• Sreedhar P K

    Delivery Manager - Enterprise Solutions

    April 12, 2023

What is legacy software, and why should you migrate to modern digital software

In a world where technological advancements happen constantly, businesses that use legacy software risk their survival. Every new tech version aims to improve customer experience and create stronger brand loyalty. Thus, carrying on with legacy software systems dwarfs a company’s growth and poses several challenges to sustaining in the market.

So, what is Legacy software? In a nutshell, it is software that uses outdated technology and is not quick to adapt to changes. Since Legacy software is not agile, such companies cannot scale up or adjust their outcomes in time to suit the market needs and demands. The benefits of modernizing legacy software applications outweigh any perceived risks.

The Internet of Things, Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure have disrupted market trends. What is relevant today might not be so tomorrow and businesses need to step up to stay in competition. Modernizing legacy systems will empower companies to anticipate the trends and up their business strategy rather than play catch up.

What do we understand by Digital migration?

Digital migration means moving analog manual processes to automated or digitized cloud-based platforms. Legacy software businesses usually hire legacy modernization companies to help them upgrade their systems and move to cloud-based platforms. Legacy software modernization does not happen in a day. The process is gradual and happens in stages over time to ensure there is no loss of data.

Why should you migrate to digital software now?

A digital format is superior to legacy systems since updating and monitoring data is quicker, smoother, and error-free. Scaling up to meet an increase in demand or accommodating a shift in technology to welcome more efficient methods of operation becomes a seamless exercise in a digital format. Digitization ensures companies carry out their operations and business beyond physical spaces and remain relevant in the market. The Covid-19 pandemic was a litmus test that rendered several legacy software firms irrelevant because they could not ramp up or adapt to a digital platform.

Here are the top reasons why you should migrate to modern digital software:

  1. To become more agile:

Making changes to monolithic or legacy applications is heavy on time since the entire structure gets impacted by even minor edits. One of the many reasons legacy software companies shy away from experimenting with the new is because it is daunting to implement within monolithic systems. Legacy software modernization, on the other hand, lets you customize, change, and edit at many different levels making the business agile to innovate, adapt and adopt.

  1. To improve productivity and lower cost:

Maintaining outdated tools involves more expenditure for the company. As the industry evolves and the old gets replaced by the new, it gets challenging to find technical candidates to work on or resolve issues. Invariably, the outflow of money to sustain old ways of working is higher, and any breakdown in machinery leads to extended downtime resulting in lower productivity.

  1. To innovate and stay ahead of peers:

Legacy software does not allow for innovation and growth in a market environment that thrives on change. Developers have limited scope to introduce modern problem-solving methods or implement fresh ideas. If staying ahead of the curve is crucial for your business, it is risky to let legacy software rule your decisions.

  1. To ensure data security and compliance:

It’s not rare to run into issues with bugs and data breaches when using legacy software. The effort to trace the origins and plug them increases with every incident and can be complicated too. Data regulatory laws change with time. Legacy software modernization helps you keep updated with the latest compliance laws or technical versions.

The decision to migrate to a digital format is often fraught with concerns and queries. Here are a few things to consider before a digital migration.

  • Etch out your business goals and objectives.
  • Determine the appropriate tools and platforms and integrate them with the existing ones.
  • Define the scope of work.
  • Break it down into smaller parts, prioritize and phase them out.
  • Bring your employees on board, train them, and bridge gaps.

We at Travanleo have the expertise to build customized modern software applications and provide seamless migration. Partner with us to understand your customers better, improve their experiences, and enjoy a clear edge over your competitors.

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References:

https://www.spec-india.com/blog/legacy-modernization

https://www.business2community.com/cybersecurity/digital-migration-how-to-safely-move-data-to-a-digital-platform-02401667

https://www.creolestudios.com/a-complete-guide-on-technology-migration-strategies-part-1-introduction/

https://quixy.com/blog/digital-modernization/

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/unlocking-success-in-digital-transformations

https://modlogix.com/blog/legacy-system-modernization-approaches-practical-advice-on-dealing-with-outdated-software/

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