Discover how you don’t have to compromise operational efficiency with the right integrated partnership

For decades, IBM’s Application System or AS/400 (now known as IBM i) has been a reliable and trusted platform for businesses seeking stability and scalability. However, as technology continues to evolve, concerns have grown among these users about the limitations of an older system. While the AS/400 remains a backbone for many enterprises, it is a common opinion that this system is outdated and ill-equipped to handle the modern complexities of today’s businesses.

For shippers, relying solely on an AS/400 system without modern integrations can create inefficiencies, limit flexibility, and hinder a business’s ability to keep pace with today’s rapidly changing logistics demands. So, what’s the missing link for many AS/400 users? Seamless integration with advanced shipping software. Connecting your time-tested system with the right modern, flexible shipping solution can help eliminate bottlenecks, reduce costs, and increase throughput.

Let’s begin by taking a few steps back to dive into the AS/400.

What is the AS/400?

Developed by IBM and released in 1988, the AS/400 is a family of servers and network adapters. Back then, this technology completely revolutionized the way businesses operated, “creating the digital work environment we know today” and speeding up workflow processes four times faster than before. As the groundbreaking technology of its time, it was built to seamlessly handle a wide range of business applications including financial, manufacturing, customer service, and inventory management.

A defining feature of the AS/400 was its unique combination of hardware and software. The system ran on the OS/400 operating system, the heart of the AS/400, which was designed exclusively to support the integrated operations of the AS/400. The platform’s reliability and scalability made it a popular choice for businesses, earning a reputation over the years for its ability to handle complex workloads with minimal downtime.

The IBM i Landscape in Modern Shipping

Despite how long this system has been around, it has proven to be a durable solution still relied on by many businesses for day-to-day operations. The modernization of IBM i applications continues today to help them maintain an infrastructure that provides scalability and flexibility. However, the current global supply chain has become increasingly complex, and the traditional AS/400 infrastructure wasn’t designed to handle the dynamic demands of modern logistics, such as:

• Multi-Carrier Management: Handling multiple carriers with different rules and pricing structures can be challenging without the right shipping software integration.
• Real-Time Tracking: Providing customers with up-to-date tracking information and managing logistical complexities in real-time can be difficult with outdated systems.
• Omnichannel Fulfillment: Seamlessly fulfilling orders from both online and in-store requires the right integrated approach that works with your AS/400 system.

However, this doesn’t mean that IBM i users must abandon their trusted platform. The key to navigating the modern shipping landscape is integration. By pairing IBM i’s trusted solution with advanced multi-carrier shipping software, businesses can bridge the gap between legacy systems and proven logistics solutions. This integration enables streamlined workflows, improved accuracy, and better carrier management, all while maintaining the stability and reliability IBM i is known for.

Why Seamless Shipping Software Integration Matters

Seamless integration between your IBM i system and comprehensive shipping software is no longer a want – it’s a need. As the logistics landscape grows more complex and customer expectations continue to rise, having a fully integrated shipping solution can be the difference between staying competitive and falling behind.

Without proper integration, businesses are forced to rely on manual processes and disconnected systems, leading to dreaded inefficiencies and bottlenecks. These disjointed systems can also slow down workflows, increasing the chances of delays and missed deadlines. However, when you leverage a seamless integration, it can offer several key benefits that:

• Eliminate Manual Processes: Seamless integrations allow for data to flow between systems, reducing the need for manual data entry which minimizes room for errors and inconsistencies.
• Improve Workflow Efficiency: The free flow of data between systems also helps accelerate workflows and reduce delays, especially with the automation top shipping software solutions provide.
• Enhance Order Accuracy: Real-time updates and synchronized systems ensure more accurate customer information, tracking, and order fulfillment.
• Increase Speed: Automated processes allow businesses to respond quickly to customer needs, improve order fulfillment times, and ultimately increase throughput.
• Reduce Costs: Streamlining operations helps to cut down on overhead and operational costs, rate shopping capabilities lower shipping costs, and reducing manual tasks eliminates the risk of costly errors.
• Improve Customer Experience: Increased speed, order accuracy, and throughput gets more orders out the door and into the correct hands, significantly improving customer experience.
• Boost Competitive Edge: In a fast-paced market, optimizing your shipping processes will give any business an advantage.

The true value of seamless shipping software integration is in its ability to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience. By optimizing your shipping processes, you not only streamline internal operations but also gain a competitive edge in an increasingly fast-paced market.

Introducing Varsity Logistics: Purpose-Built for IBM i (AS/400) Shippers

What if there was a shipping software solution designed specifically to work with your IBM i system – one that could seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure while optimizing your shipping operations? This idea isn’t so far-fetched. Varsity Logistics is exactly the partner you’re looking for.

Varsity Logistics, the leading provider of native multi-carrier shipping software for parcel and freight shippers on the IBM i (AS/400) Power Systems, is a solution that connects your legacy system and the demands of modern shipping. This shipping software helps businesses unlock new levels of efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility while preserving the characteristics IBM i users value with:

• Streamlined Integration: Varsity’s software is a plug-and-play solution, providing seamless integration with your current IBM i environment whether that be enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and/or warehouse management systems (WMS). This ensures smooth data flow and minimal disruptions to your existing operations.
• Multi-Carrier Support: Varsity integrates with a wide variety of North American carriers, enabling you to manage both parcel and freight shipments effortlessly. With advanced rate shopping capabilities, you can compare rates across carriers to select the most cost-effective and efficient delivery options for every shipment.
• Automated Shipping Processes: From label creation to route optimization, Varsity’s software automates key shipping tasks, reducing costly errors and saving your business valuable time.
• Real-Time Visibility: Access to real-time communications, delivery status, tracking information, and up-to-the-minute shipment updates ensure efficient supply chain management and visibility while keeping your customers happy.
• Scalability for Growth: Varsity provides the flexibility to handle increasing shipping volumes and expanding carrier networks, growing with your business to support and maintain business continuity.
• Expert Knowledge and Support: Varsity is built of a team of IBM i (AS/400) Power shipping experts that know the product best, providing top-tier support for your systems whenever and wherever you need it. We also have technical and operational training resources available at all times.

With Varsity Logistics, you can dismiss the concerns you have with your AS/400 system not keeping pace. By leveraging this partnership, you don’t have to compromise between the trusted performance of your IBM i system and the capabilities of advanced shipping solutions. Our purpose-built software allows you to optimize your shipping processes, cut costs, and deliver an enhanced customer experience – all while staying true to the platform you rely on.

Future-Ready Shipping for IBM i Users

The IBM i (AS/400) has stood the test of time, proving its reliability and strength in managing critical operations. However, to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced logistics environment, businesses must adapt their strategies by integrating their trusted platform with comprehensive shipping solutions.

Leveraging the seamless integration with Varsity’s advanced multi-carrier shipping software is the missing link to unlocking streamlined workflows, greater efficiency, reduced costs, and delivering outstanding customer experiences. By implementing Varsity’s multi-carrier shipping software, businesses can future-proof their operations, ensuring they’re not only meeting today’s challenges but also ready for what’s ahead.

Ready to discover how this powerful shipping solution can help you bridge the gap between your IBM i (AS/400) system and modern shipping demands? Contact our team of shipping experts or schedule a demo to explore how Varsity Logistics can transform your operations into an efficient logistics powerhouse.