even companies without compliance issues are concerned their data security may be inadequate considering the increased sophistication of the attacks, the integration of their systems of record with their systems of engagement, and the realization that IBM i is not an inherently secure system. The security landscape has changed, says Guy Marmorat, president of Cilasoft, which just updated its security software.
Additional reporting and automation capabilities are at the top of the list along with expanded integration points and an emphasis on cross-platform security …
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Litmis Spaces Pitches Price, Monthly Contracts To Cloud Shoppers
January 30, 2017 Dan Burger
There are plenty of places an IBM i shop can turn to for cloud computing services. The list of IBM i managed service providers (MSPs) is longer than the line to get free adult beverages at the COMMON conference vendor reception. One of the choices is Litmis Spaces, a host for IBM i development space that has a hankering to grow into a full-service MSP. The company’s $157 per month IBM i access is maybe the next best thing to a free adult beverage.
The low monthly fee buys a single-tenant Power8 machine (meaning that you are the only …
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IBM i Productivity: A Plan For Better Yields
January 25, 2017 Dan Burger
Businesses have many tools in their arsenals to increase productivity. Two of the best examples are technological innovation and the education and training of workers.
Many organizations are taking a short-sighted approach to revenue enhancements without investment. This is wise up to a certain extent. Reducing the total cost of ownership is an important asset for the IBM i Power Systems platform. However, underutilizing the system, including the people who run it, is the same as ignoring potential productivity.
A viable solution for IBM i shops is to reach out to schools and establish a long-term relationship. That’s a lot …
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