BMC Case Studies IMT Leverages Compuware Solutions to Facilitate Mainframe Transition

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	IMT Leverages Compuware Solutions to Facilitate Mainframe Transition BMC

IMT Leverages Compuware Solutions to Facilitate Mainframe Transition

BMC

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Process Control & Optimization
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	The IMT Group, a leading Midwestern P&C insurer, heavily relies on its mainframe for core applications. However, the mainframe application environment is in transition. The company's mainframe transition strategy has two key objectives. One is re-platforming select applications, a process that requires intensive analysis of current mainframe code. It requires complete and accurate identification of “dead code”—sections of applications that have lapsed into disuse over the years, but remain present in source code. The other key objective is converging mainframe and non-mainframe environments. This convergence is taking place because of how the company’s newer web- and mobile-based applications depend on back-end mainframe resources. Both of these strategic objectives require developers to have clear, complete visibility into the structure and runtime behaviors of highly complex mainframe applications that have undergone a lot of change over the years and are not always well-documented. Read More
About Customer	The IMT Group, founded in 1883 and based in Des Moines, is a leading Midwestern P&C insurer with more than $300 million in assets. Like many companies of similar size and vintage, IMT depends heavily on its mainframe for core applications. The company's mainframe application environment is in transition, with a strategy focused on re-platforming select applications and converging mainframe and non-mainframe environments. This is due to the company’s newer web- and mobile-based applications depending on back-end mainframe resources. Therefore, IMT’s mainframe and non-mainframe developers have to work together. Read More
Solution	IMT has been making extensive use of Compuware’s mainframe solutions for about 20 years. These solutions include Xpediter and File-AID. Most recently, IMT extended its deployment of Compuware’s Topaz suite to include Topaz Workbench, Topaz for Enterprise Data and Topaz for Program Analysis with an emphasis on the Runtime Visualizer feature. These solutions provide a highly intuitive graphical environment for writing and reviewing code, understanding the behavior of that code in production and understanding the relationship between different applications and data sources across the mainframe environment. The broad Topaz suite provided IMT with several important new capabilities, including drag-and-drop application code and file management, common look-and-feel across languages, streamlined collaboration between developers with different skill sets, and fast, easy identification of “dead code.” Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Process Control & Optimization

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

The IMT Group, a leading Midwestern P&C insurer, heavily relies on its mainframe for core applications. However, the mainframe application environment is in transition. The company's mainframe transition strategy has two key objectives. One is re-platforming select applications, a process that requires intensive analysis of current mainframe code. It requires complete and accurate identification of “dead code”—sections of applications that have lapsed into disuse over the years, but remain present in source code. The other key objective is converging mainframe and non-mainframe environments. This convergence is taking place because of how the company’s newer web- and mobile-based applications depend on back-end mainframe resources. Both of these strategic objectives require developers to have clear, complete visibility into the structure and runtime behaviors of highly complex mainframe applications that have undergone a lot of change over the years and are not always well-documented.

About Customer

The IMT Group, founded in 1883 and based in Des Moines, is a leading Midwestern P&C insurer with more than $300 million in assets. Like many companies of similar size and vintage, IMT depends heavily on its mainframe for core applications. The company's mainframe application environment is in transition, with a strategy focused on re-platforming select applications and converging mainframe and non-mainframe environments. This is due to the company’s newer web- and mobile-based applications depending on back-end mainframe resources. Therefore, IMT’s mainframe and non-mainframe developers have to work together.

Solution

IMT has been making extensive use of Compuware’s mainframe solutions for about 20 years. These solutions include Xpediter and File-AID. Most recently, IMT extended its deployment of Compuware’s Topaz suite to include Topaz Workbench, Topaz for Enterprise Data and Topaz for Program Analysis with an emphasis on the Runtime Visualizer feature. These solutions provide a highly intuitive graphical environment for writing and reviewing code, understanding the behavior of that code in production and understanding the relationship between different applications and data sources across the mainframe environment. The broad Topaz suite provided IMT with several important new capabilities, including drag-and-drop application code and file management, common look-and-feel across languages, streamlined collaboration between developers with different skill sets, and fast, easy identification of “dead code.”

Impact #1	Improved developer productivity. With Topaz, a smaller number of veteran mainframe developers can get more accomplished—and IMT’s less experienced mainframe developers can make a greater contribution to any projects that touch technologies such as COBOL and DB2.
Impact #2	Enhanced business agility. When developers can collaborate more effectively across platforms, IMT can update its cross-platform applications with greater speed. In an increasingly digital insurance marketplace, that agility is a competitive necessity.
Impact #3	Superior customer engagement. Improvements to IMT’s cross-platform DevOps processes translate directly into better experiences for its customers across both digital and traditional channels. These improved experiences translate directly into improved customer retention and loyalty.

Impact #1

Improved developer productivity. With Topaz, a smaller number of veteran mainframe developers can get more accomplished—and IMT’s less experienced mainframe developers can make a greater contribution to any projects that touch technologies such as COBOL and DB2.

Impact #2

Enhanced business agility. When developers can collaborate more effectively across platforms, IMT can update its cross-platform applications with greater speed. In an increasingly digital insurance marketplace, that agility is a competitive necessity.

Impact #3

Superior customer engagement. Improvements to IMT’s cross-platform DevOps processes translate directly into better experiences for its customers across both digital and traditional channels. These improved experiences translate directly into improved customer retention and loyalty.

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Overview

IMT Leverages Compuware Solutions to Facilitate Mainframe Transition

Operational Impact