Mainframe enterprise software company PopUp Mainframe has released the initial findings of its 2025 Mainframe Market Survey, which reveals the latest market trends and 2025 plans for enterprises utilizing IBM mainframe technology.
The survey reveals the continued reliance, investment, and perceived value of the mainframe across the sector, with 98% of respondents saying they rely on the IBM mainframe to run their organization. A further 94% confirmed their “potential to leverage additional workload capacity on specialist/Linux environments on Z,” while 97% indicated plans to “increase use” of specialist mainframe processors.
The survey uncovers key strategic challenges facing enterprise IT leaders. Approximately 80% of respondents cited speed of delivery, cost management, flexibility, risk management, and sustainability as high-priority issues – areas where improvement is needed. Operationally, nearly two-thirds of respondents identified limited access to mainframe environments as a hindrance to meeting mainframe delivery goals, while the majority also cited challenges related to technical skills and tooling availability.
“As attitudes around mainframe modernization continue to evolve, the platform’s ability to support rapid, low-risk change with the right level of flexibility remains critical,” said CEO Gary Thornhill. “With 60 years of success and a brand-new model now available, it is no surprise so many organizations see the enduring value of the IBM mainframe. What our survey reveals is that, in a constantly changing digital landscape, organizations must confront strategic and operational barriers head-on. Evolving how the mainframe is used will be key to doing so. Innovation through tooling, processes, and cultural change is essential.
Conducted with Vanson Bourne, a global research firm, the survey polled senior practitioners and IT executives from the UK and North America. Respondents shared the strategic importance of the IBM mainframe to their business, current challenges, and future needs – including development toolchains and resources.
Key findings of the Vanson Bourne Survey include:
- 88% reported material concerns over the availability of mainframe environments
- 79% cited staffing limitations and tooling as hindrances to meeting business objectives
- 28% said faster implementation of change is critically important, and 81% said improvements were needed
- 36% said improving flexibility and agility is critical, and 86% said improvements were needed
- 37% emphasized the importance of meeting regulatory and compliance requirements, with 82% calling for improvements
- 29% prioritized greater cost efficiency, and 90% said progress is needed
- 30% ranked delivering on IT sustainability objectives as critical, and 86% said more work is needed
“These early findings reflect a mainframe community that is deeply committed to the platform—and equally driven to push it further,” said Derek Britton, CMO of PopUp Mainframe. “The data reveals a strong appetite for modernization and innovation across the board.”
Planet Mainframe will provide additional coverage of the 2025 Mainframe Market Survey, including the full report, in an upcoming article. The full press release is available at www.popup-mainframe.com.
Derek Britton is a COBOL and Modernization commentator, a founding member of the Open Mainframe ProjectCOBOL Working Groupand runs theApplication Modernization Groupon LinkedIn. Connect with him here. With over 30 years in the enterprise software industry, Derek is an accomplished technology marketing leader, writer, and presenter. With software development, marketing, product management, and services experience, Derek regularly commentates across the IT press, and at events such as Gartner, Open Mainframe Project, SHARE, and GSE. Derek holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from De Montfort University.