In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the modernization of an application portfolio is vital for the seamless operation of organizations. Modernizing technological systems directly and significantly impacts a company’s growth and long-term viability.
However, an increasing number of companies persists in relying on outdated, inefficient, or even obsolete technologies, often unaware of the harmful repercussions. In addition to its impact on competitiveness, these outdated systems pose real risks to performance and security.
Why should you start modernizing your application portfolio today? What are the benefits of an early start, and where should you begin? Let’s take a look at the crucial stages of your digital transformation.
The Fundamentals of Application Modernization
Application modernization is much more than a simple software update; it poses a real strategic challenge, contributing to the reinforcement of a company’s entire application ecosystem. Let’s explore what this means concretely.
What is the modernization of an application portfolio?
IT applications are at the heart of all business operations, encompassing commercial, financial, human resources, customer relations, and supply chain functions.
Regardless of your industry or company size, whether you rely on an ERP, a software package, a specific API, or any other software solution for daily operations, these form your application portfolio.
In short, the modernization of software and systems is a consideration for all companies. This process involves ensuring compatibility with the latest technologies, reinforcing security, and adapting to any process adjustments your organization may have made in the meantime.
There are various ways to optimize these software solutions, including updating and optimizing applications, rewriting code, revising architecture, migrating to more modern platforms, or incorporating new functionalities. Modernization options and processes are naturally tailored to the specific needs of each individual company.
Why should we modernize our application portfolio?
Technology is evolving rapidly, yet many companies are still using obsolete infrastructures, which can have an impact on time, cost, and productivity.
Consider a scenario where your application relies on WebForms. Nowadays, it’s relatively uncommon to find developers actively working with this technology, and making changes can quickly become a challenging task. By opting for application modernization, you avoid getting stuck in an outdated technology, and instead benefit from current, more adaptable solutions.
Another frequently encountered issue involves software packages. For example, if your software package is still in version X, while the latest available version is X + 4, you may face potential risks. The idea of implementing a vendor-supported upgrade may seem challenging or even impractical, but sticking with an obsolete version exposes your company to the risks of data loss, system malfunctions, and the potential future dysfunction of the software.
When should we modernize our application portfolio?
Modernizing an application portfolio is a crucial concern that often doesn’t receive adequate attention. An aging system not only slows down the collective efforts of your employees but can quickly become inefficient and even excessively costly. Several signs can serve as alerts, indicating the imperative need to start modernizing your applications today:
- Technological obsolescence: If your applications operate on outdated or obsolete technologies no longer supported, you might find yourself vulnerable to technological incompatibilities. Staying informed about market trends is crucial, as technology retirements occur more frequently than one might anticipate. The recent announcement regarding the end of support for the Windows Server 2012 operating system serves as a pertinent example and a warning to consider. Preparing now is essential to avoid potential security or performance issues that could potentially impact your business.
- Recurring user complaints: By carefully listening to your employees’ feedback and fostering effective internal communication, you’ll quickly find out if your application’s performance is lacking or if they’re experiencing a slowdown that necessitates immediate action to improve their efficiency.
- High maintenance costs: The costs of keeping your application up and running involve monitoring, fixing, and updating your systems. When these costs become frequent and high, modernizing your applications can help cut long-term expenses, ensuring your applications stay efficient and reducing the risk of unexpected downtime.
- Outdated ergonomics and scalability: If your application does not align with your current challenges, it hinders productivity and limits the integration of new ideas or processes in your company. For example, an application that was created in 2010 may lack features essential today, as those needs weren’t foreseeable back then. This serves as a crucial indicator, quickly justifying the modernization of your application portfolio to promote innovation and maintain competitiveness within your company.
The Benefits of Modernizing an Application Portfolio
As companies face ongoing challenges like adapting to new technologies and addressing customer needs, the modernization of application portfolios becomes crucial. This approach not only helps companies thrive in a changing environment but also brings a lot of benefits. Here’s a few essential ones:
- Maintaining your operations: While seemingly simple on paper, it’s crucial for your growth and long-term viability. Modernizing your IT solutions reduces unplanned downtime by improving their stability and performance.
- Improved operational efficiency: Modernizing applications increases their effectiveness and enables the automation of processes, reducing time-consuming tasks for your employees.
For example, if an employee is making around 30 clicks to complete a specific operation multiple times a day, a comprehensive audit could suggest a solution to reduce this number of clicks by ten. This transformation allows the employee to redirect the time saved toward more high-value tasks, creating a win-win situation! - A competitive edge: New functionalities introduced by modernized applications not only expand your market reach but also provide the agility to react quickly, ensuring you seize every opportunity.
- Cost savings: Modernizing your application portfolio lowers technical support and maintenance costs by replacing obsolete technologies. The advanced technologies taking their place also ensure the scalability of your systems.
- Enhanced data security: Modernizing your application portfolio addresses security vulnerabilities and protects your company’s sensitive data from potential threats.
- Optimized user and customer experience: A modernized application that aligns with users’ expectations and simplifies their daily tasks enhances the satisfaction of both your employees and customers simultaneously.
The risks of neglecting updates for your application portfolio amid advancing technology are quite serious. As technology evolves rapidly, failing to upgrade your IT setup can slow down your business. The impact on your organization’s speed and agility will be substantial, and the longer you delay, the more challenging it becomes to adapt.
Optimizing your application portfolio might require an initial investment, but it’s a cost-saving move when addressed early. Picture your company as your home, and your application portfolio as your balcony. You enjoy your balcony daily for morning coffee, using it to kickstart your day. Over time, weather conditions contribute to cracks in the concrete and peeling paint due to wear and tear.
The takeaway here is simple: just like renovating your balcony step by step—fixing cracks and refreshing the paint periodically rather than waiting for it to fall apart—taking a proactive approach to upgrading your applications ensures their efficiency and longevity.
Modernizing Your Application Portfolio With Uzinakod
You might know by now, but staying up to date with technology is vital for staying competitive in a fast-paced market. If you have aging IT systems, you’re likely aware of the significant risk they pose to your business. Our experts are here to help you assess the degree of obsolescence and guide you through the steps to fix the situation.
There are two ways we can help:
Through the Lift & Shift Method or PaaS Migration
Gone are the days of in-house servers: we move your infrastructure directly to the Cloud (or leverage the power of Azure when needed!) This approach is often favored for its low risk and ensures uninterrupted operations. Additionally, a physical infrastructure might not always align with the latest updates, potentially incurring extra costs for equipment and system updates.
We also offer PaaS Cloud migration, using services instead of infrastructure. This method is particularly effective when older custom software needs modernization. Uzinakod’s expertise in rewriting legacy platforms is well-established, and our approach is thoroughly proven.
Using a Diagnostic Approach
If you currently have on-premises servers and are not ready for a Cloud migration, we provide support throughout your modernization journey. Understanding that your in-house teams might not be accustomed to such projects, we are here to lighten the load. We will begin by evaluating your internal processes and then create a roadmap outlining the necessary steps.
Whether through a diagnostic or by deploying our Squad to your company for the required tasks, we will be with you every step of the way.
Note that each modernization process is unique, depending on the company’s application portfolio. Far from being a straightforward process, it can be a complex one requiring the support of experts. Our team is your preferred partner for this critical stage in your digital transformation.
It’s very simple:
- We have cutting-edge technical expertise and a team of 70 experienced professionals ready to support you.
- We listen attentively to your needs, thoroughly analyze, and investigate them until we have a complete understanding.
- We propose technology choices that consistently align with the specific needs of your organization.
- We offer you ongoing support, from analysis and planning to project implementation, along with change management for your business processes.
- We also provide complementary services in artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence (BI) and Internet of Things (IoT).
Not to mention complete control over your budgets and deadlines, as well as the paramount importance of data security!
Struggling with time constraints or lacking in-house expertise to modernize your application portfolio to match today’s technologies? Our experts are ready to lend a hand, ensuring you leverage the performance and security offered by the latest technological advances. Contact them to explore a range of benefits and move ahead in your market.
