The Latest Alternative to IBM i Db2 Web Query

For years, IBM i Power users have relied on Db2 Web Query to meet their reporting and analytics needs. From operational dashboards to compliance-driven reports, this tool has been a cornerstone for businesses running on IBM i. But with IBM’s decision to sunset support for Db2 Web Query back in 2023, many organizations have been facing a looming challenge ever since: how to replace this essential tool without disrupting their operations or increasing risk.

In this blog, we’ll explore the implications of IBM i Db2 Web Query’s sunset, the risks of unsupported software, and how Fresche’s new connector for Microsoft Fabric offers a modern, seamless alternative to future-proof your analytics.

Why Organizations are Replacing Db2 Web Query on IBM i

Reporting and analytics are the lifeblood of any organization. They empower decision-makers with actionable insights, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and drive operational efficiency. For IBM i Power users, Db2 Web Query has long been the go-to tool for transforming raw data into meaningful reports.

However, as technology evolves, so do the expectations for analytics. Businesses now demand real-time insights, advanced visualizations, and seamless integration with modern platforms. The sunset of Db2 Web Query presents an opportunity to modernize and meet these growing demands—but only if the right replacement is chosen.

The Risks of Staying on Unsupported IBM i Db2 Web Query

When a critical tool like Db2 Web Query loses support, the risks to your business are significant, especially for industries like manufacturing, distribution, finance, and healthcare, where compliance and reporting are non-negotiable. Unsupported software can lead to:

Security Vulnerabilities: Without updates or patches, your system becomes an easy target for cyber threats.
Compliance Issues: Regulated industries require reliable, supported tools to meet reporting standards. Unsupported software can jeopardize compliance and lead to costly penalties.
Operational Disruptions: As Db2 Web Query becomes outdated, errors and inefficiencies can creep into your reporting processes, impacting decision-making and productivity.
Increased Costs: Maintaining unsupported software often requires expensive workarounds or custom solutions, draining resources that could be better spent on modernization.

For IBM i Power users, the stakes are high. The question is: how do you move forward?

Your IBM i Db2 Web Query Alternatives

When faced with finding alternatives to Db2 Web Query, organizations typically consider two paths:

Option 1. Build a Custom Solution

One approach is to extract your IBM i data yourself and load it into another analytics platform. While this might sound appealing in theory, the reality is far more complex. Here’s why:

Requires Specialized Expertise: Extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) data from IBM i systems into another platform is no small feat. It demands a team with deep knowledge of IBM i, data integration, and modern analytics platforms.
Time-Consuming: Building a custom solution from scratch can take months—or even years—of development and testing.
High Costs: Between hiring skilled staff, purchasing middleware, and ongoing maintenance, the costs of a custom solution can quickly spiral out of control.
Risk of Errors: Without the right expertise, you risk introducing errors or inefficiencies into your data pipeline, which can compromise the accuracy of your analytics.

If your organization had the resources and expertise to build this kind of solution, you’d likely already have done it. For most mid-market enterprises, this option is simply too costly, time-consuming, and risky.

Option 2. Adopt a Modern Alternative

The smarter, more efficient path is to use a connector that bridges the gap between your IBM i data and a modern analytics platform like Microsoft Fabric. A connector eliminates the need for complex ETL processes, allowing you to focus on what matters most: gaining insights from your data.

However, not all connectors are created equal.  Some solutions, like Fortra’s SEQUEL or IBM Cognos Analytics, offer robust features but come with steep learning curves, higher costs, or complex implementations. Others, like LANSA BI or ibi webFOCUS, may lack the modern user experience or scalability that today’s businesses demand.

This is where our IBM i Db2 Connector for Microsoft Fabric stands apart. Combining simplicity, speed, and scalability with the power of Microsoft Fabric, here’s why it’s the ideal choice:

Introducing Fresche’s IBM i Db2 Connector for Microsoft Fabric

Our IBM i Db2 Analytics Accelerator is purpose-built for mid-market enterprises that need a modern, scalable analytics alternative to IBM i Db2 Web Query without the complexity or cost of a full enterprise BI suite. Here’s what makes it the ideal choice:

Seamless Integration
Unlike other solutions that require middleware or custom development, Fresche’s connector provides a direct connection between your IBM i Db2 databases and Microsoft Fabric. This eliminates the complexities typically involved in establishing such integrations, saving you time and effort.
Prebuilt Lakehouse and Power BI Reports
Fresche’s connector comes with nearly 100 customizable report templates and preconfigured data models, covering essential business areas like finance, operations, and sales. This drastically reduces the time and effort required to create analytics from scratch—something other solutions often lack.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
With integrated NLP capabilities, Fresche’s connector allows users to interact with their data using plain language queries. This makes analytics accessible to users of all technical levels, a feature that many alternative solutions don’t offer.
Advanced Dashboards and Analytics
Built on Microsoft Fabric, Fresche’s connector provides advanced dashboards and predictive analytics capabilities. It’s designed to handle large volumes of data while maintaining high performance, making it ideal for organizations anticipating future growth.
Comprehensive Data Integration
Fresche’s connector enables you to consolidate IBM i transactional data with other cloud and on-premises systems, offering a unified view of your enterprise data. This level of integration ensures that your analytics are both comprehensive and actionable.
Cost-Effective Licensing
With transparent pricing models that align with your budget, Fresche’s connector eliminates the need for upfront commitments or long-term contracts. This flexibility ensures you can adapt to changing circumstances without being tied to fixed costs.

The chart below helps illustrate how the Fresche Solutions’ IBM i Db2 Analytics Accelerator option compares to other Db2 Web Query alternatives currently in the market:

Fresche Solutions’ IBM i Db2 Analytics Accelerator	Db2 Web Query Alternatives
Seamless Integration with Microsoft Power BI: Facilitates direct connection between IBM i Db2 databases and Power BI, eliminating the complexities typically involved in establishing such integrations.	May require additional middleware or custom development for similar integration.
Utilization of Prebuilt Lakehouse/Power BI Reports: Reduces the time and effort required to create analytics from scratch.	Lack ready-to-use templates, necessitating extensive manual report creation.
Comprehensive Data Integration: Enables consolidation of IBM i transactional data with other cloud and on-premises systems, offering a unified view of enterprise data.	Limited cross-platform integration capabilities.
Identity Management Compatibility: Supports existing identity management systems like Entra ID, ensuring secure and efficient user authentication and access control.	May require separate identity management setups, increasing administrative overhead.
Advanced Analytics and Dashboards: Provides a preconfigured data lakehouse built on Microsoft Fabric, integrating seamlessly with ERP systems. Pre-built data models cover essential business areas customizable to fit specific business needs. Access to nearly 100 customizable report templates, enabling self-service analytics.	Lack comprehensive, ready-to-use analytics frameworks, requiring significant time and resources to develop similar capabilities.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Capabilities: Enables users to ask questions in plain language and receive immediate, data-driven responses.	Many alternative solutions do not offer integrated NLP features, limiting user-friendly data interaction.