Mainframe modernization has become one of the most critical technology initiatives for enterprises in 2025. Organizations in industries such as banking, insurance, healthcare, and government continue to rely on mainframes to run their most important applications. However, rising operational costs, the shortage of legacy programming skills, and the need to integrate with cloud and digital platforms have made modernization an unavoidable priority. Companies are increasingly evaluating service providers who can help them reimagine their legacy environments and ensure long-term resilience.
Service providers now deliver more than just migration. They offer comprehensive modernization strategies that include rehosting, replatforming, application refactoring, and microservices transformation. Many also integrate artificial intelligence and automation into their delivery models to improve speed, reduce risk, and ensure functional accuracy. This breadth of services allows enterprises to choose a modernization path that matches their business goals and risk tolerance while still benefiting from the experience of global leaders.
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Explore nowSelecting the right provider is one of the most important decisions an enterprise can make when beginning a modernization program. Factors such as industry expertise, technology partnerships, security practices, and proven methodologies all influence the success of these projects. The best providers bring not only technical execution but also strategic advisory services, helping organizations build modernization roadmaps that deliver value quickly while ensuring long-term sustainability.
The following list highlights the most influential service providers in mainframe modernization for 2025. Each one has been recognized for its ability to help enterprises modernize legacy applications, move workloads to the cloud, and integrate with modern development practices. Their solutions are shaping the future of enterprise IT, creating opportunities for agility, compliance, and growth. To explore the fundamentals of modernization, visit our overview of mainframe modernization solutions. For additional insights, see our blog on digital transformation strategies and real-world enterprise modernization case studies.
Leading Mainframe Modernization Service Providers: Profiles and Reviews
In this section, we present detailed profiles of the leading mainframe modernization service providers. Each profile highlights the company’s core strengths, the services and methodologies they offer, independent ratings from trusted review platforms, and verified client feedback from 2025. The objective is to give enterprises a clear, side-by-side view of the top providers so they can identify the partner best aligned with their modernization goals. If you believe an important provider is missing from this list or would like to suggest updates, please reach out to us.
AWS – Cloud-Native Mainframe Modernization
Official Profile
The AWS Mainframe Modernization Service
Overview and Strengths
AWS offers a comprehensive modernization platform that supports both rehosting and automated refactoring of mainframe workloads. It provides managed runtimes for COBOL and PL/I applications as well as automated translation into Java. Integration with core AWS services, including analytics, DevOps, and security, allows enterprises to extend legacy systems into fully cloud-native environments. The phased migration model enables incremental transformation, lowering risk while accelerating time to value. Customers gain elasticity, reduced infrastructure costs, and improved visibility. This makes AWS a strong choice for organizations seeking to balance legacy stability with the flexibility of modern cloud technologies in 2025.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – AWS Application Migration and Modernization Tools
TrustRadius – AWS Mainframe Modernization
Recent Client Feedback
“AWS modernization services provided the flexibility we needed to rehost first and refactor later. It lowered costs and accelerated our move to cloud.” — Daniel K., Senior Architect, Global Bank (January 2025)
“The integration with AWS native services like Lambda and RDS made the transition smoother and more efficient for our development teams.” — Sarah L., IT Manager, Healthcare Provider (March 2025)
“We achieved significant performance improvements by moving core banking workloads to AWS. The migration process was transparent and well supported.” — Ahmed R., Technology Director, European Financial Institution (May 2025)
Why Choose AWS
Organizations select AWS for its flexibility to rehost workloads quickly or refactor for long-term agility. The platform’s deep integration with AWS cloud services ensures modernization outcomes are not limited to migration but extended through analytics, automation, and AI. Enterprises trust AWS for handling large-scale, regulated workloads while lowering costs and improving scalability. The ability to modernize incrementally allows organizations to preserve mission-critical business logic while adopting cloud-native development practices. This combination of low-risk migration options and future-ready infrastructure makes AWS one of the most reliable partners for mainframe modernization initiatives across global industries in 2025.
DXC Technology – Hybrid and GenAI-Powered Services
Official Profile
DXC Mainframe Modernization Services
Overview and Strengths
DXC Technology is one of the largest independent providers of mainframe modernization, offering hybrid models that combine cloud migration, mainframe-as-a-service, and optimization of on-premises workloads. Its frameworks incorporate AI-driven analysis and automation to accelerate refactoring and reduce project risks. The company is vendor-agnostic, which allows enterprises to choose preferred cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. DXC’s expertise extends across industries, with proven delivery in banking, insurance, and public sector transformations. Clients value DXC’s balance between strategic consulting and technical execution. With GenAI-enhanced services, DXC shortens modernization timelines while ensuring functional equivalence and compliance in regulated sectors.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – DXC Technology Services
TrustRadius – DXC Technology
Recent Client Feedback
“The DXC team guided us through a hybrid mainframe-to-cloud transition with minimal disruption. Their governance framework gave us confidence throughout.” — Maria S., CIO, European Bank (January 2025)
“Automation and AI-driven analysis cut our refactoring timeline in half. We met compliance requirements while accelerating delivery.” — James L., IT Director, U.S. Insurance Firm (March 2025)
“DXC provided end-to-end support, from strategy through execution. The blend of technical expertise and consulting insight was invaluable.” — Priya R., VP of Technology, Public Sector Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose DXC Technology
Enterprises choose DXC for its global scale, vendor-neutral approach, and extensive experience in running and modernizing mainframe estates. Its GenAI-powered analysis tools and automation frameworks enable faster application refactoring while maintaining functional accuracy. DXC offers flexibility for clients who want to blend rehosting, refactoring, or managed mainframe services under one program. Organizations in highly regulated sectors trust DXC for secure, reliable delivery and proven success in large-scale transformations. The combination of advisory capabilities and advanced modernization technology makes DXC one of the most strategic partners for enterprises seeking to modernize at scale in 2025.
Kyndryl – Infrastructure and Managed Services Leader
Official Profile
Kyndryl Mainframe Services
Overview and Strengths
Kyndryl, formerly IBM’s infrastructure services division, is one of the world’s largest providers of mainframe management and modernization. The company specializes in infrastructure transformation, hybrid cloud integration, and mainframe-as-a-service offerings. Its approach focuses on optimizing performance, reducing costs, and extending the life of existing mainframe investments while enabling secure integration with cloud platforms. Kyndryl has strong partnerships with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, which allow clients to design modernization strategies that are multi-cloud and flexible. With decades of operational experience, Kyndryl provides enterprise-grade resilience, compliance support, and highly scalable service delivery for industries with complex regulatory requirements.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Kyndryl Services
TrustRadius – Kyndryl Mainframe Services
Recent Client Feedback
“Kyndryl helped us integrate mainframe workloads with Azure cloud while maintaining the performance levels our financial services require.” — Robert M., CTO, North American Bank (January 2025)
“The transition to a managed mainframe service reduced our infrastructure costs significantly. The scalability has been invaluable.” — Elena G., Head of IT Operations, European Insurance Firm (March 2025)
“The Kyndryl team delivered strong security controls and continuous uptime during our hybrid migration. Their expertise in compliance made the project successful.” — David P., CIO, Government Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose Kyndryl
Organizations select Kyndryl for its unmatched expertise in managing large-scale infrastructure and delivering modernization strategies that blend stability with innovation. Its multi-cloud partnerships give enterprises flexibility to design hybrid or cloud-first approaches while maintaining critical workloads on proven mainframe systems. Kyndryl’s ability to deliver secure, compliant, and resilient services makes it particularly attractive for industries such as finance, insurance, and government. The company’s track record in optimizing performance and managing mission-critical workloads ensures enterprises can modernize without compromising reliability. In 2025, Kyndryl remains a trusted partner for organizations seeking modernization with enterprise-grade security and scalability.
Hexaware – GenAI-Augmented Modernization Framework
Official Profile
Hexaware Mainframe Modernization Services
Overview and Strengths
Hexaware has built a strong reputation for its “Project Fabric” methodology, which integrates automation, governance, and generative AI to deliver predictable modernization outcomes. The company focuses on transforming legacy applications into cloud-ready, modular systems while ensuring transparency at every stage. Its services cover application refactoring, database migration, API enablement, and hybrid integration. Hexaware is particularly well-regarded for its use of AI-driven analysis that reduces manual effort and accelerates delivery timelines. With experience across industries including insurance, retail, and government, Hexaware helps clients achieve lower operational costs and greater agility. The company positions itself as a modernization partner that balances speed with risk reduction.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Hexaware Technologies
TrustRadius – Hexaware Services
Recent Client Feedback
“Hexaware’s use of AI-driven code analysis shortened our project timeline significantly and helped us maintain compliance.” — Michael R., IT Director, U.S. Insurance Company (January 2025)
“Their governance framework provided clear milestones and reduced uncertainty during a complex modernization.” — Priyanka S., CIO, Retail Group (March 2025)
“Hexaware delivered strong results in our mainframe migration, integrating legacy systems with cloud-native apps smoothly.” — Tomas E., Head of Technology, Government Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose Hexaware
Enterprises choose Hexaware for its combination of speed, transparency, and AI-enhanced delivery models. The company’s Project Fabric methodology provides a structured roadmap that reduces project risks while ensuring functional accuracy. Clients value Hexaware’s ability to integrate legacy systems into modern ecosystems with minimal disruption, making it especially effective for organizations with complex, regulated workloads. Its focus on automation and governance translates into lower modernization costs and faster adoption of new platforms. By blending AI, proven frameworks, and cross-industry experience, Hexaware stands out as a reliable partner for enterprises seeking accelerated mainframe modernization in 2025.
Heirloom Computing – Rapid COBOL Refactoring to Java
Official Profile
Heirloom Computing
Overview and Strengths
Heirloom Computing specializes in automated transformation of COBOL and other legacy applications into modern Java. Its approach emphasizes functional equivalence, ensuring that the business logic embedded in decades of mainframe code is preserved while moving workloads into cloud-ready environments. The platform uses AI-enhanced analysis to streamline the refactoring process, reducing manual intervention and accelerating delivery. Applications refactored through Heirloom can run natively on modern infrastructure, integrate with DevOps pipelines, and scale using containers and Kubernetes. Clients benefit from reduced dependency on shrinking COBOL expertise while gaining maintainable, future-proof applications. Heirloom is particularly popular in banking and insurance sectors that rely on large, complex COBOL estates.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Heirloom Computing
TrustRadius – Heirloom Computing
Recent Client Feedback
“Heirloom enabled us to refactor millions of lines of COBOL into Java quickly and accurately. The results were production-ready within months.” — Anika J., VP of IT, U.S. Bank (January 2025)
“The automation capabilities reduced manual coding efforts, and the testing framework gave us confidence in functional accuracy.” — Peter S., Senior Architect, Global Insurance Firm (March 2025)
“Moving to Java has simplified hiring and reduced long-term risks. Heirloom’s process was faster than we anticipated.” — Victor L., CIO, European Financial Services Company (May 2025)
Why Choose Heirloom Computing
Enterprises select Heirloom Computing for its proven ability to accelerate COBOL-to-Java refactoring projects with high accuracy and minimal disruption. Its AI-driven automation tools reduce migration risks and deliver maintainable applications that integrate seamlessly into modern development environments. Organizations in financial services, insurance, and government trust Heirloom to handle large-scale legacy portfolios efficiently while preserving mission-critical logic. The focus on rapid delivery, functional equivalence, and cloud-readiness makes Heirloom Computing an ideal partner for enterprises seeking to eliminate legacy language dependencies and embrace future-proof architectures in 2025.
TmaxSoft – OpenFrame for Risk-Minimized Rehosting
Official Profile
TmaxSoft OpenFrame
Overview and Strengths
TmaxSoft offers OpenFrame, a rehosting solution designed to migrate mainframe applications to open systems and cloud environments with minimal code changes. The platform replaces mainframe subsystems such as CICS, JCL, and IMS with open, standards-based equivalents while maintaining application logic. By rehosting rather than fully rewriting, OpenFrame reduces modernization risk and accelerates timelines. Clients benefit from significant cost savings, improved disaster recovery speeds, and easier integration with cloud-native services. OpenFrame also provides extensive testing and validation capabilities to ensure migrated applications function as expected. This approach allows enterprises to move off expensive mainframe infrastructure while preserving core business processes and minimizing disruption.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – TmaxSoft OpenFrame
TrustRadius – TmaxSoft
Recent Client Feedback
“OpenFrame allowed us to reduce infrastructure costs by more than half while maintaining reliability.” — Laura K., IT Manager, Global Manufacturing Company (January 2025)
“The transition was smooth, and we experienced faster disaster recovery after moving workloads with OpenFrame.” — Martin R., CIO, Financial Services Firm (March 2025)
“TmaxSoft provided strong support and tools for testing, which ensured our applications remained stable after migration.” — Sophie D., Technology Director, Public Sector Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose TmaxSoft
Enterprises choose TmaxSoft for its ability to deliver low-risk, cost-effective mainframe modernization through rehosting. OpenFrame helps organizations reduce dependency on legacy hardware, improve disaster recovery capabilities, and integrate with modern IT environments without rewriting code. Its standards-based architecture ensures flexibility, while the rehosting approach shortens project timelines compared to full refactoring. This makes TmaxSoft especially valuable for organizations seeking quick results, predictable outcomes, and significant cost reductions. In 2025, OpenFrame remains a trusted platform for enterprises looking to transition mainframe workloads into cloud or open system environments securely and efficiently.
Rocket Software – Connectivity, Analytics, and AI Integration
Official Profile
Rocket Software modernization solutions
Overview and Strengths
Rocket Software provides a broad portfolio of tools and services that extend the life of mainframe applications while enabling integration with modern technologies. Its solutions focus on application connectivity, analytics, DevOps, and security, helping enterprises unlock the value of their legacy systems without large-scale rewrites. Rocket Software has expanded its reach through strategic acquisitions, giving customers access to enhanced application modernization and connectivity capabilities. Enterprises use Rocket’s offerings to expose mainframe data through APIs, integrate workloads with cloud platforms, and improve development speed with DevOps pipelines. Its reputation is built on stability, strong support, and enabling incremental modernization strategies.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Rocket Software
TrustRadius – Rocket Software
Recent Client Feedback
“Rocket Software helped us integrate legacy data into cloud analytics platforms, enabling faster business insights.” — Karen T., Head of IT, Retail Organization (January 2025)
“Their DevOps modernization tools shortened our release cycles and improved collaboration across teams.” — Samuel P., Senior Developer, U.S. Insurance Firm (March 2025)
“We successfully modernized our customer-facing applications by exposing mainframe functions as APIs with Rocket’s support.” — Andrea F., CIO, European Bank (May 2025)
Why Choose Rocket Software
Organizations select Rocket Software for its ability to deliver incremental modernization strategies that reduce risk and protect critical investments. Its focus on connectivity, analytics, and DevOps makes it a strong choice for enterprises seeking to integrate mainframe systems with modern platforms rather than replace them outright. Rocket’s long-standing presence in the market and its reputation for customer support provide additional assurance. In 2025, Rocket Software stands out as a partner for enterprises that want to enhance the value of existing systems, improve agility, and gradually transition toward hybrid IT environments.
Accenture – Enterprise-Scale Modernization Consulting
Official Profile
Accenture
Overview and Strengths
Accenture is a global consulting leader with extensive expertise in enterprise-scale modernization. Its mainframe services cover strategy, application transformation, replatforming, and migration to cloud-native environments. Accenture leverages proprietary frameworks, strong partnerships with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and deep industry knowledge to help clients modernize securely and efficiently. The company specializes in complex, regulated sectors like banking, healthcare, and government, providing both technical execution and high-level advisory. Its global delivery network allows Accenture to manage large modernization programs with agility. In 2025, Accenture emphasizes AI-driven analysis, risk reduction, and cost efficiency to support rapid transformation at scale.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services:
G2 – Accenture Consulting
TrustRadius – Accenture Services
Recent Client Feedback
“Accenture guided our modernization program with a clear roadmap that balanced risk and agility. Their cross-industry expertise was evident.” — Daniel S., CIO, Global Bank (January 2025)
“The team integrated AI-driven analysis into our transformation process, saving months of effort in code review and planning.” — Chloe W., IT Director, Healthcare Provider (March 2025)
“We modernized our mainframe applications into microservices on the cloud. Accenture’s governance and delivery were excellent.” — Mark A., VP of Technology, European Insurance Firm (May 2025)
Why Choose Accenture
Enterprises choose Accenture for its ability to manage complex, global modernization programs and deliver measurable business outcomes. Its combination of technical services, advisory expertise, and strategic cloud partnerships ensures tailored solutions for every client. Accenture’s scale allows it to take on large transformations while mitigating risk through structured governance. Its focus on AI and automation provides further acceleration, making modernization faster and more reliable. In 2025, Accenture remains one of the top partners for organizations looking to modernize mission-critical mainframe workloads while aligning with broader digital transformation initiatives.
IBM Consulting – Mainframe and Hybrid Cloud Expertise
Official Profile
IBM Consulting
Overview and Strengths
IBM Consulting combines decades of mainframe expertise with leadership in hybrid cloud transformation. Its modernization services include application refactoring, workload replatforming, and mainframe-to-cloud integration strategies. IBM leverages Red Hat OpenShift and its partnerships with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to deliver containerized, cloud-ready applications while maintaining enterprise-grade security. Clients benefit from IBM’s unique ability to optimize existing z/OS environments while building future-ready architectures. With deep experience across industries such as banking, healthcare, and government, IBM provides tailored modernization roadmaps that align technical execution with business outcomes. In 2025, IBM Consulting emphasizes secure, scalable, and AI-enhanced modernization strategies for global enterprises.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services:
G2 – IBM Consulting
TrustRadius – IBM Services
Recent Client Feedback
“IBM helped us migrate critical banking workloads to hybrid cloud without downtime. Their z/OS expertise was invaluable.” — Elena M., CTO, European Bank (January 2025)
“The integration of OpenShift simplified our modernization path and enabled us to adopt containerized apps seamlessly.” — Thomas L., IT Manager, U.S. Insurance Company (March 2025)
“IBM provided excellent governance, balancing our compliance requirements with modernization speed.” — Rajesh K., CIO, Government Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose IBM Consulting
Enterprises choose IBM Consulting for its unmatched depth in mainframe technologies and proven hybrid cloud leadership. The firm’s ability to modernize workloads incrementally while maintaining critical business operations ensures low-risk transformations. IBM’s integration of Red Hat OpenShift and AI-powered automation accelerates modernization and reduces complexity. Its global delivery capabilities and strong regulatory expertise make it a trusted partner for industries that demand both agility and compliance. In 2025, IBM Consulting continues to be a leader for organizations seeking to blend mainframe reliability with the innovation of cloud-native platforms.
Micro Focus (OpenText) – Application Modernization and Connectivity
Official Profile
OpenText Application Modernization & Connectivity (formerly Micro Focus Enterprise Suite)
Overview and Strengths
OpenText (formerly Micro Focus) offers one of the most comprehensive suites for mainframe and COBOL modernization. Its portfolio includes Visual COBOL, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server, supporting dependency mapping, API enablement, replatforming, and incremental refactoring. These solutions allow enterprises to modernize critical applications while retaining business logic, enabling low-risk, phased transformations. OpenText is trusted by clients in financial services, insurance, and government sectors where regulatory compliance and uptime are essential. Its tools support multi-platform deployment, strong integration with modern CI/CD pipelines, and smooth migration to cloud or hybrid environments. In 2025, OpenText continues to deliver proven modernization paths with broad customer adoption.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – OpenText Application Modernization
TrustRadius – OpenText Application Modernization and Connectivity:
Recent Client Feedback
“The ability to integrate COBOL with modern RDBMS and deploy across platforms made modernization straightforward.” — Abhishek K., Senior Software Engineer, Global Bank (January 2025)
“The suite provided templates and tooling that helped both senior and junior developers transition to new environments.” — Ravi S., Agile Coach, Insurance Company (March 2025)
“Debugging and editing COBOL code across multiple OS platforms was seamless, saving significant development time.” — Prateek G., Analyst, Technology Services Firm (May 2025)
Why Choose Micro Focus (OpenText)
Enterprises choose OpenText for its robust, proven modernization frameworks that support both incremental and large-scale transformations. Its ability to deliver functional equivalence, cross-platform compatibility, and cloud-readiness makes it a trusted partner in regulated industries. Clients value its mature tools for refactoring, testing, and deployment, which reduce risk while enabling agility. With strong user reviews and a long-standing presence in enterprise IT, OpenText remains a go-to option for organizations seeking structured, secure, and future-proof modernization of mainframe and COBOL workloads in 2025.
Infosys – AI-Driven Modernization Solutions
Official Profile
Infosys
Overview and Strengths
Infosys delivers modernization through its Live Enterprise framework, focusing on AI-driven analysis, automation, and agile transformation. The company provides services ranging from rehosting and replatforming to application refactoring and API enablement. Infosys emphasizes speed and predictability, using its proprietary tools and accelerators to reduce migration risks and shorten delivery timelines. Its global delivery model ensures enterprises receive continuous support across multiple regions. Clients in banking, healthcare, and retail sectors rely on Infosys to transform legacy systems into cloud-ready applications while maintaining compliance and business continuity. In 2025, Infosys continues to invest in AI and automation to drive scalable modernization outcomes.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Infosys Services
TrustRadius – Infosys
Recent Client Feedback
“Infosys helped us rehost critical workloads to cloud quickly, and their automation frameworks reduced downtime significantly.” — Raj P., CIO, Asian Bank (January 2025)
“The AI-driven code analysis tools accelerated planning and gave us clear visibility into dependencies.” — Elena C., IT Director, European Healthcare Provider (March 2025)
“The Infosys team provided excellent governance and delivered a smooth hybrid migration with strong post-go-live support.” — Lucas M., VP of Technology, U.S. Retail Chain (May 2025)
Why Choose Infosys
Enterprises choose Infosys for its AI-enhanced modernization frameworks that provide transparency, speed, and reduced risk. Its global delivery capability allows it to handle large, complex projects across industries while maintaining a consistent governance model. Infosys’ focus on hybrid and cloud integration enables organizations to move legacy applications into modern ecosystems without disruption. The company’s expertise in regulated industries, combined with its automation-driven approach, makes it a reliable partner for enterprises that need to modernize at scale. In 2025, Infosys stands out for blending AI innovation with a strong track record in mainframe transformation projects.
Capgemini – Large-Scale Migration and Advisory Services
Official Profile
Capgemini
Overview and Strengths
Capgemini is recognized globally for managing large-scale transformation projects that combine strategic advisory with hands-on modernization delivery. Its mainframe services include application assessment, rehosting, replatforming, and refactoring to cloud-native architectures. Capgemini leverages accelerators and frameworks that help enterprises map dependencies, streamline code analysis, and create phased migration roadmaps. The company’s partnerships with AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud allow clients to build modernization strategies aligned with their preferred cloud ecosystems. Capgemini is particularly strong in sectors such as financial services, manufacturing, and government, where complex regulatory and operational requirements demand robust governance. In 2025, Capgemini continues to position itself as a strategic partner for enterprises undertaking global modernization programs.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Capgemini Services
TrustRadius – Capgemini
Recent Client Feedback
“Capgemini provided a comprehensive roadmap for modernization, balancing risk with cost efficiency across multiple regions.” — Adrian W., CIO, European Bank (January 2025)
“The migration was complex, but their accelerators helped us reduce delivery time and achieve functional equivalence.” — Sonia R., IT Director, U.S. Manufacturing Firm (March 2025)
“We appreciated Capgemini’s governance framework, which ensured compliance during our move to a hybrid environment.” — Marc L., VP of Technology, Government Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose Capgemini
Enterprises select Capgemini for its ability to manage modernization at scale with a balance of advisory insight and technical expertise. Its frameworks and accelerators deliver predictability while reducing costs and project timelines. Capgemini’s strong partnerships with major cloud providers give clients flexibility to design modernization strategies that fit long-term business goals. Its global delivery model ensures resources and expertise are available wherever transformation is needed. In 2025, Capgemini remains a trusted choice for organizations seeking modernization programs that require precision, governance, and international reach.
Cognizant – Industry-Specific Modernization Programs
Official Profile
Cognizant
Overview and Strengths
Cognizant delivers tailored modernization solutions that focus on industry-specific requirements. Its mainframe services include rehosting, refactoring, API enablement, and integration with cloud-native applications. Cognizant emphasizes aligning modernization with business priorities, providing transformation strategies that reduce technical debt while enabling digital innovation. The company leverages AI-driven assessment tools and automation accelerators to identify dependencies and streamline migrations. With deep expertise in industries such as banking, insurance, and healthcare, Cognizant ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while optimizing performance. In 2025, Cognizant positions itself as a modernization partner that blends technical execution with domain knowledge to support enterprise transformation.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Cognizant Services
TrustRadius – Cognizant
Recent Client Feedback
“Cognizant helped us modernize critical healthcare applications while meeting HIPAA compliance requirements.” — Emily K., CIO, U.S. Healthcare Provider (January 2025)
“The migration process was smooth, and their automation tools accelerated delivery without disrupting operations.” — Jorge M., IT Director, European Bank (March 2025)
“The team provided valuable advisory alongside execution, helping us balance modernization with ongoing digital initiatives.” — Ravi P., VP of Technology, Insurance Group (May 2025)
Why Choose Cognizant
Enterprises choose Cognizant for its ability to deliver modernization strategies that are closely aligned with industry regulations and business goals. Its focus on domain-specific expertise ensures that transformation is not only technically sound but also tailored to market realities. Cognizant’s AI-driven accelerators and frameworks reduce project risks and accelerate delivery, making it effective for complex, regulated environments. With strong client relationships across industries, Cognizant continues to be a reliable modernization partner in 2025 for enterprises seeking both compliance and agility.
Wipro – Automation-Focused Mainframe Transformation
Official Profile
Wipro
Overview and Strengths
Wipro delivers mainframe modernization with a strong focus on automation and AI-driven frameworks. Its services include rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, and hybrid integration, allowing enterprises to select the approach that best aligns with their risk appetite and business goals. Wipro’s automated code analysis and migration accelerators help reduce manual effort, lower costs, and shorten delivery timelines. The company has significant experience in industries such as banking, telecom, and retail, where modernization must balance compliance with agility. Wipro also emphasizes DevOps enablement, helping organizations embed continuous integration and delivery into transformed environments. In 2025, Wipro remains committed to scaling modernization through automation, governance, and industry-tailored solutions.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – Wipro Services
TrustRadius – Wipro
Recent Client Feedback
“Wipro’s automation frameworks accelerated our migration and reduced project risks significantly.” — Helena T., CIO, Global Bank (January 2025)
“The delivery team integrated DevOps practices into our new environment, helping us speed up releases.” — Omar L., IT Director, Telecom Company (March 2025)
“Wipro provided strong advisory and execution, making our hybrid migration seamless and cost-effective.” — Maria P., VP of Technology, Retail Enterprise (May 2025)
Why Choose Wipro
Enterprises choose Wipro for its automation-first approach that reduces effort, cost, and complexity in modernization. Its accelerators and frameworks provide transparency and predictability, allowing organizations to migrate confidently while maintaining compliance. Wipro’s expertise in DevOps integration ensures that transformed environments are not only modern but also agile. With deep cross-industry experience and a focus on risk reduction, Wipro remains a reliable partner in 2025 for enterprises seeking scalable, efficient mainframe modernization that delivers lasting value.
HCLTech – Integrated Mainframe Modernization Services
Official Profile
HCLTech
Overview and Strengths
HCLTech offers an integrated suite of mainframe modernization services that combines advisory, automation, and execution to deliver large-scale transformations. Its approach covers rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, and hybrid cloud integration, enabling enterprises to modernize at their own pace. HCLTech leverages proprietary accelerators and AI-driven code analysis to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy during migrations. With experience across sectors such as banking, manufacturing, and government, the company provides industry-aligned frameworks that balance compliance with agility. Its services also include managed operations and mainframe-as-a-service options for enterprises that want to reduce infrastructure ownership. In 2025, HCLTech is recognized for its ability to deliver cost-efficient modernization while maintaining system reliability.
Reputation and Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights – Application Modernization Services
G2 – HCLTech Services
TrustRadius – HCLTech
Recent Client Feedback
“HCLTech provided a clear modernization roadmap and delivered results on time, reducing our operating costs.” — Jason K., CIO, U.S. Bank (January 2025)
“The automated code analysis tools accelerated dependency mapping and minimized migration errors.” — Laura P., IT Director, Global Manufacturing Company (March 2025)
“The hybrid cloud integration allowed us to scale effectively while maintaining compliance in a regulated industry.” — Anil R., VP of Technology, Government Agency (May 2025)
Why Choose HCLTech
Enterprises choose HCLTech for its combination of advisory expertise, automation accelerators, and managed services. Its ability to handle complex, regulated workloads while reducing costs makes it an attractive partner for modernization. HCLTech’s frameworks ensure transparency and efficiency, while its hybrid cloud expertise allows organizations to design flexible modernization strategies. In 2025, HCLTech stands out as a trusted partner for enterprises that need integrated services to modernize, operate, and optimize mainframe workloads with confidence.
SMART TS XL: An Advanced Platform for Automated Mainframe Transformation
SMART TS XL is a specialized platform designed to accelerate mainframe modernization by combining automated static code analysis, dependency mapping, and transformation features. It gives enterprises deep visibility into legacy systems, helping teams understand millions of lines of COBOL or other mainframe code before beginning migration. By reducing manual effort, SMART TS XL speeds up planning and lowers risk, making it easier to create structured roadmaps for modernization. Its automation and documentation capabilities are particularly valuable for organizations facing shrinking pools of COBOL talent and demanding compliance requirements.
Features
- Automated static code analysis for COBOL and other legacy languages
- Dependency mapping and application visualization
- Automated documentation generation for modernization planning
- Refactoring support to prepare applications for migration
- Scalable handling of millions of lines of legacy code
- Audit-ready outputs for compliance and governance
Goals
- Reduce time and cost of mainframe modernization projects
- Provide full visibility into legacy applications and their dependencies
- Minimize reliance on scarce legacy programming expertise
- Improve accuracy and reduce risks in refactoring and migration
- Support service providers and internal IT teams with actionable insights
Cons
- Requires integration into broader modernization programs led by service providers
- Focuses on analysis and transformation, not on full execution of migration
- Training is needed for teams new to static code analysis workflows
SMART TS XL is not a replacement for modernization providers but a powerful enabler that complements them. By automating critical but time-intensive phases such as code discovery, analysis, and documentation, it helps organizations modernize with greater confidence and lower risk. The platform ensures legacy logic is fully understood before migration, reducing project delays and errors. For enterprises seeking to accelerate modernization while maintaining compliance and transparency, SMART TS XL stands out as a trusted solution. In 2025, it continues to play a central role in helping organizations bridge the gap between legacy systems and modern architectures.
Industry Sectors Most Impacted by Mainframe Modernization
Mainframe systems remain the backbone of critical industries, powering everything from financial transactions to healthcare records. While these systems are reliable and robust, they were not built for the demands of today’s digital economy. Customer expectations, compliance requirements, and the need for real-time services are pushing industries to modernize at scale. Organizations that rely heavily on mainframes must now balance legacy stability with the agility required for future growth.
Each industry has unique modernization drivers, from compliance in financial services to interoperability in healthcare. By understanding sector-specific needs, enterprises can tailor modernization strategies that align with business goals while reducing risks. Below are the industries most affected by mainframe modernization in 2025, with insights into why modernization is particularly critical in each.
Banking and Financial Services
Banking and financial institutions are the heaviest users of mainframe technology, running billions of daily transactions worldwide. Core functions like payment processing, loan management, fraud detection, and ATM operations rely heavily on COBOL-based systems. While these platforms are stable, they lack the agility needed to support digital-first banking, real-time payments, and open banking initiatives. Modernization in this sector is driven by regulatory requirements, cybersecurity demands, and customer expectations for seamless digital services. Banks are adopting a mix of rehosting to reduce costs and refactoring to enable cloud-native agility. API enablement and microservices decomposition are particularly important, as they allow integration with fintechs and mobile apps. Failure to modernize creates risks of slow innovation, compliance gaps, and difficulty competing with digital-native challengers. By modernizing mainframes, banks can maintain their operational stability while adopting the agility necessary to deliver new services, comply with evolving regulations, and enhance customer experiences in an increasingly competitive market.
Insurance and Risk Management
Insurance providers rely heavily on mainframes to manage policies, claims, billing, and underwriting. These systems often contain decades of business logic critical to daily operations. However, legacy environments struggle to support digital customer portals, real-time claims processing, and data-driven personalization. Modernization in the insurance sector is motivated by the need to improve customer engagement, integrate with partner ecosystems, and leverage advanced analytics for risk assessment. Insurers are adopting strategies such as refactoring policy systems into microservices, migrating data workloads to the cloud, and exposing legacy functions as APIs for integration. Compliance is also a major factor, as insurers must ensure secure handling of sensitive data across digital channels. Without modernization, insurers face inefficiencies, rising costs, and limited ability to innovate. Modernized mainframe systems allow insurers to provide faster, more transparent services while enabling integration with digital tools like AI-based claims automation and personalized policy recommendations, giving them a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.
Government and Public Sector
Government agencies across the globe rely on mainframes to power essential services such as tax administration, social security, unemployment benefits, and public safety. Many of these systems have been in operation for decades and are difficult to adapt to new policy requirements or citizen service expectations. The modernization imperative in the public sector is driven by resilience, cost savings, and transparency. Agencies often face challenges with skill shortages, as the programmers who built these systems are retiring. Modernization strategies here include rehosting workloads to cloud platforms for elasticity, refactoring critical applications for API-based digital services, and adopting hybrid models to ensure continuity. Security and compliance are also top concerns, as outdated systems are vulnerable to cyber threats. Without modernization, governments risk service outages, inefficient operations, and declining public trust. By modernizing, agencies can provide citizens with faster, more reliable digital services, reduce operational costs, and strengthen resilience against both technical failures and security threats.
Healthcare and Life Sciences
Healthcare providers and payers depend on mainframes for claims processing, patient records, eligibility verification, and billing. While these systems ensure stability and compliance, they often lack the interoperability required for modern healthcare ecosystems. Regulations such as HIPAA in the United States demand secure data handling, while the rise of telemedicine and electronic health records requires real-time data access. Modernization in healthcare focuses on reengineering applications for cloud-native platforms, integrating with modern health IT systems, and enabling data sharing across networks. Many providers are refactoring claims systems into microservices, while payers are adopting hybrid models to manage both legacy and modern workloads. Without modernization, healthcare organizations face delays, inefficiencies, and risks to patient care. By modernizing mainframes, providers and payers can improve data accessibility, support new digital health initiatives, and strengthen compliance. This results in better patient outcomes, faster claim settlements, and a healthcare system more resilient to evolving demands.
Retail, Manufacturing, and Logistics
Retailers and manufacturers rely on mainframes for supply chain management, inventory tracking, production scheduling, and order processing. While these workloads have historically run smoothly, the rise of omnichannel retail, e-commerce, and smart manufacturing has exposed the limitations of legacy systems. Retailers need to integrate mainframes with customer-facing applications for real-time order visibility, while manufacturers require data integration with IoT devices and automation platforms. Modernization in this sector focuses on rehosting workloads to cloud platforms for elasticity, implementing APIs for integration with modern ERP and CRM systems, and leveraging analytics for predictive insights. Logistics providers also modernize mainframes to support global operations and improve delivery speed. Without modernization, organizations face inefficiencies, scalability issues, and limited competitiveness. By modernizing, enterprises in retail and manufacturing can achieve tighter supply chain visibility, improve customer experiences, and accelerate digital transformation. This enables them to adapt quickly to changing consumer demands and maintain cost efficiency in competitive markets.
Legacy Languages and Platforms at the Core of Modernization Efforts
Mainframe applications are written in a variety of legacy languages and supported by platforms that were designed decades ago. These technologies have proven durable, but their age has created serious challenges for organizations trying to innovate. Limited talent pools, high maintenance costs, and difficulty integrating with modern systems have turned legacy languages into bottlenecks. Modernization initiatives often begin with identifying these technologies, mapping dependencies, and planning suitable migration paths.
Understanding the most common legacy languages and platforms is critical to designing an effective modernization strategy. Some technologies, like COBOL, remain heavily used in financial services, while others, such as Natural or Adabas, are prominent in government and utilities. Each requires a unique approach, balancing preservation of business logic with the need for modern agility. Below are the primary legacy languages and platforms at the heart of modernization projects in 2025.
COBOL Modernization Paths
COBOL remains the most widely used mainframe language, particularly in banking, insurance, and government. Despite its reliability, COBOL faces a severe shortage of skilled developers, making long-term sustainability difficult. Modernization paths typically include rehosting COBOL workloads to reduce infrastructure costs, refactoring COBOL applications into Java or C#, and enabling API-driven integration to support digital platforms. Automated tools can accelerate COBOL-to-Java conversion while preserving functional equivalence, allowing organizations to retain decades of business logic. Some enterprises adopt hybrid approaches, keeping stable COBOL cores while modernizing surrounding systems. Without modernization, organizations risk operational inefficiencies, knowledge loss, and difficulties scaling to meet customer demand. By updating COBOL environments, enterprises can lower risk, reduce costs, and integrate seamlessly with modern technologies.
PL/I, Assembler, and JCL
PL/I, Assembler, and JCL remain foundational in many mainframe environments, particularly in industries that demand high performance and close control of system operations. PL/I is often used in banking applications, while Assembler is valued for system-level programming and performance-critical tasks. JCL supports job scheduling and batch processing across mainframes. However, reliance on these technologies creates risks as experienced programmers retire and as integration requirements grow more complex. Modernization options include reengineering PL/I applications into modern languages, replacing Assembler logic with higher-level equivalents, and transitioning JCL batch processes into automated workflows within cloud platforms. Without modernization, organizations face growing operational risks and limited flexibility. Updating these workloads ensures smoother integration with modern development practices, improves resilience, and creates opportunities to adopt cloud-native automation.
Natural, Adabas, and Other 4GLs
Natural and Adabas, developed by Software AG, remain widely deployed in government, utilities, and telecommunications sectors. These 4GL environments are powerful but increasingly difficult to support due to declining skill availability and lack of integration options. Organizations using Natural and Adabas often pursue replatforming strategies, moving workloads to open systems while retaining functionality, or refactoring applications into Java-based equivalents. The goal is to reduce reliance on proprietary environments while maintaining the stability of mission-critical systems. Modernization also focuses on enabling APIs to integrate legacy data with modern applications. Other 4GLs face similar challenges, including limited talent and rising costs. By modernizing these platforms, enterprises ensure that essential processes remain resilient while gaining flexibility for digital initiatives.
Emerging Legacy Targets (PowerBuilder, Oracle Forms, Progress, MUMPS)
Beyond mainframe languages, many organizations are modernizing older platforms like PowerBuilder, Oracle Forms, Progress, and MUMPS. These technologies are common in healthcare, retail, and public sector systems. While they have delivered value for decades, they lack the capabilities needed for cloud integration, mobile experiences, and advanced analytics. Modernization strategies often include migrating Oracle Forms applications into modern web frameworks, transitioning PowerBuilder workloads into Java or .NET, and replacing MUMPS systems with cloud-based healthcare platforms. These projects are particularly important in healthcare, where MUMPS-based systems limit interoperability with modern electronic health records. By addressing these emerging legacy targets, enterprises can eliminate bottlenecks, improve scalability, and adopt modern user experiences. Modernization ensures that systems once considered cutting-edge continue to deliver value in a digital-first world.
Prevailing Approaches to Modernizing Mainframe Environments
Enterprises pursuing modernization have a wide spectrum of approaches available, each with distinct benefits and trade-offs. Some strategies focus on quick wins through rehosting, while others emphasize deep transformation by refactoring applications into modern languages or decomposing them into microservices. The choice often depends on business priorities, regulatory requirements, risk tolerance, and available skills.
In 2025, modernization is less about a single path and more about selecting the right mix. Hybrid strategies are increasingly popular, combining incremental updates with long-term transformation. By balancing cost, speed, and innovation, organizations can modernize mission-critical systems without disrupting operations. Below are the most common approaches enterprises are using to modernize mainframes.
Rehosting and Replatforming
Rehosting, also known as “lift-and-shift,” involves moving applications from legacy mainframes to open systems or cloud environments with minimal code changes. Replatforming is a similar approach but often includes limited modifications to improve performance or scalability. Both options are popular for enterprises looking to reduce infrastructure costs quickly while preserving functionality. These approaches shorten modernization timelines and lower immediate risk compared to full refactoring. However, they do not address long-term language dependencies and can limit agility. Organizations that rehost or replatform often do so as a first step, enabling future modernization while achieving immediate cost savings.
Application Refactoring and Code Transformation
Refactoring involves restructuring legacy code into modern languages such as Java, C#, or Python, often supported by automation and AI-driven tools. This approach provides long-term sustainability by reducing reliance on scarce legacy skills and enabling integration with cloud-native ecosystems. Refactored applications are easier to maintain, extend, and scale, supporting DevOps practices and faster release cycles. While more complex and resource-intensive than rehosting, refactoring offers greater flexibility and alignment with digital transformation goals. In 2025, enterprises in finance, insurance, and healthcare increasingly choose refactoring to ensure their critical systems can evolve with market and regulatory demands.
API Enablement and Microservices Decomposition
Many organizations focus on exposing mainframe functionality as APIs, allowing integration with digital platforms, mobile apps, and partner ecosystems. Microservices decomposition goes further by breaking monolithic mainframe applications into smaller, independent services that can scale individually. These approaches support agile development and faster innovation while gradually reducing reliance on legacy systems. API enablement also allows organizations to maximize the value of existing mainframe investments by making data and services more accessible. While microservices decomposition is resource-intensive, it provides the highest level of agility, enabling enterprises to compete with digital-native disruptors.
Hybrid and Partial Modernization
Hybrid modernization strategies blend multiple approaches, such as retaining stable COBOL cores while modernizing user interfaces or moving non-critical workloads to the cloud while keeping mission-critical systems on mainframes. This approach is attractive for organizations that want to minimize disruption while still progressing toward digital goals. Hybrid models allow gradual skill transitions, staged cost reductions, and risk-managed innovation. They are particularly effective in regulated industries, where complete rewrites may be impractical in the short term. In 2025, hybrid modernization remains one of the most common strategies because it provides flexibility and balance.
DevOps-Enabled Mainframe Practices
Another growing trend is modernizing not the applications themselves, but the way they are developed and deployed. DevOps-enabled mainframe practices introduce modern IDEs, version control with Git, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines for legacy applications. This approach improves collaboration, accelerates release cycles, and introduces agility without requiring a complete migration. Organizations using DevOps on mainframes gain faster time-to-market, improved quality, and greater visibility into changes. Although it does not eliminate legacy code, DevOps-enabled practices extend the lifespan of mainframes and help organizations modernize culture and processes. In 2025, many enterprises adopt DevOps-enabled mainframes as part of a hybrid modernization roadmap.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Mainframe Modernization
1. What is mainframe modernization?
Mainframe modernization is the process of updating legacy mainframe applications, infrastructure, and processes to integrate with modern technologies such as cloud, APIs, and microservices.
2. Why is mainframe modernization important in 2025?
It reduces operating costs, addresses the shortage of COBOL and legacy skills, improves scalability, and enables integration with digital platforms for better customer experiences.
3. What are the most common approaches to mainframe modernization?
The leading approaches include rehosting, replatforming, refactoring into modern languages, API enablement, microservices decomposition, and DevOps-enabled practices.
4. Which industries benefit most from mainframe modernization?
Industries such as banking, insurance, government, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing benefit most, as they rely heavily on mainframes for mission-critical workloads.
5. What languages are typically modernized?
Common targets include COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, JCL, Natural, Adabas, and other 4GLs such as PowerBuilder, Oracle Forms, and MUMPS.
6. How long does a typical mainframe modernization project take?
Timelines vary by approach and complexity, but projects often range from several months for rehosting to multiple years for large-scale refactoring.
7. What are the main risks of mainframe modernization?
Risks include data migration errors, loss of business logic, downtime during transitions, and challenges in retraining or reskilling IT staff.
8. How does cloud support mainframe modernization?
Cloud platforms provide scalability, elasticity, and cost efficiency, enabling organizations to rehost or replatform mainframe workloads into managed environments.
9. What role does AI and automation play in modernization?
AI-driven analysis and automation reduce manual coding, accelerate dependency mapping, and improve accuracy in refactoring and testing.
10. How do I choose the right mainframe modernization provider?
Enterprises should evaluate providers based on industry expertise, technology partnerships, modernization methodologies, reputation on review platforms, and proven case studies.
The Future Trajectory of Mainframe Modernization
Mainframes continue to be the backbone of mission-critical operations across industries, but they now sit at the intersection of tradition and transformation. The cost of maintaining legacy systems, the scarcity of specialized skills, and the rising demand for digital services all push enterprises toward modernization. Service providers, specialized tools, and automation platforms are ensuring that this shift happens with reduced risk and greater efficiency. The organizations that modernize successfully will preserve the stability of their mainframe environments while gaining the agility needed to compete in today’s digital-first economy.
There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for mainframe modernization. Some enterprises will benefit most from rehosting and replatforming, while others require deep refactoring, API enablement, or hybrid strategies. The key is to align modernization goals with business priorities such as cost reduction, regulatory compliance, and innovation. By carefully selecting the right service providers, leveraging automation platforms like SMART TS XL, and embracing best practices, organizations can future-proof their legacy systems. In 2025 and beyond, modernization will be a defining factor in determining which enterprises thrive in the digital era.
