Whether you consider your business to be a “tech company” or not, today’s business world requires organizations of all shapes and sizes to increasingly rely on technology. Often, however, these investments in technology result in a hodgepodge of applications—most of which are outdated or inadequate for your business needs. This is where application modernization comes in.
Simply put, application modernization is a great way to update your technological stack to create more business value. In this article, we will discuss some of the basics of application modernization, the benefits of application modernization as a whole, and how to get started in 2020.
What is Application Modernization?
You can think of application modernization as a way to take your existing applications, update them with modern features and capabilities, and then use these updated applications to accomplish your business goals. In other words, you are investing in applications that are quicker, more efficient, and that creates more value.
Application modernization is a broad term that can apply to all applications. For instance, upon analyzing your current applications, you and your team may discover that your content management system (“CMS”) is outdated. Not only is it slow, but it may not be optimized for a mobile or tablet experience. With application modernization, however, you and your team can re-code or re-platform your CMS so that it better serves your audience.
This is just one example. The bottom line, however, is that application modernization can be implemented throughout your organization. Whether you want to update your cloud infrastructure or simply update the commenting system on your website, application modernization can help you do so.
If you are considering moving legacy applications to the Cloud, there are six strategies that can help you succeed, read more here.
The Benefits of Application Modernization
One of the most prominent benefits of application modernization actually centers on costs. Namely, it helps you avoid the costs (in terms of both money and time) of maintaining legacy systems. While switching costs may seem high, the fact of the matter is that keeping your legacy software and systems is expensive. It’s expensive in many different ways, including increasing maintenance costs, a poorer experience for your customers and employees, and missed opportunities to capitalize on emerging technological trends.
So why don’t all companies upgrade their software? It all comes down to human psychology. Simply put, it is more comfortable to keep things that we are familiar with—even if the change leads to greater benefits in the long run. Ultimately, application modernization helps you break through this inertia and save valuable cash in the long run.
Next, application modernization can improve operational efficiency. This, in fact, is closely tied with the benefit above. Moving from legacy systems into more modern applications can make your company more efficient and productive. Whether it is migrating to an application that leverages artificial intelligence or employing data science in some of your updated applications, application modernization lets you leverage technological innovations. These improved operational efficiencies flow throughout the organization. Essentially, your company can offer better products or services to customers and can make life easier for your employees.
Finally, application modernization can help you unlock new revenue streams. Many legacy systems prevent businesses from capitalizing on potential opportunities to increase their sales. Even if those opportunities are obvious, internal friction and inertia make them foregone opportunities. By contrast, modernizing your applications lets your business create new services or products that generate value for the customer. So long as you are solving a real customer problem, these services or products will generate top-line growth for your business.
These are just some of the many benefits of application modernization. Ultimately, all of these benefits are there for the taking—regardless of the size or sector of your business.
Tactics for Success
First, take your time. Application modernization is exciting. You and your colleagues may be itching to upgrade an application that has created headaches for years. Nonetheless, patience is key here. Ensure that you are implementing the necessary features to accomplish your business goals. This may force you to have honest discussions with your colleagues. But by doing so, you will ensure that the investment is worth it.
Next, make sure that your entire team is on board. This was referenced above, but it is critical. If you have some team members that are stubbornly attached to legacy systems, convince them that change is in their best interest. Achieving buy-in from your entire team will help you avoid headaches down the road.
Finally, don’t be afraid to iterate. If you discover that a feature upgrade isn’t providing value to your organization, don’t hesitate to take a step back. You aren’t modernizing your applications for the sake of doing so. Instead, it should be solving tangible, real-world problems in your business.
Get Started Today
In sum, modernizing your applications can be one of the best decisions that you make in 2020. By following the tips and tactics above, you will be able to make the modernizing process much easier.
What is Application Modernization
application modernization is a great way to update your technological stack to create more business value.
BENEFITS OF APPLICATION MODERNIZATION
1- it helps you avoid the costs (in terms of both money and time) of maintaining legacy systems
2- improve operational efficiency
3- unlock new revenue streams
