Application Modernization

Application Modernization. It is not a matter of if, but when. Many organizations contemplate taking the next step towards modernizing their legacy applications, but questions remain for IT leaders. Why modernize? Where do I start? How do we do it cost effectively? What does the term modern applications mean in our digital transformation? At the forefront is cost. On a daily basis we all strive to do more, save time, and reduce cost wherever we can. Reducing cost is the single most benefit to modernizing your applications and keeping an eye on cost is fundamental. But let's start with that first question...

Why Modernize?

Many enterprises have significant investments in their current application portfolio. Modernizing these applications and legacy systems provides greater agility, mobile access, a modern user experience, and a future ready platform for your organization. Using up-to-date infrastructure, architecture and features enable your applications to be better prepared for future enhancements and modifications. In detailing all of that, you must be thinking how can it be possible for all of those to lead to a reduction in cost? Not only will modernization do just that, but there is a compelling opportunity to increase the ROI for your applications as well. Modernization extends the lifespan of an organization's applications while taking advantage of new technical frameworks, modern programming languages/technology stacks, and infrastructure platforms. With the capabilities of the cloud, we can accomplish all of this while at the same time providing increased efficiency, agility and scalability for the future enhancements to applications.

To be clear modernization is not rewriting legacy applications from scratch. Existing applications contain valuable application architecture, business rules, processes and back-end system integration that at minimum MUST remain in place in some form when deciding on your path to application modernization. Why move to another solution where those vital assets are lost and end user time efficiency is actually reduced? This not only makes the transition extremely difficult, but the end users suffer with frustration, loss of time, and morale. This will not only result in increased costs, but also generate additional cost due to lost labor efficiency. The question I would ask is when purchasing a new lawn mower, would you go from a self-propelled back to a push mower? Obviously not as the loss of time and added effort makes that a ridiculous proposition. Same goes for modernization. And for those aforementioned business processes, rules and back-end system integrations that are so valuable, these must be a part of any modernization plan. Budgets should not be wasted on reinventing the wheel, but be spent taking what is already working and making it better.

For me, I understand the value applications bring to the end users. I have seen it first hand. There is nothing better than providing the tools that give valuable time back to the users so they can get more done with their day. When done correctly, your application modernization journey will take this to a whole new level. Adding more flexibility, functionality and time will allow your users to get even more done with their day. Enhancing the customer experience is so important. Keep in mind that mobility and the ability to use applications anywhere and from any device are at the forefront of modernization. This is a must as being able to get even the most simple tasks done anytime, anywhere is one of, if not the biggest benefits to modernization. Any application modernization plan without this is futile.

Along with mobility, there are additional areas your modernization strategy can provide valuable insight to: reducing technical debt, cloud native options (on premises, hosted cloud or hybrid cloud), increasing developer productivity, providing faster development, and deployment with DevOps practices.

So where do you start? Do we need an application assessment? What should we look for when analyzing application modernization services and solutions? How do we provide modern applications in the most cost effective way?

We will hit on those in our next blog posts... stay tuned.