What is COBOL modernization?

This is a podcast episode titled, What is COBOL modernization?. The summary for this episode is: <p>This episode of <em>Techsplainers </em>explores COBOL modernization strategies for organizations managing critical legacy systems written in this 60-year-old programming language. We examine why COBOL remains vital today—processing 95% of ATM transactions and 90% of global financial transactions—while highlighting the pressing challenges of maintaining these systems amid a growing skills gap, integration difficulties, and scalability concerns. The discussion covers various modernization approaches, from less disruptive strategies like rehosting and refactoring to more transformative methods like rearchitecting and replacement. We share key best practices for successful modernization, including thorough application documentation, business-value prioritization, preservation of essential business logic, and incremental implementation. The episode emphasizes that effective COBOL modernization isn't about wholesale replacement but thoughtful evolution that preserves decades of refined business logic while enabling future innovation. </p><p><br></p><p>Find more information at https://www.ibm.biz/techsplainers-podcast</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Narrated by Erika Russi</strong></p>