Many Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions were originally designed for IBM's midrange hardware such as AS/400, iSeries, and System i. While midrange hardware has lost some of its luster in recent years, it remains very popular. Info-Tech data indicates that almost 20% of enterprises with fewer than 1000 employees run some type of proprietary IBM hardware.
ERP is also regaining popularity. Info-Tech data indicates that over 20% of enterprises are planning to update core management software over the next 24 months. This trend is driven by the replacement cycle among large enterprises while many small and mid-sized enterprises are exploring ERP for the first time. This popularity, combined with the continued survival of System i, indicates that there is still a very real opportunity for ERP on midrange hardware.
