Adorama Camera Inc., a prominent New York-based retailer, has built a reputation for serving creatives with a vast portfolio of professional photography, video, audio, and electronic equipment. Established in 1974, the company offers products from industry leaders such as Sony, Canon, Nikon, Apple, and DJI, alongside services including rentals, printing, trade-ins, and educational discounts. To support its mission - to inspire, educate, and equip creatives - Adorama relies on robust, modern digital infrastructure.

Legacy Challenges and the Drive for Modernization

Adorama’s core business applications have long operated on the IBM i and IBM® Power® platform, evolving from a System/36 to the current IBM i 7.5 on Power10 processors. These systems support key operations, including ERP, inventory management, accounting, and order management, while integrating with e-commerce websites and major third-party marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.

"Manual data transfer between IBM i and external PIM systems caused delays and data inconsistencies, creating a barrier to agility and real-time operations."

However, the company faced growing inefficiencies due to a third-party product information management (PIM) solution. This external PIM created a disconnect between product data in IBM i and Adorama’s digital channels:

• Manual data transfer between IBM i and the third-party system required dedicated staff and introduced delays.

• Limited flexibility in configuring product bundles was critical to targeted marketing.

• Data integrity issues stemming from external dependencies and multiple points of failure.

These limitations hindered Adorama’s agility and compromised the customer experience.

Strategic Response: A Custom PIM on IBM i Using Open Source Technologies

To regain operational control and remove persistent bottlenecks, Adorama initiated a comprehensive modernization project. The primary objective was to develop an internal, web-based Product Information Management (PIM) application built entirely on the IBM i platform, utilizing open-source technologies to ensure both flexibility and high performance.

Following a successful proof of concept, the project received full approval. Adorama partnered with two IBM Champions for Power - Charlie Guarino of Central Park Data Systems and Koen Decorte of CD-Invest - who provided expert guidance throughout the modernization process.

Key Technologies Used

The development leveraged several key technologies. The noxDB framework from Sitemule enabled high-performance SQL and JSON integration with RPG, ensuring efficient data handling between the front-end and IBM i systems. Python was incorporated for automation and scripting tasks within the application stack, enhancing efficiency and adaptability. Ghostscript was employed to support document and image rendering as well as file conversion, ensuring robust media handling capabilities.

Why noxDB was Critical

A particularly crucial component of the solution was the use of noxDB. This technology significantly simplified and accelerated database communication between RPG and the modern web interface. Its native capability to map JSON data structures directly to IBM i data eliminated the need for complex middleware, resulting in faster development and streamlined processes. By implementing noxDB, developers were able to rapidly create RESTful services, preserve the integrity of existing RPG business logic while introducing modern APIs, and avoid redundant data duplication or transformation layers.

"By implementing noxDB, Adorama rapidly created RESTful APIs, preserved existing RPG logic, and achieved real-time JSON communication - without middleware or code duplication"

Implementation and Business Outcomes

The new PIM solution was first deployed in smaller business units to validate performance and usability. Once proven, it was gradually scaled across the broader organization.

Benefits Realized:

• Increased Efficiency - Reduced manual processes and eliminated redundant data entry.

• Improved Accuracy - Real-time access to product data with fewer errors.

• Greater Autonomy - Business users can directly edit and update product information without external dependencies.

• Enhanced Customer Experience - Faster updates and better product bundling improve site relevance and personalization.

Future Vision: AI and Further Optimization

Building on the success of the modernization project, Adorama is now collaborating with Guarino and Decorte to integrate artificial intelligence. The next phase aims to automate repetitive tasks, refine sales channel strategies, and optimize marketing campaigns, keeping the company’s focus firmly on empowering creatives.

Conclusion

Adorama’s transformation illustrates the power of open source on IBM i. By leveraging tools like noxDB and engaging expert partners, the company not only preserved its investment in proven infrastructure but also unlocked new agility, efficiency, and control. This case highlights the viability of open-source solutions like noxDB in revitalizing legacy systems and paving the way for ongoing innovation.

Product Highlight

noxDB from Sitemule enables modern RPG applications to handle JSON and REST interfaces natively on IBM i, bridging the gap between traditional business logic and modern application requirements. It’s ideal for enterprises seeking to modernize without compromising the performance and reliability of IBM i.