To compete in today’s digital world, businesses must upgrade their IT infrastructures for agility, efficiency, and a better customer experience. The application modernization procedure is crucial for a company’s success in the digital world.
To continue contributing value to an industry, businesses should consider using cloud-native development and deployment services to modernise existing applications. That’s where you need modernisation services. These modernisation options may assist you in upgrading your app to the most recent levels, ensuring that it works correctly and looks fantastic on all devices.
If you want to stay ahead of the competition, you need to invest in app modernisation services. However, this blog post will provide you with the knowledge you need to successfully modernise how your organisation operates and how it can help your business remain competitive in today’s market.
What Is Application Modernisation?
Application modernisation refers to replacing old legacy systems or applications with more modern functionality and capabilities, such as new languages, platforms, and infrastructure solutions.
Modernising obsolete apps may increase the speed with which new features are delivered and their scalability and performance for generating new business value. Many businesses have built up an impressive number of applications over time.
However, because of their age, several of the systems may no longer be capable of addressing the continuous rise in business demands. Rather than investing in a costly alternative to replace current applications with cutting-edge technology, application modernisation is a more practical method to take advantage of new platforms, tools, and technologies.
Application modernisation is also known as portfolio modernisation. Above all, it is a company-building strategy that must result in a competitive advantage. It is a cloud-agnostic technique for efficiently developing modernised applications and migrating existing portfolios to the cloud.
Every business has a unique approach to application modernisation.
Every business has a unique approach to application modernisation. They must evaluate the particular problems and opportunities that they may exist. It entails several options (design, rewrite, refactor, or reengineer to future-proof their business on the cloud), and no two businesses will approach it differently.
Application Modernisation Patterns
There are several methods for implementing application modernisation. It’s more effective to engage experienced business analysts and solution architects to comprehensively evaluate your legacy systems and develop a roadmap for upgrading them swiftly if you want to get the most out of your application modernisation strategy.
However, your IT systems may need one or more of the following depending on your business goals and objectives:
Migrating From a Monolithic App to a Microservices Architecture
The majority of the existing legacy software is monoliths, which implies all operations for all data objects are processed by the same backend codebase. This approach to growth has the potential to create several issues, including:
- Changing one set of data objects’ code might have an impact on other parts of the application
- Scaling the system may be tough since numerous data connections are required
- It might be not easy to update and access data in a variety of ways
Breaking down a monolithic system into a set of small, loosely connected microservices is one of the most frequent methods to avoid those difficulties and update old applications.
Cloud Migration
Migrating data, applications, or other business components to a cloud environment is cloud migration. Customers can choose a reliable cloud provider (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform) that offers an infrastructure to deploy and run their software applications on.
The need for cloud infrastructure adoption grows as agile development, rapid deployment, and continuous scale become the “new norm” for businesses (small, medium, and large) and sectors. Cloud migration aims to put applications and data in the most efficient location based on cost, performance, and security concerns.
The following are some of the advantages that businesses may benefit from when they move to the cloud:
- Increased delivery speed of new and modern applications and digital transformation acceleration
- As your company’s requirements evolve, you’ll be able to scale your system in real-time. Cloud computing can handle bigger workloads and more people than on-premises infrastructure
- Cost-effectiveness: You may spend considerably less on IT operations while cloud providers take over maintenance and upgrades, but you may devote more to new goods and innovative services
Using an API to Expose an Application’s Capabilities
APIs may be used to enhance the functionality of your legacy systems. In today’s fast-changing world, inventing new goods, services, and experiences for corporations is critical.
You may no longer feel restricted by your legacy systems when you implement API-led connectivity. Still, you can modernise and expand your apps to become more agile and responsive to recent technologies and other innovations.
APIs allow conventional apps to be linked to cutting-edge technologies at a speed that would otherwise be unimaginable. To make data from previously developed systems accessible, modernise them via RESTful interfaces, and provide access to new cloud services and applications.
Application Reengineering
You may update your current application’s architecture and technology stack to alleviate performance difficulties and take proactive steps to avoid them from recurring.
Redesigning your application enables you to replace outdated technology with cutting-edge platforms, new capabilities, and more efficient coding suited to your company’s demands and requirements. It will assist you in achieving greater dependability, lower operational and maintenance expenses, and increased production output.
Renovation of your application can provide substantial improvements in scalability, security, and flexibility, allowing you to gain a competitive edge in an ever-changing business environment that isn’t limited by the sluggish performance of an antiquated system.
App reengineering may be done in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:
- To move to the newest and most effective language or framework, for example (an e-commerce platform from Next.js 9 to 10)
- Integrating with other technologies and adding more features
- Replacing a relational database system with a NoSQL data structure (for example, MongoDB)
UI/UX Improvements
Sometimes, you need to make minor technological improvements in your app to improve its performance and user experience. Your conversion rates may increase by 200% if you have a well-designed user interface.
Consumer expectations of UX have never been higher. According to Salesforce, 84 percent of customers consider the company’s user experience as important as the goods and services provided.
By refreshing your app’s UI/UX design, you may update and improve the system’s functionality with current business goals and customers’ needs in mind by refreshing your app’s UI/UX design. New app interfaces will increase usability, establish a strong brand presence, and improve customer satisfaction and engagement.
Always Start With an App Modernisation Assessment
You may start by compiling a software application modernization assessment to assess the readiness of your company’s applications. So, to migrate your data to the cloud, there are a variety of user testing and discovery tools you can use.
However, the vast majority of attention is directed toward the infrastructure side. A review of the technical side alone cannot provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about a full application cloud migration. You must evaluate the technical aspect from both an architectural and a business standpoint.
Concentrate on the Company’s Core Business Apps
Some businesses have dozens of apps or just one gigantic business application when you look at it now. However, you must first determine which types of applications are essential to your business.
Finally, you must select the most appropriate modernisation techniques for the specific situations. These actions involve re-hosting, retracting, re-architecting, rebuilding, and retiring.
The Goal of an Application Modernisation Assessment
With the analysis, you can develop a road map for the company’s main business application(s). This entails developing an outline of what they’ll need to do for each app, including:
- The business benefits
- Dependencies
- Risk factors
- Further recommendations
The 2 Steps of an App Modernisation Evaluation
The application assessment framework can be divided into two phases and two tiers for businesses of various sizes. The first level is for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs). This is for a short period of engagement in which you can do an application assessment and provide a final report.
The second level is for businesses, depending on customer requirements. For example, a bank or telecommunications provider is not the same as a government agency.
There are additional criteria to consider, including complexity, the technology involved, the number of stakeholders involved, and the organisation’s application size. However, both tiers employ the same two modernisation approach:
Step 1: Assessment
The assessment phase begins with a one- or two-hour consultation with the company’s executive team. The first of many meetings during the assessment is the kick-off meeting. It’s a crucial aspect of the evaluation because it marks the start of the modernisation process.
During the strategy session, the experts meet with your company and IT executives to hear about their business goals, what they want to accomplish, etc. The expert also chooses the core applications they want to be tested for over a short period. The aim is to connect with the company’s strategic priorities.
After the session, they establish success indicators and a strategy for generating them. This assures that you understand what the experts will be focusing on during this period and also ensures that everyone is aware of where their responsibilities lie. Then, they do an application modernization assessment and take three different routes. These can be done simultaneously or on their own.
Conduct Interviews
They conduct interviews with three stakeholders — or personas, as they call them — for each application.
- Business Owner/Product Owner/Marketing Director: For this stakeholder, experts look at their business problems, such as what their rivals are doing and the potential for new entrants. Typically, questions are used to figure out how they intend to use application modernisation projects for their company and how they can be more agile and inventive to compete with their competition.
- Technology Owner/IT Architect/Director of Development: Experts are interested in finding out their technology requirements. What are they accustomed to doing to receive service faster? Do they have a tight budget, or can they complete the work on a shorter schedule? Do they want to set up the app?
- IT Operations Manager: The experts want to figure out what they need to function more effectively and efficiently, as well as what their problems are, such as if they must support the primary system, eliminate continual upgrades, cut maintenance expenses, etc.
Finally, the experts ask certain questions and attempt to rate and rank them according to what they’ve learned during the strategy workshop.
Automated Code Analysis
Experts run static code analysis on the existing application to assess the code. Every line of code is read, and they determine whether the app is agile, cloud-ready, cloud-resilient, or not ready for the cloud based on hard KPIs. This is presented in a thorough output dashboard.
Step 2: The Roadmap
This step begins with a findings report. Many questions have been asked, and they’ve gathered a lot of parameters and created the necessary output dashboards for each application that would be decided in the strategy session. This evaluation alone is quite beneficial, just like getting a second opinion from a physician.
The report covers everything from a scan and MRI copies to anything else you could think of. But more significantly, the experts will create a road map that documents the workshop’s operational strategies and risk factors.
The Business Benefits of Application Modernisation
You may reach your company’s full potential with the right tools and procedures. Modernizing your company’s legacy system allows your IT department to work more efficiently and intelligently. They would no longer have to waste time on manual integrations and fixes. The following are a few of the most important advantages of legacy modernization:
Competitive Edge
You may take advantage of a head start while your competition is still debating by adopting application modernisation. Take the plunge of faith and update the apps that will support your company’s digital adoption. Modernisation allows your company to move faster than competitors by combining current platforms and technologies.
Improved Compatibility
Adapting existing applications to new technologies, platforms, and code enhances their interoperability with present systems. It also allows businesses to integrate their applications more easily, anticipating better and fulfilling current and future needs.
Modernisation helps organisations redesign their old applications to cloud-native technologies.
Cloud-Native
Modernization helps organizations redesign their old applications with cloud-native technologies. This allows you to take advantage of cloud benefits such as faster time to market, scalability, flexibility, and cost savings.
Better Efficiencies
Modernizing applications enhance process efficiency and company performance. App updates can be made frequently and improved as new bugs are discovered or fix security flaws. Modernization reduces the strain on IT operations and provides operational simplicity.
Robust Security
According to a recent research study, 87 percent of IT executives acknowledged that legacy applications make companies more vulnerable to security concerns.
These reasons are all because legacy applications are incompatible with contemporary security standards and authentication procedures. Modernising your apps can help you avoid many security issues that legacy systems might create.
Enhanced User Satisfaction
Whether it’s your employees or customers, dealing with out-of-date software can be a pain. Developing a modern user-facing design, cutting-edge functionalities, and state-of-the-art features can boost consumer satisfaction and brand reputation.
Staying Relevant
Organizations can use modernization to utilize digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, and cloud computing. It aids in adapting your IT ecosystem to current market patterns and lays the groundwork for future innovation.
Productivity Boost
According to IBM, upgrading legacy stems may improve developers’ productivity by up to 50%. Modernizing applications and offering access to improved developer services may help engineering teams be more productive and reduce time-to-market.
Meeting Compliance
There are several reasons why better systems may assist you in fulfilling your legal obligations. New technologies will be better prepared to fulfill the demands for adhering to regulatory compliance.
Your equipment can better safeguard you from fines or litigation due to regulatory concerns, from fitness standards to security issues.
6 Considerations for Choosing a Legacy Modernisation Approach
To choose between an evolutionary and a revolutionary approach, start by thoroughly investigating your operations to see which path is the most appropriate. The following aspects should be considered throughout the evaluation process:
- Workload: To assess the value, importance, and locations for IT modernization, audit applications, and software. Assessing productivity holistically in the organization’s long-term competitive strategy is important.
- Architecture: Examine your existing system’s components, performance, and return on investment to determine where new technologies may provide improved results.
- Financial: Examine your expenditures to see where you might save money and how you can make the most of what you have right now while also preparing for what’s next.
- Risk: Consider the ramifications of transitioning to a new platform and any unforeseen consequences for business processes and organisational culture against the goals of your legacy system modernisation project. Consider the hidden expenses of maintaining the existing system and maintenance of outdated systems with limited manpower.
- Operations: Determine which new skill sets, training, and procedures must be considered when calculating modernisation expenditures and schedules.
- Security: Determine how to safeguard systems before, during, and after modernisation to avoid data loss, outages, or exposure. Organisations should verify their readiness for the new environment by confirming that they follow government and industry compliance standards in the new environment.
Preparing for Legacy System Modernisation
A system upgrade might be as simple as updating a little yet crucial backend program that barely causes a delay, or it may be a more wide-reaching modification that affects the entire company. In both cases, you consider these three areas while preparing for a legacy modernisation effort:
Examine Your Maturity
The first step in application modernisation is to evaluate your level of growth and maturity. Suppose your company has never moved from a legacy system to a modernised one.
You should probably concentrate on low-hanging fruit, such as duplicate instances of the same application, distinct applications with the same business activities, or non-essential or underutilised apps.
Develop a Plan
To determine where modernisation efforts provide the most return on investment, research information about timelines, budgets, and company requirements. In addition to the tech department, your data, security, and compliance personnel should be involved throughout the modernisation planning process.
Make Plans for Future Modernisation Stages
IT and business processes should be periodically updated to remain competitive. It necessitates keeping up with the most cutting-edge, feature-rich, and efficient infrastructure. There will always be places that can be improved and adapted at the speed of technological progress.
Failure to Act
Failing to modernise your application puts you at a disadvantage, as most of your competitors are already on the road to modernisation. Companies that do not attempt to address their current infrastructure, out-of-date code, application maintenance costs, and lack of scale run the risk of falling behind the competition.
Conclusion: How App Modernisation Services Can Make You Remain Competitive in the Market
It isn’t as elegant to own an ancient and out-of-date IT system as possessing a classic automobile. The systems designed ten years ago are not likely to provide any value to your business in the years ahead.
The greatest result of legacy application modernisation is that it will assist your business in several ways. However, being a business owner necessitates understanding your portfolio and prioritizing investments.
It would help establish a strategy and corporate goals before upgrading the existing IT infrastructure. The essential thing is to locate a trustworthy technology company that can genuinely digitise your business.
