Mainframes have supported key industries for decades, including banking, insurance, healthcare, and public services. Often misunderstood as outdated or inflexible, these systems are anything but obsolete. In fact, they remain indispensable to core enterprise functions due to their unmatched reliability, processing scale, and embedded business logic.
But the perspective is shifting. In today’s digital-first economy, the approach is shifting from replacing mainframes to modernizing and evolving them. Fueled by artificial intelligence, automation, and cloud-native architecture, mainframes are evolving into intelligent digital cores: adaptive, scalable, and deeply integrated into modern enterprise ecosystems.
Leading this transformation is Balaji Conda Shankar, a senior technology executive with over two decades of experience in modernization at scale. His work connects legacy and next-generation systems, incorporating intelligence into core enterprise infrastructure. From AI-driven code transformation to large-scale integration, Balaji has contributed to programs that help transition traditional systems into platforms focused on innovation, efficiency, and long-term resilience.
Orchestrating Enterprise-Scale Integrations
Early in his transformation journey, Balaji was tasked with modernizing and integrating over 250 essential applications across HR, finance, analytics, and planning. These systems were deeply interdependent and subject to tight operational timelines, especially during fiscal closings and regulatory reporting.
Balaji’s approach focused on end-to-end optimization and automation:
Reduced data batch processing times from 9 hours to 2, enabling same-day reporting and quicker book closures.
Introduced SLA-aligned workflows to reduce downtime and improve issue resolution across environments.
Implemented proactive alerting systems, integrating job status and health metrics for real-time diagnostics.
Enhanced business continuity planning with automated production support and stronger compliance alignment.
These initiatives improved performance but also contributed to building systems capable of detecting and addressing issues with minimal human intervention.
Advancing Agile Analytics and Business Intelligence
In another enterprise-wide program, Balaji led the consolidation of fragmented BI systems into a unified analytics platform. His work helped decision-makers access near-real-time insights and supported faster, more accurate forecasting.
His team delivered:
Migration of legacy reporting into a centralized, metadata-driven platform.
Development of mobile-first dashboards tailored for executive and operational use.
Integration of real-time data pipelines to reduce lag in insight delivery.
Backend optimization to improve query performance and user experience.
By supporting agility and accuracy in business intelligence, Balaji bridged the gap between data infrastructure and executive decision-making.
Modernizing a 40-Year-Old Mainframe
One of Balaji’s major initiatives involves replatforming a 40-year-old mainframe system, —a project that involves reengineering everything from transaction processing to settlements and compliance reporting.
This transformation centers around:
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for consistent environment provisioning.
Domain-driven microservices to replace monolithic modules with scalable services.
Low-code/no-code platforms for rapid UI and service delivery.
AI-powered code refactoring to automatically interpret and modernize legacy code.
Containerization and CI/CD pipelines for cloud deployment and continuous delivery.
Everything-as-a-Platform (XaaP) architecture to enable reusable assets across teams.
The modernization spans multiple tracks—from UI upgrades to API enablement—and is governed by Balaji’s leadership of over 100 engineers, architects, and DevOps specialists. His focus on reusable components supports modernization as an ongoing operational capability rather than a one-time initiative.
Embedding AI into the Mainframe Core
Balaji’s approach goes beyond modernization—he’s embedding AI into the very core of mainframe operations:
Predictive maintenance models anticipate failures and optimize uptime.
AI-based code analysis tools accelerate the transformation of legacy programs.
Dynamic resource allocation helps systems self-tune for performance and cost.
Anomaly detection engines monitor system and user behaviors to strengthen security.
Workflow intelligence identifies inefficiencies in job scheduling and orchestration.
This added layer makes mainframes autonomous, adaptive, and analytics-ready— shifting their role from passive systems to active participants in digital operations.
Leading Transformation Beyond Technology
Balaji’s role includes both technical execution and responsibilities in strategic transformation, such as:
Owning RFP/RFI responses and defining target-state architectures.
Mentoring cross-functional teams in cloud, mainframe, and hybrid technologies.
Communicating transformation strategies to executive stakeholders.
Ensuring compliance and embedding governance and security into all initiatives.
His leadership ensures that transformation is sustainable, scalable, and aligned with business goals.
Looking Ahead: Building Digital Cores for the AI Era
Mainframes are continuing to evolve into resilient and adaptable digital cores. When modernized with AI and guided by a clear architectural approach, they can support the next generation of enterprise innovation.
“AI-enhanced mainframes aren't legacy systems—they're resilient digital cores, getting smarter and faster every day,” says Balaji.
His work highlights that innovation doesn't always require starting from scratch. Sometimes, it begins by rethinking the foundation—intelligently, strategically, and at scale.
About the Author: Balaji Conda Shankar
Balaji Conda Shankar is an Associate Vice President at Mphasis with experience in enterprise-scale modernization and AI-driven infrastructure transformation. With over 20 years of experience, he leads large programs that blend mainframes, cloud-native platforms, and automation. His expertise includes legacy replatforming, AI-assisted code conversion, and systems integration across regulated industries. Balaji has led cross-functional teams of over 100 professionals, contributing to the delivery of secure, scalable, and future-ready digital cores.
