Case study source: https://iworldweb.info/casestudy/20250129_maru-t
Founded over 110 years ago and headquartered in Yotsuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Maru-T Ohtsuka Corp. is a long-established holding company overseeing a group of domestic and international businesses. Its two core subsidiaries are:
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Otsuka Brush Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells painting tools such as brushes and rollers, and also operates as a trading company dealing in painting equipment, housing materials, and construction tools.
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Handy Crown Co., Ltd., which distributes its own brand of painting tools through home improvement stores.
The company manages a total of 12 domestic group companies, along with overseas affiliates. Otsuka Brush Manufacturing caters to professional painters and sells through agents, while Handy Crown focuses on the DIY market via retail outlets and e-commerce on its site "Marute Plus."
Long-Term Commitment to IBM i
Maru-T Ohtsuka has a long history with IBM systems, dating back to 1979 with the IBM System/34. Since then, it has consistently relied on IBM i as its core system platform, adhering to an in-house development strategy as a key differentiator.
Currently, a team of 20 IT professionals supports the systems for six group companies, with nine members dedicated to IBM i application development. New employees without IT experience are often assigned to this team and trained internally- an ongoing investment in digital skills.
The main sales and inventory system operates on IBM i, accessed internally via a traditional 5250 emulator. To enhance usability, the company also developed:
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A PHP-based mobile interface that allows sales staff to check inventory, pricing, and order status from outside the company.
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A web application with product images to overcome the limitations of the 5250 interface.
In addition, the company digitized its agent ordering process, which was previously handled manually via fax. Agents can now enter orders directly via a web app, reducing operator workload and improving accuracy.
These external web apps run on a Linux server and are linked in real-time to IBM i via Db2 Connect, ensuring up-to-date data availability.
Challenges and Cloud Migration
Maru-T Ohtsuka operated four IBM i systems across Japan - Tokyo, Osaka (for backup), Miyagi (group company), and Saitama (Handy Crown) - alongside a Linux server hosted on a third-party cloud.
Despite the high availability of IBM i at headquarters, issues such as air conditioning failures in the server room, growing maintenance burdens, and end-of-support for the Linux OS and IBM Power8 systems prompted the company to consider a cloud migration.
The company chose to migrate both its IBM i systems to IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) and its Linux servers to IBM Cloud, consolidating previously distributed infrastructure into a single environment. This move also enabled faster data integration between IBM i and Linux components due to their co-location.
Smooth Migration with MONO-X’s "PVS One"
To ensure a smooth transition, Maru-T Ohtsuka partnered with MONO-X Inc., using their "PVS One" cloud migration service for IBM i. The service provided:
Thanks to this expert guidance, the migration progressed quickly and successfully.
Key Benefits of Moving to IBM Power Virtual Server
1. Reduced Disaster Recovery and System Management Costs
The company was able to retire its physical DR servers in Osaka thanks to PowerVS’s highly available architecture. Prior issues with HDDs and LTO tapes, along with the need for weekend maintenance, were eliminated. The simplified DR setup reduced both hardware expenses and IT overhead.
2. Accelerated System Performance
Daily batch processing for 30 business locations used to take 30 minutes during evening closing hours. After the move to PowerVS, this process now completes in just 3 minutes.
This dramatic improvement is attributed to:
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PowerVS's CPU burst capability, which scales from 0.25 to 1 core as needed
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The use of SSD-based Tier 1 storage
3. Flexible Configuration and Pay-As-You-Go Cost Model
PowerVS provides redundancy for CPU, storage, and network infrastructure. It also allows easy changes to network configuration, which is particularly useful when integrating external SaaS tools like kintone.
Storage scalability supports fast rollout of digital transformation (DX) initiatives. Configuration changes and new deployments are made easier with MONO-X’s ongoing support and toolset.
Next Steps: DX and Partner Service Innovation
In the new IBM Cloud environment, Maru-T Ohtsuka is focusing on two major initiatives:
1. Internal DX: The company uses IBM i for core systems, Linux for UI, and Cybozu’s kintone for business process applications. Its Systems Department leads development but encourages “citizen development” by enabling departments such as Product Management and HR to build their own apps.
This field-led development model ensures tools are aligned with practical needs while IT supports governance and scalability.
2. External Services: Maru-T Ohtsuka currently offers a PHP-based inventory system for sales reps. In the future, the company plans to use "MONO-X One," a no-code platform, to develop systems for external partners that can connect directly to core systems—standardizing and accelerating digital service rollout.
A Future-Ready IT Foundation
Maru-T Ohtsuka’s commitment to in-house development and IBM i has long been a strategic advantage. Now, by migrating to IBM Power Virtual Server and IBM Cloud, the company has optimized costs, strengthened disaster recovery, and created a scalable platform for innovation.
With this future-ready IT foundation, the company is positioned to support internal productivity and external collaboration—all while staying true to its heritage of craftsmanship and continuous improvement.