case studies

Mulesoft Success Story

About The Client

The client is a rapidly growing U.S.-based specialty retailer with over 100 stores nationwide. Alongside its retail operations, it operates a robust consumer loan division, offering financial solutions to its customers. The company relies on an in-house developed ERP system built on IBM i (AS/400), which supports its core business processes. As the business expanded, the client faced challenges with system integration, scalability, and modernizing legacy IT infrastructure to support future growth.

  • Industry: Retail and Distribution
  • Headquartered: U.S.
  • Platforms: infoConnect for MuleSoft, IBM i (AS/400), ERP
  • Team Size: US based, Rapidly Expanding
the_client
 

The Challenge

Technical Debt: Multiple in-house systems created complexity, making enhancements and maintenance difficult.

Lack of Integration Strategy: Numerous point-to-point interfaces across platforms led to inefficiencies and limited scalability.

Limited Documentation: Sparse system documentation made onboarding new IT staff and troubleshooting processes challenging.

Legacy ERP Constraints: The IBM i (AS/400) ERP system, while robust, lacked flexibility for modern integrations and digital initiatives.

Scalability Issues: The existing architecture struggled to support new business initiatives, e-commerce, and consumer loan operations efficiently.

 

Our Solution

Our team implemented a phased, strategic approach to modernize the client’s IT infrastructure and streamline integrations:

The Solution

Legacy Modernization

Initiated in 2013, Our team began developing on IBM i (AS/400), gaining insights into core business processes and identifying system gaps.

The Solution

Integration Strategy

By 2015, Our team proposed a MuleSoft-based integration platform, collaborating with IT leadership to design a proof of concept that interfaced IBM i with MuleSoft via custom Java components.

The Solution

Connector Development

Developed a beta IBM i (AS/400) connector for MuleSoft, paired with a Web Transaction Framework to enable seamless e-commerce and internal integrations

The Solution

Phased Deployment

Delivered initial integration projects into production, gradually expanding the platform to support additional systems and processes.

The Solution

Future-Proof Planning

Prepared the client for API management adoption and potential CloudHub use for SaaS integrations.

Technologies Used

Our software architects and engineers are experts in using the latest technologies.

  • MuleSoft Anypoint Platform – Core integration platform for API-led connectivity and system orchestration.
    MuleSoft Anypoint Platform – Core integration platform for API-led connectivity and system orchestration.
  • Web Transaction Framework – Facilitated e-commerce and internal system integrations.
    Web Transaction Framework – Facilitated e-commerce and internal system integrations.
  • IBM i (AS/400) ERP System – The client’s legacy, in-house developed enterprise system.
    IBM i (AS/400) ERP System – The client’s legacy, in-house developed enterprise system.
 

Business Impact

Our solution added value with surprising results because we were able to deliver a high-quality product on time.

Here’s how we did it

  • Enhanced Focus on Core Business

    Freed the retailer from managing homegrown, non-differentiating components, allowing focus on growth and customer experience.

  • Standardized Processes

    Streamlined and standardized integration and operational processes, improving efficiency and reducing errors.

  • Improved IT Agility

    Enabled faster onboarding of new systems, quicker integrations, and easier adaptation to changing business needs.

  • Expanded Integration Capabilities

    Established a robust integration pipeline that grew to over 25 MuleSoft projects, paving the way for API management and cloud adoption.

  • Better Documentation & Governance

    Strengthened system documentation and governance, reducing technical debt and knowledge gaps.

we-did-it

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I wanted to take a moment to highlight and commemorate the efforts from our dedicated PIO team. To preface, the projects we work on here are complex, with rigid objectives, budgets, and timelines. Expectations are always high and are ever-changing. From the start of our relationship, the IO team was able to exceed expectations and make our business wishes a reality.

Project Manager

Over the past year I have worked with them, they have worked very hard to understand our highly customized system and troubleshoot things with little or no documentation while managing to keep the business up and running normally. Without the hard work and dedication they have shown, I know we would have had some issues causing downtime or lost production. I am looking forward to continuing working them in the next year as well.

Information Technology Supervisor

I have been working with Programmers IO for more than 5 years now and I have been pleased with all projects and developers that I have worked with. We have had a few issues here and there but they have always fixed and made it right. They have been an excellent addition to our business.

Director Of Development

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