What replaced IBM Db2 Web Query for i?

There is no single official successor. IBM i shops that ran Db2 Web Query have moved to a range of tools. Cat Pumps replaced it with m-Power, a low-code development platform from mrc that handles IBM i reporting over existing data, including the scheduling and Excel export functions Db2 Web Query did.

Can a small IT team migrate Db2 Web Query reports without consultants?

Yes. Cat Pumps converted more than 300 Db2 Web Query reports with a 3-person team and no outside services engagement. A working knowledge of SQL and the underlying database makes the conversion faster, and vendor support that will step in and help if needed.

Does a Db2 Web Query replacement require moving data off IBM i?

It should not. Tools like m-Power run directly over your existing databases, including IBM i, on-premise or in the cloud. The data stays where it lives, the way Db2 Web Query read it, so there is no separate data migration project.

What happens if I keep running Db2 Web Query past the support cutoff?

The tool still runs. Patches stopped, compatibility with newer IBM i releases is not guaranteed, and there is nobody on the vendor side to call when something breaks. Some shops are still on Web Query for that reason, and it works until it doesn't. Just be aware that a new IBM i release could break compatibility.

What skills does my team need to migrate Db2 Web Query reports?

SQL fluency and a working knowledge of the underlying database matter more than experience with any specific tool. The migration is mostly the work of re-creating report logic in a new environment, so a team that knows its data tends to move faster than a team that knows the old tool.

What is low-code vendor lock-in?

Low-code vendor lock-in is the loss of practical ability to leave a platform after applications are built on it. It usually comes from a combination of proprietary runtime requirements, proprietary data schemas, non-portable code exports, and pricing that scales with usage. Most low-code vendors do not call this lock-in, but the buyer experiences it as such on renewal.

How do I evaluate a low-code platform for lock-in risk?

Ask the vendor five specific questions. Where does my data physically live? Whose database schema runs my applications? Can I export the source code I built, in a usable format? If I stop paying tomorrow, do my running applications keep working? Is the price predictable across the next five years? The honest answers to those five questions tell you what walking away would actually cost.

Why does on-premise low-code reduce vendor lock-in?

On-premise low-code platforms run the generated applications on servers the customer controls, against databases the customer owns. The vendor's involvement is in the build tooling, not in the runtime that serves users. The applications continue to work even if the vendor relationship ends, which is the practical definition of avoiding lock-in.

Is a perpetual license low-code platform better than SaaS low-code?

For lock-in risk, yes. A perpetual license decouples the right to keep running what you have already built from the obligation to keep paying. SaaS low-code platforms tie the runtime to the subscription, which means the cost of leaving is the cost of rebuilding. Perpetual licensing eliminates that specific risk. SaaS may still be the right choice for some teams, but the tradeoff should be understood up front.

Does m-Power lock customers in?

m-Power generates standard application code that runs on customer-controlled infrastructure, reads and writes to customer-owned databases, and continues to function if maintenance lapses. The license is a one-time fee. The applications a customer builds are not tied to mrc's continued operation. By the criteria above, m-Power is built specifically to avoid the lock-in patterns common in low-code SaaS.

What is cloud repatriation?

Cloud repatriation means moving workloads, applications, or data from public cloud infrastructure back to on-premise servers or private cloud environments. The main drivers: cost optimization, data sovereignty requirements, and the need for greater control over infrastructure and security.

How much can companies save by moving workloads back on-premise?

Savings vary by workload type and scale, but reported figures are significant. 37signals projects over $10 million in savings over five years after leaving AWS. Broadcom saved over $10 million by moving critical database workloads off public cloud. GEICO, facing over $300 million in annual cloud spend, has cut compute costs by 50% per core through its repatriation to Open Compute Project hardware.

Is cloud repatriation the same as abandoning the cloud?

No. Cloud repatriation is about strategic workload placement, not abandoning cloud entirely. Most organizations pursuing repatriation are moving to a hybrid cloud model where steady-state, data-intensive, and regulated workloads run on-premise while burst, elastic, and globally distributed workloads remain in the cloud.

How does cloud repatriation affect AI deployment?

AI is accelerating cloud repatriation because many organizations want to run AI models over proprietary data without that data leaving their security perimeter. On-premise AI delivers both better data governance and, according to Deloitte, 50% or more cost savings over three years once token volume reaches a certain threshold.

What development platforms give you deployment flexibility?

Most modern low-code platforms are cloud-only SaaS products, which means every application you build on them is locked to the vendor's cloud. m-Power, built by mrc, runs on-premise, in your cloud, or both, directly over your existing databases. You own it outright with a perpetual license and no per-user fees, so the deployment decision stays with you as requirements change.

What is the difference between SaaS and a perpetual license?

SaaS is a recurring subscription for access to software the vendor hosts. You pay monthly or annually. A perpetual license is a one-time purchase. You own it. With SaaS, you lose access when you stop paying. With a perpetual license, the software stays yours.

Why are SaaS prices increasing so fast?

SaaS pricing rose 11.4% in 2025, roughly four times the rate of general inflation. 73% of SaaS companies raised prices that year. Vendors push these increases through because switching costs are high, especially for platforms where customers have built workflows, integrations, and business processes. Many vendors also bundle AI features to justify premium pricing.

Is a perpetual license cheaper than SaaS long-term?

For development platforms and tools you plan to use for years, a perpetual license is significantly cheaper.

m-Power is a low-code development platform built by mrc. It installs on your infrastructure, connects to your existing databases, and lets your team build web applications, AI tools, reports, dashboards, and portals. mrc has been helping businesses build custom applications since 1981, with over 1,500 customers.

How does low-code platform pricing typically work?

Most low-code platforms charge per-user, per-month, with costs that scale as your team grows. Some add per-app or per-workflow charges. m-Power uses a one-time perpetual license with no user, app, or data limits, making total cost predictable from day one.

Can you avoid vendor lock-in with a low-code platform?

Yes, but it depends on the platform. Look for: code you own and can run independently, deployment on your own infrastructure, direct connection to your existing databases without migration, and no per-user pricing that penalizes growth. m-Power is built so your applications and data remain yours regardless of your relationship with the vendor.

Does building applications over my ERP database create security risks?

No, if done correctly. m-Power provides granular security controls including user authentication (integrates with Active Directory, OAuth, SAML), role-based access, and row-level data permissions. You control exactly who can read and write, and to which data, often with more precision than what your ERP offers natively.

Will this approach break my ERP or affect upgrades?

No. Because applications built this way only interact with the ERP's database and never modify ERP code, your upgrade path stays completely clean. This is the core advantage over traditional ERP customization, which does alter the code and creates upgrade risk.

Can my existing IT team do this, or do we need developers?

m-Power is designed for existing IT teams, not specialized developers. mrc, the company behind m-Power, has helped over 1,500 customers since 1981 build custom applications with their current staff. And if your team needs help, mrc's services team can assist with or fully execute projects. 96% of first-time services clients become repeat customers.

Which ERP systems does this work with?

m-Power works with any ERP system that uses a standard database (JDBC-compatible). This includes IBM i/AS400-based ERPs, SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and others. Customers use m-Power to extend ERP systems including BPCS, SAP, Retalix, Friedman Frontier, and many more.

How long does it take to build applications over my ERP?

It depends on complexity, but development is faster, often by an order of magnitude. Daiwa Sports built their first order-entry solution in two weeks. ComPair Data reports building applications in hours instead of weeks. The template-driven build process means most applications follow the same steps regardless of complexity.

How much does PowerApps cost per user in 2026?

PowerApps Premium costs $20 per user per month ($240/year). Organizations with 2,000+ users can negotiate volume pricing at $12 per user per month. The pay-as-you-go option runs $10 per active user per app per month through Azure. That doesn't include Power Automate flows, premium connectors, AI Builder credits, or Dataverse storage, all of which cost extra.

Is the PowerApps per-app plan retired?

For new customers, yes. Microsoft ended new sales of the PowerApps per-app plan on January 2, 2026, removing the $5 per user per app per month SKU from the licensing guide with no prior announcement. Existing Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) customers can still renew their per-app licenses. Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA) customers can use it until their agreement expires, then have 60 days to migrate. New customers must choose PowerApps Premium ($20/user/month) or pay-as-you-go ($10/active user/app/month), which represents a 100-300% higher starting cost compared to the per-app plan.

What is the cheapest PowerApps alternative?

Most PowerApps alternatives use per-user SaaS pricing, ranging from $8 to $50+ per user per month. The cheapest long-term alternative is a perpetual license platform like m-Power, a low-code development platform built by mrc, which charges a one-time fee with no per-user costs and unlimited users. At scale, m-Power costs significantly less than any per-user platform over a 3-5 year period.

Is there a low-code platform with no per-user fees?

Yes. m-Power by mrc offers a one-time perpetual license with unlimited users, unlimited applications, and no recurring per-user costs. m-Power runs directly over existing databases (DB2, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL) and can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud. mrc has served over 1,500 customers since 1981.

Can I replace PowerApps with an on-premise solution?

Yes. While PowerApps is primarily cloud-based with limited on-premise options, platforms like m-Power let you deploy fully on-premise within your own infrastructure. This gives IT complete control over data, security, and compliance. m-Power connects directly to your existing on-premise databases without requiring data migration to a cloud service like Dataverse.

Shadow AI refers to the use of AI tools by employees without IT approval or oversight. This includes consumer AI platforms like ChatGPT, unsanctioned AI coding assistants, and AI-built applications that were never reviewed, secured, or documented by IT.

How is shadow AI different from shadow IT?

Shadow IT was typically one unauthorized tool or subscription. Shadow AI produces output: AI-generated code, applications, automations, and workflows. IT teams don't just inherit an unauthorized tool — they inherit artifacts that are running somewhere, touching company data, with no documentation or defined owner.

Why won't stricter policies stop shadow AI?

According to Gartner, shadow AI is the number one indicator of unmet business needs. Employees aren't using unauthorized tools because they're careless — they're using them because the approved path is too slow. If IT takes six weeks to deliver what an AI tool can produce in an afternoon, policy alone won't change the math. Block one tool and employees find another.

What risks does shadow AI create for IT teams?

Shadow AI creates two main categories of risk. First, data exposure: 60% of organizations have already experienced a data exposure event from employees using public AI tools, according to Cisco. Second, maintenance burden: AI-generated applications often have no security model, no documentation, and no defined IT owner. When something breaks or an audit asks questions, IT inherits the problem.

How can IT teams get ahead of shadow AI?

The most effective approach is making the governed path faster than the workaround. When IT can deliver AI tools connected to your existing data — running inside your environment, under your security model — fast enough to satisfy business demand, shadow AI stops being the default option.

What is an AI workflow?

An AI workflow is a business process that includes AI at one or more steps. The AI analyzes data, makes decisions, or triggers actions as part of the larger process.

What is a data-driven AI workflow?

A data-driven AI workflow runs over your existing business data. The AI reads from your systems and reacts to what it finds. The workflow writes results back to your systems.

How is AI changing workflow automation?

Traditional automation follows pre-defined rules. AI brings intelligence to workflows by interpreting text, detecting tone, classifying content, making judgment calls, and providing suggestions based on policies.

What types of workflows are good candidates for AI?

Workflows involving analysis, content generation, interpretation, and decision making. Examples include support ticket routing, document classification, lead scoring, invoice processing, and anomaly detection.

How can I create an AI workflow over my data?

You need a platform that works over your data and lets you design workflows visually. With m-Power, you connect to your existing data, create AI Assistants and Agents over select parts of your data, and add them to your workflows.

What are internal tools?

Internal tools are custom-built software applications created specifically for internal use by a company’s teams, designed to automate processes, streamline workflows, integrate systems, or improve productivity.

Why use low-code platforms for building internal tools?

Low-code platforms significantly speed up development, require fewer technical resources, facilitate easy integration with existing systems, and offer flexibility and security without the need for extensive coding.

Sal Stangarone – mrc's Cup of Joe Blog

The 10 Best PowerApps Alternatives in 2026, Compared

By Sal Stangarone / citizen development, Low-code, low-code comparison, on-premise low-code, perpetual license, PowerApps, PowerApps alternatives

10 PowerApps alternatives compared on licensing, hosting, customization, and cost

I’ve spoken with quite a few IT teams that started with PowerApps. It was a good move at the time. They were already paying for Microsoft 365, and the first app went well. It’s easy and cheap enough to get started if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

While everything usually starts out fine, the problems shows up later on down the road. Based on the conversations I’ve had, businesses look for a PowerApps alternative for a few reasons:

Why teams look for a PowerApps alternative

1. The per-user bill climbs. PowerApps is priced per user, per month. That looks reasonable for a pilot. Then the app succeeds, more people need access, premium connectors get added, and the recurring cost grows. The tool you adopted to save money becomes more and more expensive.

2. You hit a customization ceiling. PowerApps handles common scenarios well. The trouble starts when you need to do something custom, or something that wasn’t built into the platform. Teams routinely find that the exact workflow, layout, or logic they need isn’t possible within the platform, and they end up bolting on fragile workarounds to cover the gap.

3. Microsoft lock-in. PowerApps is designed to keep you in the Microsoft ecosystem. That is convenient until you want to leave, at which point the apps, the data in Dataverse, and the connectors do not come with you easily.

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The 10 Best PowerApps Alternatives in 2026, ComparedRead More »

How to Chat With Your Database Using AI Data Analytics

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics

Data Analytics with m-Power AI Studio: a user asks for top 10 states by sales and gets a chart from the database

How many report requests are sitting in your queue right now? Maybe Sales wants last quarter’s numbers broken out by state, with a chart for Thursday’s meeting. Or, maybe Operations needs a list of every order that shipped late last week, and why. Each one might be an hour of work, but the problem is that there are forty more behind them.

Meanwhile, your users have discovered AI. Some are asking why they can’t chat with company data the way they chat with ChatGPT. A few, whether you know it or not, are already exporting data and pasting it in.

Both problems have the same fix: Let people ask the database directly (securely, of course).

That’s one thing that m-Power’s AI data analytics assistant aims to solve. It lets business users chat with your data and get back real numbers, analysis, and charts. The AI never connects to your database directly. IT decides which fields it can see, whether or not the query should be read-only, and you pick the LLM.

We just published a tutorial video aimed at showing customers how it works. Here’s the full walkthrough:

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How to Chat With Your Database Using AI Data AnalyticsRead More »

AI for Small IT Teams: How to Give People AI Without Losing Control of Your Data

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence, Shadow AI

If you run an IT department, you already have an AI problem. Your people are pasting company data into ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini right now, on accounts you don’t manage (and you can’t see what they’re sending).

What can you do about it? Your goal should be to make the safe path the easiest path. As I’ll explain in this article, you can do that in three steps:

See what’s already being used
Set a few rules a small team can actually enforce
Give people a sanctioned option that’s better than the risky one

This guide walks through all three, and it’s written for the small IT teams that may not have a security department or a bunch of extra money to throw at the problem. If you have two people covering support, infrastructure, and now “the AI strategy,” this is for you.

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What to Look For in a Db2 Web Query Replacement

By Sal Stangarone / Web Query, web reporting

Support for Db2 Web Query was pulled a few years ago, and many companies migrated away immediately. But, at COMMON PowerUP26 this spring, we were surprised by a couple of things:

First, we were surprised at the amount of people who said they were still running Web Query. They’re running without support until they’re forced to migrate.

Second, was the amount of people who tried to migrate and found it harder than they expected. There is a reason some migrations stall, and it’s worth understanding before you look for a Db2 Web Query replacement.

The big reason: Nothing is a true one-to-one swap for Web Query.

Whatever tool you pick, it will not reproduce your reports on its own. You’ll likely need to re-create those reports, and sooner or later you will hit something that the new tool does not handle out of the box.

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The Low-Code Vendor Lock-In Test: Five Questions Before You Sign

By Sal Stangarone / Low-code

One of the most common myths I’ve heard about low-code vendor lock-in is that it’s unavoidable. Pick any platform, the thinking goes, and you’ll be locked in within three years. That’s just part of the deal.

The only problem with that assumption: It’s wrong.

Of course, lock-in is real and exists across many low-code platforms. But it isn’t built into low-code as a category. It’s built into how a specific platform is architected. Some platforms create it. Others don’t. The trouble is that the difference is hard to see during a demo, when every vendor sounds open.

The bigger problem is, a vendor may not define “lock-in” the same way you do. The contractual definition (no clause prevents you from leaving) and the operational definition (the cost of actually leaving) are not the same thing. The architectural decisions baked into a platform are what really determine lock-in, and they are the part that doesn’t usually come up in a sales conversation.

Rather than asking about vendor lock-in, the better question is this: If you wanted to take your applications, your data, and your team and walk away, what specifically would break?

Of course, you can’t ask that question outright in a sales call. The vendor doesn’t know the answer in the abstract any more than you do. But you can answer it yourself, by working through five smaller questions. Each one tests something structural about how a low-code platform works that goes beyond what marketing and sales say about it.

Run any platform on your shortlist through these questions, and the answers will tell you exactly what leaving would cost.

The first one is the foundation. Everything else depends on the answer.

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Coming in May: Build AI Agents in Your Environment, Governed by Your Own IT Team

By Sal Stangarone / AI Agents, Artificial Intelligence

In speaking with IT leaders recently, I keep hearing the same thing. Employees are using AI, with or without IT’s blessing.

The problem: They’re using it in risky ways. For example:

They’re pasting customer lists into ChatGPT to summarize them.
They’re feeding contracts into public chatbots to analyze them.
They’re asking AI tools to review company data they exported to a spreadsheet.

Here’s the part that should worry you. Studies keep finding the same thing, including IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach report: Employees routinely ignore the AI tools their company actually paid for. Why? Because the sanctioned tools are slower, harder to get into, or don’t do what they need. So, they reach for the public ones instead.

In short, Shadow AI is becoming the default.

I talk to IT leaders who feel like they’re in an impossible spot. They’re trying to manage a workforce that’s already using AI, on tools they didn’t approve, against data they’re responsible for, in ways their auditors and privacy team can’t see. Policy memos don’t fix that.

The only thing that fixes it is giving people a sanctioned path that’s easier than the rogue one. IT needs a way to deliver sanctioned AI that’s easy for the users…without giving up control.

That’s exactly what’s coming next in m-Power.

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Coming in May: Build AI Agents in Your Environment, Governed by Your Own IT TeamRead More »

What software should NOT be SaaS?

By Sal Stangarone / software licenses

What types of business software should NOT be used on a SaaS model?

That’s something I’ve been thinking about lately as I read more and more cases of rising SaaS costs. The fact is, most businesses are paying more for their SaaS tools than they were last year. Same tools and users, just a bigger bill.

73% of SaaS companies raised prices in 2025, averaging 14.2% increases. SaaS inflation is running at roughly five times the general rate. CIOs now spend about 9% of their IT budget just absorbing price hikes on software they already have. According to Zylo’s 2025 SaaS Management Index, SaaS spending per employee hit $4,830 last year, up 21.9% from the year before.

For mid-market companies, per-employee spend jumped 40%. Gartner estimates 25% of all SaaS spend is wasted or underutilized. And 78% of CFOs say they’ve been blindsided by hidden fees or price hikes baked into their contracts.

The vendors aren’t subtle about this anymore. A few examples from the last two years:

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What software should NOT be SaaS?Read More »

How to Build Custom Apps Over Your ERP (Without Changing It)

By Sal Stangarone / ERP Systems

Let me ask you a question: Does your ERP system actually fit your business?

Does it match the way your people work and/or how your business operates day to day? Probably not…and you’re not alone. I talk to IT leaders all the time who tell me the same thing. Their ERP handles the core stuff fine. Beyond that? There are gaps.

Watch the full walkthrough: In this 20-minute video, we build a purchase order form, and approval workflow, all over ERP data (without touching the ERP).

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How to Build Custom Apps Over Your ERP (Without Changing It)Read More »

A PowerApps Alternative That Lets You Own the Platform (No Per-User Fees)

By Sal Stangarone / Low-code

If you’re evaluating PowerApps for the first time in 2026, the pricing just changed.

I know…SaaS pricing changes all the time. So what? The business world has gotten used to it.

But here’s the thing. When you’re dealing with a low-code platform that creates and runs your business applications, it’s different. Your business often relies on the applications that it’s created. A pricing change can have major implications for everything you’ve built and everyone who depends on it.

I want to dig into this idea, using PowerApps’ recent change as an example. Is SaaS really the best approach for low-code?

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A PowerApps Alternative That Lets You Own the Platform (No Per-User Fees)Read More »

Shadow AI Is the New Shadow IT (and Better Policies Won’t Stop It)

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence

Something is happening in your organization right now that you probably don’t have full visibility into.

It’s happening in organizations across the globe.

Business analysts are building reporting dashboards with AI tools, connected to live company data, with no IT involvement.

Finance staff are pasting budget projections into consumer AI platforms to run analysis faster than waiting on a request.

HR employees are running sensitive policy documents through a chatbot to get quick summaries.

Staff in operations are building workflow automations using free AI builders they found online.

None of it went through IT.

That’s shadow AI. And the reason it matters isn’t just that data is leaving your environment…though it is. It’s that this behavior is accelerating faster than any governance policy can catch up with.

Eventually, everything these people built becomes your problem to secure, maintain, and explain to auditors.

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Shadow AI Is the New Shadow IT (and Better Policies Won’t Stop It)Read More »

How to Build AI Workflows Over Your Data

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence, Workflow

Some things don’t really “click” until you see them in action. You hear people talking about some new technology, trend, or tool. But you don’t really “get it” until you see it.

That’s how data-driven AI workflows were for me.

I’d heard the AI hype. Then I saw an AI assistant working over live business data. My wheels started spinning. It opened up so many possibilities.

Then I saw that AI assistant added to a workflow. Data was passed to the assistant, which then made a decision…and led to another workflow step, which could then lead to another assistant and so on.

That’s when it really clicked. You can do anything with this.

In this article, I’ll explain more about AI workflows and why they’re so important to businesses. What are they? How do they work? Why should you care?

Also, we’ve included a video that walks through the whole process of creating an AI workflow from start to finish. After all, some things don’t really “click” until you see them in action.

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How to Build AI Workflows Over Your DataRead More »

m-Power’s AI Update: Bring AI to Your Data, Applications, and Workflows

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence

Over the last year or so, we’ve focused on one big goal: Bring AI to your business data, applications, and workflows…on your terms.

We’ve just released a new m-Power update that makes this goal a reality. m-Power now lets you build:

AI Assistants that understand your data and your rules
AI Workflows that automate multi-step processes
AI-powered Chatbots that live inside your applications and provide assistance using live data and company documents
AI Content Retrievers that turn documents and knowledge bases into live, searchable AI knowledge
AI Tool Functions that connect AI directly to your applications and live business data
AI Agents that can coordinate tasks, call tools, and move work forward within your rules

All of this runs over the systems you already use, with IT in control of data access, security, and deployment.

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m-Power’s AI Update: Bring AI to Your Data, Applications, and WorkflowsRead More »

Coming soon: AI that understands your business

By Sal Stangarone / Artificial Intelligence

Can you believe that ChatGPT isn’t even 3 years old?

Yet, AI is everywhere now. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, AI adoption exploded. It’s in everything now, from physical products to business software.

We’ve been following AI’s evolution closely, asking two questions on repeat: How do we bring AI to your business data, applications, and workflow? How do we make it useful in your environment, under your rules?

Over the last few years, we’ve noticed something. Many of the “AI features” added to business software stop at a chat interface. Sure, it’s handy for quick answers. Less helpful when you need to advance a workflow, act on a record, respect role based security, or perform tasks autonomously.

You need AI that understands your data, calls the right systems, and fits the way your team already builds.

That is the bar we set. Bring AI to the business. Plug it into your applications and workflows. Keep IT in control. Deliver value on day one.

The good news: It’s almost here.

Coming soon to m-Power.

Stay tuned.

MS Access Modernization: Why (and How) to Move to the Web

By Sal Stangarone / Access

Last Updated: July 8, 2026

Key takeaways from this article

What is MS Access database modernization?
Access database modernization means moving data out of file-based Access databases (.mdb/.accdb) into a server database like SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or MySQL, then rebuilding the forms, queries, and reports as web applications. The result: Multi-user performance, browser and mobile access, and centralized security.
Is Microsoft Access still supported?
Microsoft ended support for Access 2016 and Access 2019 on October 14, 2025. Those versions no longer receive security patches or fixes. Newer versions remain supported, but share the same file-based architecture and limits.
What’s wrong with MS Access?
There’s nothing inherently wrong when it’s used as intended. The real issue is that simple Access apps can quietly balloon into complex, mission-critical systems that Access wasn’t built to support.
When should you not use Access?
MS Access falters in multi-user environments, in projects that require integration, apps that require mobile access, or once your database grows past its 2 GB limit.
Can we just build web apps directly over our Access database?
Not reliably. Access has no native web deployment and its file-based engine isn’t designed for web concurrency. While you can connect a web server to an Access file for very light scenarios, it’s fragile and doesn’t scale. For web apps, you need to move the data to a server database (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL).
How can you migrate Access to the web?
As demonstrated in the below video, moving Access data to a relational database and building web applications over it is pretty straightforward with the right tools.

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MS Access Modernization: Why (and How) to Move to the WebRead More »

Choosing a Web Query Alternative: One Consultant’s Methodical Approach

By Sal Stangarone / Web Query, web reporting

When IBM announced the end of Db2 Web Query for i, it caught many businesses off guard. Web Query was the go-to reporting tool for IBM i shops. Suddenly, those companies were left asking the same question: Now what?

Rick Flagler, an experienced IBM i consultant, heard that question from his clients almost immediately. They depended on Web Query for reporting and needed a reliable replacement that wouldn’t compromise functionality.

Rick approached the challenge with the precision you’d expect from a seasoned consultant. First, he created a “shopping list” of features that a Web Query replacement should include. He then dove into the landscape of BI tools built for IBM i, narrowing the field to those that ran natively and aligned with his clients’ needs.

From there, Rick didn’t rely on vendor claims or promises…he put each option to the test. He reviewed report designs, requested proof-of-concept demos, and evaluated each product’s ability to meet his criteria.

While I’m happy to say that his search led to m-Power, I’m just scratching the surface here. Rick wrote an article on the whole process, and goes into more details on his approach and criteria. You can read it here: “Life After IBM Db2 Web Query for i: Finding an Alternative.”

If you’re looking for a Web Query replacement, this article is well worth the read. It provides great insight into a thoughtful software evaluation process, what to look for in a BI replacement, and how an experienced consultant approaches this task.

To learn more about m-Power and how it can replace Db2 Web Query, check out this page: IBM Db2 Web Query Replacement

Internal Tools: How to Build Apps That Streamline Your Business

By Sal Stangarone / Application Development, Internal Tools, Low-code

Imagine being stuck in an endless email chain…just to get a simple approval. Or worse, imagine wasting hours pulling data from disconnected spreadsheets only to realize it’s already outdated.

The fact is, most internal processes are a mess.

Teams jump between tools. Spreadsheets do things they were never meant to do. Manual workarounds become the standard. Everyone knows it’s inefficient, but…no one knows how to fix it. Or, they’re just used to it.

That’s where internal tools come in.

Internal tools are custom apps built to solve problems inside your business. They help your team work faster, cut out repetitive tasks, and replace duct-taped processes with real solutions.

Better yet, they fit into your own infrastructure and unique business processes. When done right, these custom internal tools are invisible. They just work. They streamline processes and never get in the way.

The best part? Creating internal tools isn’t that hard. You don’t need a huge development team or a massive budget. With the right plan (and the right tools), anyone can build internal tools that make a real difference.

In this article, I’ll walk through how to do it. You’ll learn what works, what to avoid, and how to make internal tools a real advantage for your business.

Sound good? Let’s get into it.

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Internal Tools: How to Build Apps That Streamline Your BusinessRead More »

How to Build a Web-Based Dashboard (+ Video Guide)

By Sal Stangarone / Business Dashboards, Dashboards

Dashboards should make your life easier. Many don’t.

What happens? Some try to show everything at once…without really showing anything useful. Others take months to build and still don’t have the right data. Yet, making a change might take weeks. I could go on.

The good news? Dashboards have come a long way. They’re accessible from anywhere. They update in real time. And with the right tools, you can build one in a day—not a quarter.

In this article, you’ll learn how to build web-based dashboards in minutes that actually help people do their jobs. We’ll cover different types—like KPI dashboards, executive dashboards, and other business dashboards your different teams might use. You’ll learn some best practices, mistakes to avoid, and the best approach to development.

Sounds good? Let’s get started.

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How to Build a Web-Based Dashboard (+ Video Guide)Read More »

How to create a custom, web-based scheduling calendar in 12 minutes

By Sal Stangarone / calendar, scheduling

Let’s be honest: There’s no shortage of web-based calendar tools these days. You’ll find dozens of off-the-shelf scheduling calendars that you can set up and deploy in your business.

The problem is, they’re all generic and every business is different. While these off-the-shelf scheduling applications might fit most of your needs, they won’t provide a perfect fit. They might do some things very well but lack key features in other areas.

But, what if you could create a custom scheduling application…faster than it takes to deploy a generic solution? What if you could create a data-driven, web-based calendar that was 100% tailored to your business…in a little over 10 minutes? It’s possible, and we’ve created a video to show you how it’s done.

Want to try it for yourself? Set up an m-Power Test Drive.

What is a CRUD Application (And How Do You Build One)?

By Sal Stangarone / Application Development, CRUD, Web Development

Let’s talk about the unsung hero of business web applications: The CRUD application. They’re everywhere, whether you realize it or not. Your customer database? It’s a CRUD app. Your company’s inventory system? Also a CRUD app. Even when you’re posting updates on LinkedIn – you guessed it – you’re using CRUD apps.

But what exactly makes these applications “CRUD,” and why should you care? In this article, we’ll cut through the technical jargon and explore:

What makes an application “CRUD”
Real-world examples
Important tips for building them (the right way)
How to build CRUD apps quickly

Whether you aim to replace that aging system or build new applications, mastering CRUD apps allows you to understand your development project better and ultimately make more informed decisions about them.

Sounds good? Let’s dive in.

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What is a CRUD Application (And How Do You Build One)?Read More »

Author name: Sal Stangarone

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