The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has dramatically reduced the upkeep of its legacy AS/400 system by deploying a specialist AI platform that documents, tests, and translates old code. The AI‑driven approach slashes development time by roughly 50%, allowing the small IT team to focus on new digital services instead of routine maintenance.
Why the AS/400 Challenge Matters
AS/400 mainframes still power critical workflows for many enterprises, especially in niche sectors like rodeo event management. Unmanaged technical debt can consume a large portion of IT development time, diverting resources from innovation to maintenance.
AI as a Modernization Tool, Not a Replacement
Instead of a costly full rewrite, PRCA leveraged AI to modernize in place. Specialist AI agents performed three core functions:
- Documentation – Translating millions of lines of COBOL and RPG code into human‑readable specifications, reducing onboarding time for new developers.
- Testing – Generating unit tests that catch regressions before code moves to production.
- Translation – Mapping legacy business rules to modern APIs and micro‑service patterns.
Measured Benefits and Efficiency Gains
PRCA estimates that the AI‑assisted approach has cut development time by roughly 50%, freeing the IT team to build new digital services. The organization plans to complete its AS/400 migration soon and apply the same methodology to other legacy platforms.
Implications for the Wider Tech Landscape
Specialist AI agents can bridge the gap between legacy preservation and digital agility. By automating documentation and testing, organizations mitigate the fear of changing complex systems, reduce onboarding time, and lower maintenance overhead, allowing scarce talent to focus on higher‑value innovation.
Future Blueprint for Legacy Modernization
Enterprises can follow PRCA’s practical blueprint: use specialist AI to extract, test, and translate entrenched business logic, then incrementally migrate to modern architectures. This phased, AI‑augmented approach delivers measurable efficiency gains while maintaining business continuity.
