IBA Group Presents AI-Driven Mainframe Solutions at GSE 2026
From May 11 to May 13, IBA Group participated in the GSE Conference 2026, a European event where mainframe experts share insights and discuss practical solutions to today’s IT challenges.
This year’s program comprised a three-day agenda with parallel working group sessions, including the newly established European AI Working Group.
At the event, IBA Group presented its approach to AI-driven legacy application transformation and shared practical experience of modernizing mainframe environments. Throughout the conference, the company’s team was working at the IBA Group exhibition booth, engaging with visitors to discuss their latest solutions, industry trends, and potential collaboration opportunities.
Within the GSE Working Groups, IBA Group conducted a presentation entitled AI-Driven Legacy Transformation: Turning Lost COBOL Code into Actionable Business Insights. The presentation’s focus was on methods to recover the lost mainframe code and business logic, and transform legacy applications for further modernization.
IBA Mainframe Services at GSE
IBA Group brought to the event a portfolio of mainframe services designed for support of mainframe modernization.
- AI-Enhanced Mainframe Support
The AI-Enhanced Mainframe Support service from IBA Group entails L2 and L3 support with AI-based generation of an Application Knowledge Model, end-to-end incident analysis and resolution powered by an AI Batch Incident Management Assistant, support for code changes, testing, and deployment.
- AI COBOL Code Recovery
The AI COBOL Code Recovery service involves a multi-step process of recovering the missing or mismatched COBOL programs from IBM MVS executable modules and generating source code functionally equivalent to the original program. The service also includes an AI-enhanced option that adds business context to the restored code.
- AI-Powered Mainframe Fast-Track Migration
For the AI-Powered Mainframe Fast-Track Migration service, IBA Group uses an AI-powered approach to create a clean inventory of active components, uncover integration points, extract business rules, define complete specifications of actual business processes, and build a migration roadmap supported by a proof of concept and AI-assisted code transformation.
- Mainframe Application Replatforming to Cloud Native
The service of Mainframe Application Replatforming to Cloud Native is about a complete migration of batch and online mainframe workloads, data, and security rules to any cloud environment, including replication of major z/OS subsystems using partner solutions.
Key Takeaways from GSE Conference 2026
The core idea of the GSE revolves around the theme Bridging the Gap. Judging from the keynote reports, working group sessions, and networking with peers, the IBA Group team came to the conclusion that the enterprise IT industry is on the cusp of a powerful transformation.
Generational Change and Transfer of Expertise. The most pressing challenge is the gap between experienced engineers of traditional systems and the new generation of developers. The widespread adoption of modern DevOps practices, CI/CD, and familiar tools such as VS Code and Python for IBM Z helps overcome this barrier and make the mainframe platform attractive to young talent.
Seamless Integration of IBM Z and Hybrid Cloud. Mainframes are no longer viewed as isolated silos. The key trend is the deep integration of the mainframe into hybrid cloud architectures. Today’s market demands tools that combine the reliability and computing power of IBM Z with the flexibility of modern cloud-native applications.
Shift in perspectives on AI and cloud technologies. Before the GSE conference, seasoned mainframe consultants were very skeptical about the use of AI on the mainframe platform, thought that only on-premise models are applicable, and security and data integrity are key blockers. The live attendance of the GSE 2026 led to the opinion change, from skepticism to the willingness to run an AI pilot, go beyond on-premise LLMs, and explore AI in individual use cases for certain customers.