You’ve Never Mainframed Like This: How BMC AMI Assistant is Leading Mainframe Transformation

By 2030, organizations face a critical decision: either move off the mainframe or modernize in place and leverage their mainframe investment to their advantage. According to a recent Gartner report, being a caretaker of critical core systems is no longer an option—it puts companies at serious competitive risk.?

This is an exciting time for BMC AMI, and that’s because of the new BMC AMI Assistant, designed to transform how you manage the complexity of mainframe environments. This new assistant leverages Generative AI (GenAI) technology to revolutionize how we approach the mainframe, taking routine and complex tasks and making them more efficient, intuitive, and actionable.?

The Growing Complexity of Mainframes?

Let’s be real—mainframes are more crucial than ever, yet managing them has become increasingly complex. According to the 2024 BMC Mainframe Survey, AIOps has become the second-highest mainframe priority for 54% of extra-large organizations, just behind security. With workloads scaling and mainframes remaining the backbone of critical systems, organizations are turning to GenAI to help them tackle these challenges. In fact, 60% of organizations that prioritize AIOPs for the mainframe are using it specifically to solve AIOps complexity.?

The BMC AMI team is addressing this head-on with the new Generative AI-driven BMC AMI Assistant, which is now infused directly into BMC AMI solutions. Starting with BMC AMI DevX Code Insights, the assistant eliminates the fear of changing complex, unfamiliar code with GenAI explanation. With instant comprehension, it empowers mainframe developers to innovate faster.?

A Shift in Mainframe Expertise?

One of the biggest challenges for mainframe environments is the changing workforce. As senior-level mainframe professionals retire, they take decades of institutional knowledge with them. This leaves organizations scrambling to fill the knowledge gap, train mid-career professionals, and onboard new talent who may not have experience working with mainframe environments.??

According to the 2024 BMC Mainframe Survey, since 2019 there’s been a 23% drop in respondents with over 20 years of mainframe experience. Meanwhile, there’s been a 14% rise in those with just 6 to 10 years of experience.??

This demographic shift is reshaping how organizations manage their mainframes, and it’s a big reason why GenAI has become so important in this space. By automating repetitive tasks, providing real-time insights, and offering actionable recommendations, BMC AMI Assistant helps bridge this knowledge gap, making it easier for less-experienced staff to manage operations effectively.?

BMC AMI Assistant: Empowering Developers and System Programmers?

BMC AMI Assistant isn’t just another tool—it’s embedded directly into BMC AMI solutions. Let’s talk about what that really means. With BMC AMI DevX Code Insights, for example, AMI Assistant uses GenAI to explain unfamiliar code, recommend actions, and even automate certain tasks. This is a game-changer, especially for developers and system programmers who may not have deep expertise in legacy code.?

For developers, this functionality eliminates days of manual work, breaking down complex code structures into something that can be understood and acted upon quickly. It’s like having an expert pair of eyes on your team at all times.

Real-World Success Stories?

BMC AMI Assistant is already making waves. One Principal Software Engineer at a large insurance provider even said that BMC AMI DevX Code Insights reduced days of manual documentation work down to minutes.? During beta testing, a Senior Expert of Software Development at the second-largest direct insurance company in Germany said, “The code explanation functionality of BMC AMI Assistant is on par with industry-leading solutions like GitHub Copilot.”?

Upon their first experience with AMI Assistant’s code explanation functionality, a Mainframe DevOps Change Evangelist at a major South African bank called it "an answered prayer."??

It’s that impactful.?

For system programmers (SysProgs), the assistant’s GenAI-powered capabilities explain root cause analysis for performance issues and outages. Imagine being able to diagnose and resolve incidents in a fraction of the time, with clear explanations and actionable recommendations.??

Simplifying Mainframe Operations?

But the magic of AMI Assistant doesn’t stop with developers and SysProgs. IT and Development managers benefit too, as the assistant automates the analysis of metrics and provides real-time insights. This leads to better decision-making, reduced inefficiencies, and ultimately a more streamlined workflow. For example, BMC AMI zAdviser Enterprise—also powered by GenAI—automates the generation of detailed reports on key DevOps metrics, giving managers a clear picture of how to optimize performance.?

In a world where reducing toil and continuous improvement are essential, BMC AMI Assistant shines by automating the manual, often mundane tasks that eat up valuable time. This allows teams to focus on what matters most—driving innovation and ensuring the resilience of their critical systems.?

The Road Ahead: A Unified Vision for Mainframe Transformation?

The introduction of BMC AMI Assistant is just the beginning. This technology represents BMC’s broader vision for mainframe transformation—one that leverages AI, GenAI, and the cloud to simplify and modernize critical systems. And while the assistant’s current capabilities are focused on code analysis and root cause diagnostics, there’s so much more to come.?

The roadmap for BMC AMI Assistant is clear: it will continue to expand across BMC AMI solutions, infusing AI-driven capabilities into everyday workflows. Whether you’re a developer, SysProg, or IT manager, you’ll benefit from real-time insights and automation that enhance your ability to manage mainframe environments efficiently.?

But what really sets BMC AMI Assistant apart is its seamless integration into the tools you already use. There’s no need for context switching, and everything happens in-product. This means less disruption, more efficiency, and ultimately, a simpler way to manage your mainframe.?

You’ve Never Mainframed Like This?

As the world of mainframes evolves, so must our approach to managing them. The challenges of increasing complexity, the knowledge gap left by retiring professionals, and the growing demand for faster innovation mean that organizations need solutions that don’t just keep up but lead the way.?

BMC AMI Assistant is that solution. By harnessing the power of Generative AI, it simplifies the way we manage mainframes, making it possible to do more with less, faster than ever before.?

For all our mainframe customers, let me just say: you’ve never mainframed like this!?

So, what do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

For more details, visit the BMC Blog.

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