In early February, Programmers.io was proud to take part in the 2nd annual COMMON India Conference – an event quickly becoming a key gathering for the community shaping the future of the IBM i platform.
Held this year in the acclaimed Novotel Convention Centre in Hyderabad, COMMON India brought together both new and seasoned professionals alike for an enriching experience regarding the education, direction, and thought leadership surrounding IBM i. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of sessions that covered the latest trends, innovations, and challenges facing the industry today.
“A lot can happen in the next five years.”
Featuring a keynote from IBM and industry-renowned speakers such as Mike Pavlak, Charles Guarino, Nandoo Neerukonda and Nirmal Khatri, the event’s presentations centered around new growth opportunities for IBM i talent and the demand for AI adoption in the rapidly evolving IT industry.
Overall, the message was optimistic. Speakers focused on IBM i not as a platform that had stood for decades, but as a modern growth engine that could rapidly evolve to the demands of today.
“It’s about industrialized engineering — applying AI with the same discipline, auditability, and control that IBM i has always stood for,” asserted Nirmal Khatri, VP of Technology.
Another major theme that emerged throughout the event was a well-known concern: the growing retirement gap left behind by those who have supported IBM i for decades. With a significant portion of the user group’s long-standing members nearing retirement, it’s no surprise that 56% of executives identified the retirement gap as their top concern for 2026, as noted in IBM’s keynote.
But rather than inspire fear, these discussions pushed a thoughtful dialogue about who, not if, would take up the mantle.
“A lot can happen in the next five years.” stated Kip Kugler, Sr. VP at Programmers.io, “I see the opportunity for COMMON India to have 5,000 to 10,000 members.”
This isn’t just speculation. Programmers.io noted during the conference that they have been addressing this challenge for eight years through building sustainable IBM i talent via a cost-free internship program. This initiative has supported over 1,000 professionals to date and has 200 more currently enrolled in IBM i training.
Combined with the reassurance from IBM about the company’s continued commitment to IBM i, it’s clear that the platform has a strong future. Through events like COMMON India, diverse professionals around the world have the opportunity to connect, grow, and collaboratively lead IBM i into the future.
COMMON India will be returning in 2027. Stay connected on LinkedIn for the latest news, insights, and ways to get involved.
