PKS Software
Pioneering in

Today more than ever, IT must be able to be a ‘translator.’ What does this mean exactly? IT should be in a position of perceiving the different needs of the individual participants, whether project sponsor, department manager, decision maker or implementer, in such a way that a constructive climate develops and everyone pulls in the same direction. By combining special findings from brain research (LIMBIC) with the methods of agile software development, PKS Software has developed the Scrum for Legacy approach, which serves as a catalyst to create a ‘translator’ IT model. Concentrating on all aspects of software transformations for 30 years, PKS, through its approach, can advise decision-makers and implementers of such projects and support them in optimal project implementation.

PKS solves the challenges that the customers face in the context of the current digital transformation. On the one hand, the company assists the clients to address the legacy problems in their still productive core systems—generation change, monolithic structures, technical debts—and on the other hand, they are also enabled to integrate new applications and technologies with the existing systems or migrate and replace them. “To achieve all this requires competent partners who can advise on strategy, have methodical experience in implementation and can contribute intelligent and efficient tools, and that’s what we offer through our approach,” says Schmidt.

Having been an IBM business partner for 20 years has majorly assisted the company as PKS Software can help its clients with escalations through its direct line to IBM labs, and senior management. The company can also offer good discounts and conditions when purchasing IBM software. IBM has repeatedly presented PKS with the Enterprise Modernization Award as a recognition of its work, and even several of the company’s employees have been named IBM Champions in recent years for their competence and outstanding customer feedback. “Our focus on software transformation is especially relevant for IBM POWER i (aka AS/400) and Mainframe,” states Heidi Schmidt, the managing partner of PKS.

In an instance, PKS helped T-Systems, a leading information and communication technology solution provider in providing the mainframe as a high-performance platform for the digital future for its customers. The extensive experience of PKS in the modernization of legacy applications, the development of system architectures based on the modern mainframe technology stack and the enthusiasm of young IT talents was combined with the in-depth knowledge of T-Systems’ customer processes and architectures. This resulted in a forward-looking mainframe strategy called zFuture, which aims to implement a lasting innovation process.

By helping clients optimize their existing software landscapes such that they can work together with customers and suppliers in an efficient, timely and error-free manner, PKS has indeed carved a unique niche for itself. The company also solves the shortage of skilled employees for IBM solution providers by focusing on its employer branding and offering employees not only good salaries but also a very attractive and inspiring working environment. In this way, PKS has been succeeding in sustainably advancing its growth by filling new positions very quickly and meeting the increasing demand of its customers. In addition, the company actively trains developers in classic legacy technologies such as Cobol, RPG and Natural, etc., so that they know the strengths of such technologies and can make targeted use of them in the software transformation to Java, OpenStack and Eclipse. For the future, PKS will continue to expand and strengthen its market position in the area of legacy transformation. “We have just opened a second office in Frankfurt. Our focus is on helping users of IBM i and z environments to solve technological and personnel challenges in a clever, efficient and sustainable way,” concludes Schmidt.