Mainframe modernization: The AI-human synergy
How AI helps accelerate transformation and innovation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations modernize their mainframe environment to more advanced platforms like cloud. The power of AI can enable faster, more efficient modernization—with limited disruption. However, AI alone is merely a tool. It requires human knowledge, creativity, and control to unlock its full potential.
Modernization is imperative, but it can be challenging
Fierce competition, evolving customer expectations, and cyberthreats are compelling most organizations to modernize their mainframe environment and access technologies like AI, Internet of Things, and cloud to boost performance, agility, security, and insight. However, fear of disruption and security breaches, along with skills gaps, can present significant modernization challenges. The powerful synergy of AI and human leadership can help overcome them.
AI-powered modernization in action:
A large global auto manufacturer grappled with identifying relevant functionality in the code of a huge stock-tracking app built in PL/1 and JCL, which hobbled innovation and integration with modern technologies. Deloitte proposed transitioning the app to Java and using Generative AI (GenAI) for code documentation, dependency mining, and business functionality isolation. The result was a modern, efficient application that integrated with advanced technologies to drive innovation.
A major North American insurer struggled with linking more than 60 million lines of undocumented COBOL code to specific business capabilities, which slowed its modernization efforts. Deloitte used dependency mining, GenAI, and our proprietary framework to map 90% of the codebase to business functions, in under four weeks. This accelerated approach reduced manual effort and costs, improved decision-making, and laid the foundation for successful modernization.
