SOLUTIONS

Business Justification

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Executive Summary

SYSB-II is a mainframe software solution developed by H&W Computer Systems that allows batch processing to be run any time while applications are available for users to get current batch data on demand.

SYSB-II Solutions to Batch Processing Challenges

Organizations often encounter significant batch processing issues such as CICS application downtime, manual file management, and limited access to up-to-date information for online users. These challenges can disrupt business operations, reduce customer satisfaction, and increase operational costs.

SYSB-II offers a comprehensive solution to these problems.

Key Challenge
SYSB-II Solution
Result

CICS Application Downtime

Organizations often need to shut down CICS applications for VSAM batch processing, which leads to reduced availability and dissatisfied customers

Continuous Availability

Allows batch processes to update CICS VSAM files while CICS applications are running

Helps ensure uninterrupted service

CICS applications are not always available because they must be shut down for batch processing.
Shutting down CICS applications for batch processing results in downtime, which disrupts business operations and negatively impacts customer satisfaction.
SYSB-II allows batch processes to update CICS VSAM files without shutting down CICS applications to ensure continuous availability and reduce downtime.
Prolonged data set locks (Sync Point)

Long-running jobs often require sync points to reduce the locking of files for data consistency and integrity.

Without proper sync points, data corruption and job failures can occur. Implementing sync points manually can be complex and error-prone.

SYSB-II enables sync points for long-running jobs without updating batch programs, which reduces record-locking constraints.

Business Justification

Solving problems with CICS application downtime, manual file management, and limited access to up-to-date information with SYSB-II can improve overall business performance in many ways.

  1. Improved Operational Efficiency

    • Reduced Downtime: Eliminating the need to shut down CICS applications for batch processing ensures continuous availability of critical applications.

      This minimizes disruptions and allows businesses to optimize resources and improve productivity.

    • Automated Processes: Automating the closing and opening of files within batch processes reduces manual intervention, which saves time and processing power.

      This streamlines operations, reduces the risk of human errors, and leads to more efficient workflows.

  2. Enhanced Data Availability

    • Real-Time Updates: Allowing batch jobs to run any time enables immediate updates to online users.

      This ensures that users have access to the most current data to improve decision-making and customer experience.

    • Concurrent Access: Allowing concurrent access to VSAM files by CICS and batch processes ensures that both online and batch jobs can access and update data simultaneously.

      This enhances data availability and reliability.

  3. Increased Customer Satisfaction

    • Continuous Service: Keeping CICS applications available 24/7 ensures that customers can access services without interruptions.

      This improves customer satisfaction and loyalty.

    • Up-to-Date Information: Providing online users with access to the most current data enhances their experience and allows them to make informed decisions.

      This can lead to better customer engagement and retention.

  4. Cost Savings

    • Reduced Operational Costs: Automating manual processes and reducing downtime can lead to significant cost savings.

      Businesses can optimize resource usage and reduce the need for manual interventions and lower operational costs.

    • Improved Efficiency: Load-level overnight batch across the whole day. Flattening CPU spikes keeps the 4-hour-rolling-average (4HRA) below the old peak, directly lowering monthly license charges.

      By cutting the critical-path batch window (often in half) you reclaim night-time head-room and postpone adding z CPs.

  5. Competitive Advantage

    • Enhanced Performance: Improving the availability of batch data and ensuring continuous availability of CICS applications helps businesses stay competitive.

      Organizations can provide better services and respond more quickly to market demands.

    • Innovation: Implementing SYSB-II allows businesses to leverage advanced technology to optimize their mainframe operations.

      This can drive innovation and help organizations stay ahead of the competition.

  6. Improved Reliability and Recovery

    • Journal Recovery: Using SYSB-II's journal recovery feature ensures quick recovery from job failures to maintain data consistency and reliability.

      This minimizes downtime and enhances system performance.

    • Sync point: Enabling sync points for long-running jobs without updating batch programs reduces record-locking constraints and ensures data integrity.

      This improves overall system reliability.

Case Studies

Several organizations have successfully implemented SYSB-II and experienced significant improvements in operational efficiency and data availability. These case studies highlight the impact of SYSB-II on business operations and customer satisfaction.

Broadridge Financial Solutions

Problem: Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global provider of technology solutions to the financial services industry, faced increased transaction volume due to its growing proxy voting service. This demand required increased availability of business-critical applications.

Use of SYSB-II: Broadridge implemented SYSB-II to allow CICS and batch processes to update the same VSAM files simultaneously.

Solution Produced: SYSB-II enabled Broadridge to maintain continuous availability of its CICS applications while processing batch updates, ensuring that both online and batch processes could access and update the same data concurrently.

Outcome: Broadridge successfully increased the availability of its business-critical applications to meet the growing demand and improve overall operational efficiency.

TIAA

Problem: TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services company, needed to offer concurrent access to data by both CICS and batch programs to manage transaction volume and shorten the nightly batch window.

Use of SYSB-II: TIAA incorporated SYSB-II to manage transaction volume, shorten the nightly batch window, and automate recovery from abends.

Solution Produced: SYSB-II allowed TIAA to run batch processes concurrently with CICS applications, reducing the batch window and ensuring continuous data availability. The journal recovery feature of SYSB-II also automated recovery from job failures.

Outcome: TIAA achieved its business goals by managing transaction volume more effectively, reducing the nightly batch window, and improving overall system reliability and efficiency.

Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada

Problem: Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada wanted to provide continuous availability from web applications to data stored on the mainframe to stay ahead of the competition.

Use of SYSB-II: Standard Life employed SYSB-II to achieve continuous availability and improve performance of batch programs.

Solution Produced: SYSB-II enabled Standard Life to keep CICS applications available 24/7 while processing batch updates. The software also improved batch program performance and reduced costs by optimizing resource usage.

Outcome: Standard Life provided continuous availability to its customers, improved batch processing performance, and reduced operational costs, enhancing its competitive edge in the financial services industry.