B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

When it comes to pre-internet technology, EDI is the Godzilla of the supply chain universe. After all, you can’t kill something that keeps on delivering the goods. But platforms developed in the 1990s are no match for competitors who are adopting modern data exchange solutions.

Without question, modern B2B integration solutions offer organizations must-have benefits in the real-time economy. But like vacationing in a foreign country, the journey to modernization comes with challenges to navigate.

Some readers may recall rotary phones from the 1960s. You could count on them to place calls. But they became slow and hard to use. Tools that provide instant communication and many connections have all but replaced them. Likewise, legacy EDI systems were not built for all the digital demands of today.

Migrating to a new ERP, CRM, or WMS is a major future-proofing step. It can take years to complete these initiatives. During the discovery and planning phases, organizations hold many meetings with stakeholders from production, sales, finance, and logistics. Everybody, it seems, but EDI.

We have confirmed that IBM has announced that the end support date for IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 6.1.x and IBM Sterling File Gateway 6.1.x is now April 30, 2026. 

If you're planning to upgrade to the current versions of these products, we urge you to begin planning as far in advance as possible. Failing to upgrade in time can be seriously problematic; risks include being ineligible for IBM support and exposure to security vulnerabilities.