WEBLET and IBM i / AS400 / iSeries Integration
Many organizations continue to rely on IBM AS/400, also known today as IBM i and sometimes as IBM iSeries, to manage critical business processes. For many years the system has become a stable and reliable platform for managing customers, orders, inventory, distribution, manufacturing, finance, and additional business processes. When a significant part of the activity takes place outside the office — in distribution, service, among technicians, in field sales, or in projects — a continuous connection is needed between the AS/400 system and field employees.
WEBLET makes it possible to connect IBM AS/400 to field activity, so that information flows in an organized way between the systems, processes remain continuous, and the organization enjoys better control over actual execution.
Using the WEBLET interface engine, information can be transferred between IBM i / AS400 / iSeries and field activity, defining which data will be synced, in which direction and how often, and adapting the integration to the organization's needs.
The integration between WEBLET and IBM AS/400 connects the organizational core system to field activity.
Instead of working with duplicate data entry, manual files, or phone reports, a complete workflow can be created — from creating the order or task in the organizational system, through managing field activity, to updating the execution results.
- Transferring orders, shipments, tasks, and service calls from IBM AS/400 to WEBLET.
- Displaying the relevant information to drivers, technicians, service people, and field teams.
- Planning distribution lines, employee scheduling, and route management.
- Carrying out the task using the WEBLET app.
- Returning statuses, POD, signatures, photos, and additional information to IBM AS/400.
- Reducing manual work and duplicate data entry between systems.
- Automatic IBM AS/400 updates from field activity results.
- Creating a continuous workflow from the order to field execution.
IBM AS/400 continues to serve as the organization's core system, while WEBLET adds the field activity management layer, planning, scheduling, optimization, and documentation.
The WEBLET Interface Engine
The WEBLET interface engine makes it possible to connect ERP, CRM, WMS, BI systems, e-commerce platforms, and additional organizational systems to field activity.
Using the engine, it is possible to define:
- Which data will be transferred.
- Which fields will be synced.
- In which direction the information will move.
- How often synchronization will take place.
- Which events will update the system.
WEBLET manages the field activity management layer.
WEBLET has the ability to interface with a wide range of organizational systems, including legacy systems such as IBM AS/400 (IBM i / iSeries), according to the organization's infrastructure, interfaces, and work process. This is a general capability of the interface engine, and not a statement that a prior integration has necessarily been carried out for any specific system.
The integration can be implemented using API, Web Services, files, databases, and additional communication mechanisms, according to the existing infrastructure.
A unique advantage interface engine and AI-based optimization
WEBLET has a unique advantage stemming from the combination of an advanced interface engine with AI-based optimization capabilities for managing field activity.
After customer data, orders, inventory, addresses, tasks, and time windows are transferred from the IBM AS/400 system to WEBLET, they are not used only to display tasks to field employees. WEBLET uses the information for planning distribution lines, route optimization, scheduling drivers, technicians, and service teams, load balancing, and execution control.
This way advanced AI capabilities can be added to field activity, without replacing the AS/400 system and without changing existing business processes. The connection to IBM AS/400 also makes it possible to benefit from AI-based distribution and logistics optimization.
The connection between IBM AS/400 and WEBLET is especially suitable for organizations that work with IBM i / AS400 / iSeries and manage broad field activity, when a significant part of the execution takes place outside the office.
The integration is especially relevant for
- Distribution companies.
- Logistics companies.
- Manufacturing plants.
- Food and beverage companies.
- Retail chains.
- Service organizations.
- Technician teams.
- Leasing companies.
- Pharma companies.
- Organizations managing hundreds or thousands of field tasks.
Suitability is determined by the scope of field activity, process complexity, number of users, and the information that needs to move between systems, not just by the size of the organization.
More than 10 field agents?
Leave us a WhatsApp message and we'll get back to you with an initial fit check.
Instead of managing field activity separately from IBM AS/400, the interface makes it possible to transfer the required information to WEBLET, manage planning and execution in the field, and then return the activity results to IBM AS/400.
This is how a continuous workflow is created
- An order or task is created in IBM AS/400.
- The data is transferred to WEBLET.
- WEBLET plans, schedules, and manages field activity.
- The employees carry out the tasks using the WEBLET app.
- The execution results return to IBM AS/400 according to the defined process.
This way office employees get up-to-date information on what was done in the field, without waiting for manual reporting and without re-entering the same data.
Depending on the organization's needs and business process, relevant process information can be transferred between the systems. The integration does not require transferring all information. It is possible to choose the necessary data and define the appropriate sync direction.
Among other things, data such as the following can be transferred from IBM AS/400 to WEBLET:
- Customers.
- Contacts.
- Addresses.
- Orders.
- Shipments.
- Items.
- Inventory.
- Documents.
- Service calls.
- Tasks.
- Drivers.
- Technicians.
- Employees.
- Vehicles.
- Routes.
From WEBLET, depending on the defined process, information such as the following can be returned to IBM AS/400:
- Statuses.
- Digital signatures.
- Photos.
- POD documents.
- GPS data.
- Execution times.
Not every type of information is required in every organization. The purpose of the analysis is to choose the data that supports the actual process, without creating unnecessary transfer of information between the systems.
Common use cases
Orders and shipments are managed in IBM AS/400. WEBLET plans distribution lines and routes, manages deliveries and POD, and returns statuses and execution results to IBM AS/400.
A service call is opened in IBM AS/400 or IBM i. WEBLET assigns a technician, manages the field visit, and returns a service report, SLA, signatures, and photos.
An installation task is opened in IBM AS/400. WEBLET schedules the installation team, manages execution, and returns photos, signatures, and reports.
Visit tasks and orders are transferred from IBM AS/400 or IBM iSeries to WEBLET. Salespeople carry out visits and field sales, and the visit summaries and orders return to the core system.
More than 10 field agents?
Leave us a WhatsApp message and we'll get back to you with an initial fit check.
Extending capabilities with a B2B portal
After the organization connects IBM AS/400 to field activity, the processes can also be extended beyond the organization using the WEBLET B2B portal.
The portal allows customers, suppliers, distributors, agents, and business partners to act independently — such as placing orders, viewing documents, tracking statuses, opening requests, and updating information — according to the organization's permissions and work processes.
This way the capabilities of the AS/400 system and of IBM i can be extended, service can be improved, and a digital workflow can be created between the organization, field activity, and the external parties that work with it.
Many organizations have worked with IBM AS/400 for many years and manage central business processes through it. Often there is no desire or need to replace a stable system, but rather to add modern capabilities for managing field activity.
WEBLET makes it possible to do exactly that. Instead of replacing the core system, an advanced solution for managing distribution, service, technicians, routes, field sales, and digital documentation can be connected to it through:
- Employee scheduling.
- Task management.
- Route optimization.
- An app for field employees.
- GPS tracking.
- POD.
- Signatures.
- Photos.
- Digital forms.
- Real-time control.
This creates a complete workflow from the order through to execution.
The advantages of the integration:
- Less manual work.
- Up-to-date information.
- Improved service.
- Improved control.
- Improved planning.
- Fewer errors.
- Optimization of field activity.
- Full transparency.
- Continuous connection between the office and the field.
This way the organization can enjoy all the advantages of modern field activity, while keeping the existing investment in the IBM AS/400, IBM i, or IBM iSeries system.
Business advantage for the organization
The connection between IBM AS/400 and WEBLET allows the organization to keep the core system it already uses, while dedicating specific management to the operational activity that takes place in the field.
Instead of information getting stuck in the organizational system or returning from the field late and inconsistently, a connected process can be created in which data moves to execution and returns after completion — including in legacy environments such as IBM i and IBM iSeries.
The result is a more transparent, measurable, and controlled workflow, from creating an order, task, or service call through to actual completion of execution.
Frequently asked questions about integration with IBM i / AS400 / iSeries
Connecting IBM i / AS400 / iSeries to field activity
If your organization uses IBM AS/400, IBM i, or IBM iSeries and manages distribution, logistics, service, technician, or mobile employee activity, we can review together the work process and the integration best suited to the organization's needs.
IBM AS/400 continues to serve many organizations as a central platform for managing business processes. Using WEBLET, advanced capabilities for field activity management, route optimization, service, distribution, technicians, and field sales can be added to the system, while keeping the existing core system.
Using the WEBLET interface engine, AI-based optimization capabilities, and additional solutions such as a B2B portal, a complete digital workflow can be created between the IBM AS/400 system, field activity, and the business parties that work with the organization.
WEBLET solutions that work with this integration
- Transportation Management System (TMS)
- Route optimization
- Proof of Delivery (POD)
- Technician management
- Installer management
- Pre-Sale and field orders
- B2B eCommerce
- Drivers and leasing
- Smart Appointment
- ERP, CRM, and organizational systems integration
For more information on connecting WEBLET to organizational systems, see also the main article on the site.