IBM has announced its acquisition of application modernization assets from Advanced, a UK-based company specializing in mainframe modernization and migration services for OpenVMS and VME. The move is aimed at strengthening IBM’s consulting business’s mainframe application and data modernization services.
The assets and services acquired from Advanced are anticipated to enhance the capabilities of IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z, a generative AI-assisted product released by IBM in August of the previous year. IBM Z systems customers use Watsonx Code Assistant for Z to facilitate the modernization of their applications.
Upon completion of the acquisition, employees from Advanced with over 30 years of experience in supporting clients’ mainframe strategies and application modernization agendas will join IBM Consulting. Their expertise spans various mainframe application modernization services, including assessment and design, mainframe transformation and integration, and full deployment.
IBM emphasized that these acquired employees have a diverse background, having worked across different industry sectors such as financial services, insurance, automotive, travel and transportation, government, utilities, and media. This diverse experience positions them well to contribute to IBM’s consulting business across a range of client needs.
While the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, both IBM and Advanced expect the transaction to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. The acquisition aligns with IBM’s ongoing efforts to expand and enhance its consulting services in the realm of mainframe application and data modernization.
