IBM i · SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT · EDI · BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE · METALS SOFTWARE
Technology Expertise Businesses
Have Trusted Since 1996
Integrated IBM i consulting and cloud hosting, custom software development, EDI services, Business Intelligence, and purpose-built software for the metals industry.
What we do
Technology Expertise Built Around Your Business
Engage one Paragon practice or combine several to address the operational, development, integration, and information needs of your business.
IBM i Services
Paragon supports IBM i environments across their full lifecycle, from administration, security, PTF and OS upgrades to application modernization, cloud hosting, and managed services. We work with current IBM Power environments and older systems that still run the business.
Custom Software Development
We design, build, and enhance business applications on IBM i, Linux, and Windows. Our work includes legacy and ERP package modifications, cross-platform web applications, integrations, reporting, and modernization or re-platforming when existing systems have reached their limits.
EDI Services
Paragon provides fully managed EDI or the infrastructure and expertise to operate EDI on premises. Services include secure connectivity, translation, mapping, trading partner onboarding, ERP integration, monitoring, and ongoing support for the documents your business depends on.
Business Intelligence
We use Power BI and Tableau to turn operational data into clear, decision-ready dashboards and reporting. Where appropriate, AI agents provide a natural-language way to ask questions of your business data and receive useful answers.
Metals Industry Software
Metalware, MetalNet, MetalWeb, and Reveal support the specialized workflows of metal service centers and toll processors, including quoting, inventory, processing, sales, customer self-service, and CRM. Solutions are available on premises and in the cloud.
Working with Paragon
Flexible Engagement Models
Paragon structures each engagement around the client’s objectives, internal resources, and preferred way of working. We can provide a defined project team, flexible technical support, additional capacity for an existing team, or ongoing access to Paragon expertise.
Project-Based Engagements. A defined scope, set of deliverables, schedule, and budget. This model works well for implementations, migrations, modernization initiatives, integrations, and other work with a clear objective.
Time and Materials. Flexible access to Paragon resources when priorities or requirements may change as the work progresses. Clients pay for the time used without committing to a fixed project scope.
Staff Augmentation. Paragon professionals work alongside your internal team to add capacity, specialized knowledge, or coverage. Engagements can be full-time, part-time, or structured around a specific period of need.
Retainer Services. A planned allocation of Paragon time each month for ongoing support, maintenance, enhancements, and other recurring needs. Retainers provide continuity without requiring a separate agreement for every request.
We do not require every client to begin with an assessment. When the condition of an IBM i environment, the scope of a problem, or the appropriate path forward is unclear, an assessment can establish the facts and provide practical priorities before larger work begins.
What an IBM i Assessment Covers
Hardware and OS Currency. Review of the IBM Power hardware, IBM i release, support status, system capacity, and available upgrade path.
PTF and Maintenance Status. Evaluation of cumulative and Group PTF levels, missing fixes, maintenance practices, and areas of operational or security exposure.
Security and Access Controls. Review of user profiles, special authorities, object access, system auditing, password policies, and network exit-point controls.
Performance and Capacity. Analysis of workloads, memory pools, storage utilization, job activity, and database performance to identify bottlenecks and capacity risks.
Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity. Review of backup procedures, off-site protection, recovery objectives, restore testing, and high-availability or disaster-recovery readiness.
Applications and Integrations. Identification of critical applications, scheduled processes, external interfaces, EDI connections, system dependencies, and important documentation gaps.
IBM i SERVICES
Expert IBM i Services
Consulting, cloud hosting, modernization, and managed services from a dedicated IBM i practice serving clients since 1996. We support current IBM Power environments as well as the legacy systems that many businesses continue to depend on.
IBM i Consulting
Application development and support, IBM i administration, OS upgrades, security, performance, DB2 for i, and system integration. Engage Paragon for a defined project, ongoing support, or specialized expertise when your team needs it.
IBM i Cloud Hosting
Dedicated LPAR hosting with high-availability failover, geographically separated disaster recovery, 24/7 infrastructure monitoring, and support from IBM i specialists. Reduce infrastructure overhead while improving resilience and recovery readiness.
IBM i Managed Services
IBM i administration for on-premises and hosted environments, including 24/7 monitoring, PTF and OS release management, backup oversight, security, and user administration. Extend or replace in-house coverage with an experienced IBM i team.
IBM i Modernization
Extend the value of existing applications through RPG and COBOL modernization, fixed-format to free-format conversion, DDS-to-DDL database modernization, and modern browser-based interfaces. Improve usability and maintainability without forcing a wholesale replacement.
Software development
Custom Development on IBM i, Linux, and Windows
Off-the-shelf software rarely fits every business process. Paragon designs, builds, and enhances applications on IBM i, Linux, and Windows using RPG, COBOL, SQL, PHP, Java, and Python. Our work includes reporting, integrations, workflow applications, legacy and ERP package modifications, modernization, and re-platforming when an existing system can no longer meet the needs of the business.
Business Intelligence & AI
Turn Your Data Into Answers, Analysis, and Action
Paragon combines established business intelligence platforms with practical AI assistants that help people work more effectively with business data and internal information. These capabilities can be introduced independently or used together as part of a broader data strategy.
Business Intelligence Across Platforms
We design and develop dashboards, reports, and visual analytics using Power BI and Tableau. Our BI services are not tied to a particular operating system, application, or database. We can work with data across IBM i, Windows, Linux, cloud platforms, and the databases and business applications your organization already uses.
AI Data Assistants
Natural-language data assistants allow users to ask business questions in everyday language and receive written answers, detailed reports, charts, or other visual representations. Users can explore follow-up questions without having to write SQL or understand the underlying database structure.
AI Knowledge Assistants
We can also create natural-language search assistants for documents, procedures, contracts, policies, and other internal content. These assistants help users locate and summarize relevant information while providing references back to the source material.
Saved Analysis and Conversation History
Questions, responses, and analysis sessions can be retained so users can return to previous work. An analysis or search can be reviewed, continued, or run again when the underlying data or documentation changes.
Start Small and Build Over Time
Many organizations can begin using infrastructure they already own. For clients that operate on IBM i, the complete solution can be deployed within the IBM i environment. This allows companies to start with a focused use case, demonstrate value, and expand their use of AI as business needs develop.
From AI Analysis to Business Intelligence
AI and BI become especially valuable when they work together. A user can investigate a question through an AI assistant, refine the analysis conversationally, and then turn a useful result into a repeatable Power BI or Tableau dashboard component for broader use.
EDI services
Full-Service EDI, Managed or On-premises
Paragon supports organizations that want EDI fully managed and those that operate it internally. We provide the connectivity, translation, mapping, integration, monitoring, and support required to exchange business documents reliably with customers, suppliers, and other trading partners.
Metals software
ERP Software Built for Metal Service Centers & Toll Processors
Paragon’s software was built specifically for metal service centers and toll processors. Metalware and MetalNet support industry requirements such as catch weight and dual units of measure, coil and sheet tracking, processing, purchasing, inventory, and accounting. MetalWeb and Reveal extend those capabilities with customer self-service and CRM.
Choose Metalware on premises on IBM i or MetalNet as a cloud-delivered ERP. Add MetalWeb for customer self-service and Reveal for CRM connected to your operational data. The product family supports organizations ranging from a single location to large multinational operations.
Why Paragon
A Technology Partner Built for the Long Term
For more than 30 years, Paragon has helped businesses apply technology to practical operational needs. We combine the capabilities of a full-service technology partner with the responsiveness, continuity, and direct access of an experienced, closely managed team.
Industries & clients
Deep Experience Across the Industries That Depend on IBM i
IBM i consulting, hosting and managed services across manufacturing, retail, distribution, and beyond. Decades of experience servicing industries that rely on IBM i.
Food & Beverage
Steel Manufacturing
Manufacturing
IndustrialLocations
Three Offices Serving Clients Nationwide
Ready to talk to an expert?
Tell us about your environment and we’ll walk you through how we can help.
Get a free consultation Call 800-966-6725