The future of enterprise technology is increasingly connected, and IBM i continues to play an important role in that evolution.
As businesses adopt artificial intelligence, cloud applications, automation, and modern development tools, one challenge remains consistent: connecting new technologies with the trusted systems that already run critical business operations.
For organizations running IBM i, that means finding practical ways to extend existing RPG applications without unnecessary complexity or costly replacements.
That’s why Kato Integrations is proud to sponsor IBM TechXchange 2026, taking place October 26–29, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
As part of the COMMON Hub in the conference’s Sandbox Expo, Kato looks forward to connecting with IBM i developers, IT leaders, architects, and technology professionals to discuss how APIs, cloud connectivity, and practical modernization strategies can help organizations get more value from their existing IBM i environments.
IBM TechXchange brings together developers, engineers, architects, and technology professionals to explore the technologies shaping enterprise IT.
This year’s conference features technical discussions, hands-on labs, demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with IBM experts and technology partners.
Key areas of interest include:
For IBM i organizations, these discussions are particularly relevant as businesses look to connect proven applications with modern digital capabilities.
Kato Integrations will participate as a sponsor in the COMMON Hub, providing an opportunity for attendees to learn more about practical IBM i integration solutions.
Event: IBM TechXchange 2026
Dates: October 26–29, 2026
Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Kato Integrations: Sponsor, COMMON Hub
Event Website: https://www.ibm.com/events/techxchange
IBM i has earned its reputation as a reliable platform for business-critical applications.
Across manufacturing, distribution, retail, finance, and other industries, organizations continue to depend on RPG applications for essential operations.
These applications often manage:
While these systems remain valuable, the applications surrounding them continue to evolve.
Modern businesses increasingly need IBM i to communicate with customer portals, eCommerce platforms, cloud applications, mobile devices, analytics tools, and AI-powered solutions.
IBM i API integration provides a practical way to bridge that gap.
Instead of replacing proven RPG applications, organizations can expose selected business functions through secure APIs and make them available to modern systems.
One of the most common challenges facing IBM i teams is integrating existing RPG applications with modern technologies.
Many organizations have experienced RPG developers who understand their business systems but may not want to introduce additional programming languages or complicated middleware simply to connect applications.
Kato Integrations addresses this challenge through RPG API Express, an API toolkit designed specifically for IBM i developers.
RPG API Express helps organizations build and consume web services using RPG.
This approach supports integration with:
By keeping API development accessible to RPG teams, organizations can extend their existing applications while making better use of established development expertise.
For many organizations, modernization is not limited by the capabilities of IBM i.
It is limited by the time, resources, and expertise available to implement new integrations.
Using RPG-based API tools can help teams:
The result is a more practical path toward a connected enterprise.
Application modernization is often misunderstood as a complete replacement project.
For IBM i organizations, that approach can introduce unnecessary risk.
Existing RPG applications may contain decades of tested business rules, customer-specific processes, and operational knowledge.
Replacing those applications requires organizations to recreate and validate functionality that already works.
An API-first modernization strategy offers another option.
Organizations can preserve existing RPG business logic while making selected capabilities accessible through modern interfaces.
For example, an inventory availability function could be exposed through an API and reused by:
The underlying IBM i application remains responsible for the business rules.
The API provides a consistent way for other systems to interact with those capabilities.
This approach can help organizations modernize incrementally while protecting existing investments.
Related Reading: Modernize RPG Without Rewriting: How Free-Form RPG and APIs Work Together
Cloud connectivity continues to be an important part of enterprise modernization.
Organizations increasingly rely on cloud applications for customer management, analytics, eCommerce, collaboration, and automation.
IBM i integration strategies need to accommodate these environments without requiring every business application to move to the cloud.
APIs can provide secure communication between IBM i and cloud-based platforms.
Common integration scenarios include:
Kato Integrations also offers Kato Spaces, an IBM i cloud-hosting solution for organizations evaluating hosting and infrastructure options.
Together, API connectivity and flexible hosting strategies can help organizations build an IBM i environment that supports changing business requirements.
Artificial intelligence will be a major topic at IBM TechXchange 2026.
For IBM i organizations, one of the most important questions is how AI applications can securely access trusted business information.
AI systems become more useful when they can interact with accurate operational data.
For example, an AI assistant might need to retrieve:
Rather than giving AI applications unrestricted database access, organizations can use secure APIs to expose approved business functions.
Consider an AI-powered customer service assistant.
A customer asks:
“When will my order arrive?”
The assistant could call an approved IBM i API to retrieve the latest order and shipping information.
IBM i remains the trusted source of operational data, while the AI application presents the information to the customer.
This model can support intelligent automation without compromising the integrity of core business systems.
Organizations exploring AI should consider whether their existing business applications are accessible through documented, secure, reusable APIs.
A strong API foundation can support:
AI readiness begins with reliable integration.
Related Reading: IBM i and Agentic AI: Why APIs Are the Bridge to Intelligent Automation
As IBM i environments become more connected, security and governance become increasingly important.
Every integration should provide appropriate controls over who can access business information and which functions they are permitted to perform.
A strong IBM i API strategy should consider:
Organizations should also understand which applications depend on each API.
That visibility helps development teams evaluate changes, troubleshoot issues, and maintain reliable integrations.
Security should not be an afterthought.
It should be part of the integration architecture from the beginning.
Related Reading: IBM i API Monitoring: How to Keep Modern Integrations Reliable
Technology modernization also requires development resources.
Many IBM i organizations face competing priorities, growing project backlogs, and limited availability of experienced RPG developers.
Kato Integrations offers professional services designed to help organizations extend their existing IBM i development capabilities.
Whether a business needs assistance building APIs, connecting applications, or implementing new integrations, additional technical expertise can help move projects forward.
This is particularly valuable when internal development teams are focused on maintaining business-critical applications.
Modernization should not require organizations to choose between supporting today’s operations and preparing for tomorrow’s technology.
If you’re attending IBM TechXchange, Kato Integrations welcomes the opportunity to connect.
Bring your IBM i integration questions, modernization challenges, or upcoming development priorities.
Some useful conversation starters include:
“Can we build this API directly in RPG?”
“How can we connect IBM i to our cloud applications?”
“Can we modernize without rewriting our existing RPG programs?”
“How can we eliminate manual data transfers?”
“What’s the best way to make IBM i data available in real time?”
“How should we prepare IBM i applications for AI?”
“Can Kato help our team complete an integration project?”
These are the practical challenges Kato Integrations helps organizations address.
As businesses begin planning their 2027 technology priorities, IBM i modernization should focus on measurable business outcomes.
Rather than attempting to modernize everything simultaneously, organizations can begin with high-value integration opportunities.
A practical approach includes:
This approach allows modernization to become an ongoing business strategy rather than a disruptive replacement project.
Related Reading: IBM i Modernization Roadmap for 2027: 8 Priorities to Start Planning Now
IBM TechXchange provides an opportunity for technology professionals to explore new ideas, exchange knowledge, and discuss the challenges shaping enterprise IT.
As a sponsor, Kato Integrations looks forward to participating in conversations around IBM i integration, API development, cloud connectivity, and application modernization.
Find Kato Integrations in the COMMON Hub within the Sandbox Expo.
Whether you’re planning your first IBM i API or evaluating a broader modernization strategy, we’d welcome the opportunity to learn about your goals.
Event: IBM TechXchange 2026
Dates: October 26–29, 2026
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Kato Integrations: COMMON Hub Sponsor
Learn more about the conference at IBM TechXchange 2026.
Yes. Kato Integrations is participating as a sponsor in the COMMON Hub at IBM TechXchange 2026 in Atlanta.
IBM TechXchange 2026 takes place October 26–29, 2026.
The conference is being held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kato Integrations will participate in the COMMON Hub within the conference’s Sandbox Expo.
Kato Integrations provides IBM i API toolkits, professional services, and cloud-hosting solutions designed to help organizations simplify integration and extend existing IBM i applications.
Yes. RPG API Express is designed to help IBM i developers build and consume web services using RPG, including REST and SOAP APIs.
No. Organizations can modernize incrementally by exposing existing business functions through APIs, connecting cloud applications, improving development practices, and automating workflows.
Yes. Secure APIs can provide controlled access to IBM i data and business logic, allowing AI applications to retrieve approved information and interact with authorized workflows.
The future of IBM i is not defined by replacing trusted systems.
It’s defined by making those systems more connected, accessible, and adaptable.
As organizations embrace cloud applications, intelligent automation, and AI, APIs will continue to play an essential role in connecting established business logic with emerging technologies.
Kato Integrations is proud to sponsor IBM TechXchange 2026 and looks forward to connecting with the IBM i community in Atlanta.
If you’re attending, visit us in the COMMON Hub and discover how simple integrations can help your organization get more from IBM i.
See you at IBM TechXchange 2026!