NAViGATE 2026 at IBM TechXchange: Full Schedule

The sessions listed below are for informational purposes only. The final schedule will be available through the IBM TechXchange session catalog, and the IBM Events app will be the official App for NAViGATE. You can build your personal schedule there, as well as see full set of sessions available to you as an attendee.

9:00am EDT

API Enable Your Database

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

How do you deliver data in the modern world? Rest APIs are one of the most common methods. We’ll explore, though live demos, how to expose data in a safe and secure manner using Integrated Web Services (IWS). Our focus will be on directly leveraging the DATBASE with SQL, not using RPG or Service program.

Speakers

John Westcott

Consultant and Db2 for i Team Lead, IBM

John Westcott is a Senior Delivery Consult and Db2 for i Team Lead in IBM Technology Expert Labs. John is highyly skilled in SQL, RPG, Data Analytics, Rest API, and both database and application modernization.

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Intermediate Level

9:00am EDT

Db2 for i from the comfort of your VS Code

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

VS Code and Code for IBM i are really built with IBM i developers in mind. Add the Db2 for IBM i extension in the mix and you get the perfect toolset for working with the database. This open source extension, built by the community for the community, brings all the tools one needs to run queries and display results from within VS Code. But wait, there's more! Data export, Visual Explain, SELF, AI integration ... there is lot of great features to discover, and they are right at your fingertips !

Speakers

Markus Glaser

IBM Champion | Tech Lead Modernization, i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH

Proud to be IBM Champion! I am also a Software-Developer and coding enthusiast

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Db2 for i Indexing Strategy Guide

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

One of the most important things needed to improve SQL performance is to have the proper indexing over tables, especially as your databases grow in size. Indexes are so important that Db2 for i supports different types of indexes. The order of the keys that you choose for your index key definitions is also just as important as the indexing technology in terms of the performance impact that the index can deliver for your query workloads. The number of indexes that you create is another consideration as you put together an indexing strategy for your database.

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Db2 for i Indexing Tools Guide

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

Having the the proper indexes on your database is a critical success factor for good performance for SQL programs and query workloads. Db2 for i provides multiple tools to help implement and manage your database indexing strategy because this it's such an important topic. The tools include graphical tools provided by the IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) SQL Performance Center and services interface that enable you to programmatically manage indexes on your application database.

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

IBM Bob & Db2 for i

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

IBM Bob Premium Package for i is an AI coding assistant optimized for IBM i development. Unlike generic AI tools, Bob is trained on IBM i languages, conventions, and best practices, making it uniquely qualified to assist with RPG, CL, DDS, and SQL development. This session will show examples of Bob in daily development work, including generating and explaining RPG, CL, and DDS code, SQL query generation and optimization, creating documentation, and generating unit tests. Bob can help you to increase productivity, improve code quality, and help solve complex problems on IBM i.

Speakers

Sarah Mackenzie

IBM

Sarah has worked at IBM since 2013 and is a key developer working on the IBM i Development team in Rochester. She is specifically focused on Db2 for i and is responsible for helping to implementing many of the recent enhancements to Db2 for i, including RCAC and Temporal Tables. Sarah... Read More →

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database, Artificial Intelligence

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Leveraging IBM Database Expert Query for Reporting

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

We'll create reporting and charts during this session showcasing how both system admin and business users can easily run and create reports.

Speakers

John Westcott

Consultant and Db2 for i Team Lead, IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Shallow Dive into Database Modernization

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

Do you still use DDS to create physical files? Do you create an "extension" file when you need to add a field to an existing file? Are you worried that moving to SQL is too difficult? This session is for you. Do you need to prevent bad data from getting into your system regardless of how it's being added? This session is for you. Do you need to mask sensitive data, or protect data from unauthorized users? This session is for you. If you love working really hard, enjoy cryptic column-oriented codes, or the thought of recompiling all your RPG programs gives you a thrill, then maybe this session isn't for you.

Speakers

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Intermediate Level

9:00am EDT

Stepping through SQL Performance

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

Every SQL statement has a predefined steps that it must go through before it can complete you data base requests. Each step taken can positively or negatively impact SQL performance - especially on transactional applications that are running the same set of SQL statements over and over again. This session will explain each step needed to run an SQL statement and the structures that Db2 creates that can impact performance. In addition, this session will review application design and settings that can impact the performance of the required steps.

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Using Bob for Database Tasks

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

Come learn about the latest AI technology from the IBM i team! The IBM Bob Premium Package for i contains a tailored Database mode, designed to help the programmer and system administrator with everyday database tasks, such as SQL performance analysis, query writing and debugging, and much more.

Speakers

Sarah Mackenzie

IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database, Artificial Intelligence

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

What's New in DB2 for i: IBM i 7.6 Release and Latest TR Updates

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

In this session, we will explore the latest database enhancements delivered in IBM i 7.6 and the most recent IBM i 7.6 and 7.5 Technology Refreshes. You will learn about security enhancements including IBM i Integrated Multi-factor authentication (MFA), SQL enhancements that provide new capabilities, and new and expanded IBM i Services that provide deeper system insights. This session will include something for everyone and anyone who uses the IBM i.

Speakers

Sarah Mackenzie

IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

Writing SQL Programs

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

Of couse you already know that SQL is more than SELECT. INSERT, etc statements. Now you need to level up your SQL ability and write SQL programs: Stored Procedure and Functions. Need a quick start? This is the session for you! Learn how to code in SQL PL (Procedural Language) and well make comparision to how you'd do that in RPG.

Speakers

John Westcott

Consultant and Db2 for i Team Lead, IBM

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database

Company Introductory Level

9:00am EDT

No More Excuses: Using AI to Anonymize Your Test Data

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBD

We'll just use a copy of production — it's a phrase that has launched a thousand compliance violations. IBM i shops often sit on decades of richly structured data in Db2 for i that is invaluable for testing, but off-limits for good reason. This session shows how AI can intelligently anonymize and synthesize test data that preserves referential integrity, realistic data distributions, and business logic — without exposing PII or violating GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2 requirements. We'll cover practical approaches using AI tooling alongside native IBM i capabilities, and walk through real patterns for masking data across related physical and logical files.

Speakers

Alan Ashley

Solution Architect, ARCAD Software

When it comes to describing someone, even yourself, it can be difficult. This time it's easy. I grew up on the AS400, through iSeries, and into the IBM i world. Started on a model B50 (I know it was a B model) where the disk drive needed two persons to replace and now in the DevSecOps... Read More →

Monday October 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBD 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Database, Artificial Intelligence, Program Testing | Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Program Testing

Company Intermediate Level

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