Legacy System Modernization: Part 2
Part 2: Preparation
आमची कुठे हि शाखा नाही
In my mother tongue this is the best slogan when it comes for quality and authenticity. Imagine about customer expectation and current offering from the organizations, whether organization is digital-ready to bridge the gap? Sometimes, a far bigger issue is the mindset that comes with it.
To start a journey of legacy system modernization in Software first and foremost challenge is “Proving a business case”
Business Case
- Ahead in a race
Operating in an industry dominated by decades old technology behemoths, you have a chance to outperform the competitors simply by offering a modern and lightweight solution.
- User satisfaction
User experience (UX) and design standards have evolved significantly over the last several years. By introducing modern, sleek UI and user-centric intuitive experiences, you can improve your customer satisfaction, thus increasing revenue.
- Future Ready GenX GenY
By replacing your legacy system with a modern solution you make sure your business is ready to evolve and expand, keeping up with technology advances. Plus, keeping up with the latest technology trends creates an internal culture of business agility and innovation in your company.
- Unlocking Data Potential
Outdated storage solutions prevent you from accessing and making use of your data. Database migration and optimization is required to successfully tap the big data opportunities.
- Better Performance and Reliability
Legacy IT faults are one of the most common reasons for many industry. Thus systems modernization might help you reduce the outage risks and cut the related losses.
“Initiate a modernization program so the business strategies and objectives align with and drive the direction of planned initiatives. Modernization programs are not exclusively technology based activities.”
~ Legacy systems and modernization: Core systems strategy | Deloitte
Time and Cost
A software built over the longer multiyear process cannot be re-created in a week, even if capacity is doubled to handle the task. In some cases software reengineering cost exceed the initial investments (spoiler)
Challenges
- Motivation, training and coaching to adapt with changes.
- Multiple legacy systems if exist the articulating with prioritization are must for each individual system.
- Tightly coupled and specifically tailored functionality of software with respect to platform brings more complexity in replacement.
- Skill shortage
Risks
- Adoption of flawed or incomplete reengineering strategy
- Inappropriate use of external consultants
- Internal work forced tied with legacy with inadequate training
- No control over legacy system and no knowledge bank.
- Validation of requirements in short validation of business problem to solve
- Inadequate planning and long term commitment
- Management predetermines technical decisions.[Reference Book]
Checklist
- Study all aspects of software technology, taking into account for future business plants for product growth.
- Adopt agile software development practice that helps to speed up and deliver iterative value
- Prefer simplicity over complex architecture.
- Chose the tech stack wisely for optimal performance and UX
- Capture Architecture Design Manuals in short Document for future reference.
- Plan for the long term retirement and support
- Most importantly create budget strategy for internal workforce training and system updates.
Case Study with Questions to interrogate
- Go deeper on what is the backbone of Technologies being used in existing process? Programming language, framework, infrastructure and its support.
- Let’s do the audit of existing architecture to help in understanding and defining the interrelationship
- Dive at Code review that is the best documentation, get the pointers for reviews and refactoring, identify “rot”
- User Experience review
- Get alignment with business growth requirements
“Change is the only constant in life.” … Heraclitus
Next part will go on the industry researched practices on modernization…
Cont…
