It can be hard to keep your applications running smoothly and up to date with the latest technologies, given the fast-paced technology landscape. What was cutting-edge technology when your business applications were first created, they are likely slowing down and creating critical issues that disrupt operations and productivity. Outdated existing legacy systems can use up huge amounts of resources and have high maintenance costs.
The choice then becomes whether your business will struggle along or choose to modernise legacy applications. It can be a daunting decision considering upgrading or reworking such systems, particularly as they are central to business and process operations. However, taking the step to update your infrastructure through application modernisation offers significant advantages and future opportunities.
What is application modernisation?
Modernising applications involves refactoring, repurposing, or consolidating legacy software code to make it more in line with current business requirements. Typically application modernisation is the process of migrating traditional applications to run in cloud environments.
Modernising an application can be as straightforward as migrating it to the cloud, or it can be a complicated process involving extensive re-coding.
Reasons to modernise your applications
Being proactive is critical to successful digital transformation, and modernising applications is no exception. Legacy applications and technologies can get in the way of your company reaching its full potential. The needs of businesses, customer expectations, and market demands are continually changing and it can be challenging to keep track.
There are many reasons your business needs to consider upgrading or reworking your applications, such as:
- Your business has grown and the current systems are no longer suitable or adequate to support it.
- Your business cannot adapt to meet the demands and expectations of a changing market because of your existing systems.
- Your current systems aren’t compatible with the latest firewalls and protections, and you’re worried about data security.
- Your legacy systems are no longer functioning reliably, and it is having a significant impact on performance and productivity.
- Your organisation’s applications are slow, clumsy, and inefficient, resulting in a decline in staff productivity as well as a negative impact on customer satisfaction.
- Your business experiences frequent disruptions when critical parts of your legacy applications are unreliable or no longer function.
- It is no longer possible or viable to maintain your legacy systems internally.
- It is no longer financially sustainable to continue making short-term fixes for fundamental issues in your legacy systems.
Benefits of application modernisation
Application modernisation aims to generate new business value from existing applications. An application is a program that operates directly with the user or another application to fulfil a particular role.
The benefits of application modernisation include:
- Improved performance and speed
- Cost efficiencies in the reduced time needed to update and operational costs
- Enhanced productivity, which further opens up opportunities for business and improved customer service
- Digital-first user experience is continuously delivered, regardless of future technology changes
- Systems can be changed and reshaped, with rapid process-driven deployment
Strategic approach to modernisations
An application modernisation strategy is identified during the planning phase and put into action during the implementation phase to achieve the organisation’s modernisation goals. There are different types of application modernisation, such as Microsoft Azure’s modernisation strategies:
- Rehost: known as lift and shift, applications are transferred from their previous environment as is to the cloud without changing code or modifications, to their current environment without alteration. This strategy offers speed and reduces Capex.
- Rearchitect: extends application functionality and code to improve cloud scalability by modifying and expanding them, allowing for scale and agility and easy adoption of cloud capabilities.
- Rebuild: a more difficult undertaking, but it may be critical if old applications have limited function or are nearing the end of their life cycle.
- Replatform: transition applications to the cloud by making code changes. This approach falls somewhere between rehosting and refactoring.
- Refactor: minimises code changes so that apps can connect quickly to and take advantage of a cloud-first environment.
- Replace: if an app cannot meet current or future business requirements after being rebuilt, replacing it may be a faster solution.
Upgrade or rework your applications with the experts
Today’s modern business practices have evolved due to the evolution of technology, however, legacy applications can slow down the growth and success of your business. Modernising applications can power your organisation into the future, with increased agility, streamlined processes, and built-in analytics that increase productivity.
INTELLIWORX leverages the best in cloud technology with the expertise to deliver the optimal solution for your business with Microsoft Azure. Trust our Azure migration consultants to ensure you get the most from your cloud investment with the perfect end-to-end solution. Contact us today.
