There are many reasons to application modernization, but few can compare to the benefits of bringing agility back to legacy applications. Application modernization improves user experience, avoids unnecessary technology investments, and increases developer experience. Here are three of the most compelling reasons to upgrade legacy applications:
Enhances the user experience
There are two types of recommendations to improve the user experience: short-term and long-term. Short-term improvements improve system performance immediately, such as rearranging navigation and adding a progress bar to an online form. Long-term improvements, by contrast, address more complex problems, such as improving user interface, data model, and workflow. However, long-term recommendations require more resources to implement. Listed below are some of the key areas that should be prioritized.
First, identify the reasons for modernization. Developing new, modern enterprise applications requires a significant investment in time and money. In fact, 27% of projects end up being over budget and late. Additionally, 16% fail to meet the expectations of end users. Ultimately, this means that a large portion of UX projects are not successful. In addition, 32% of modernization efforts will require rework.
Second, modernization requires thorough planning and structuring. You should take care to avoid introducing major changes that could interrupt existing functions. It is essential to list customer needs before modernizing your application. You can also conduct beta tests to gather user feedback and improve your product. Beta testing is a great way to get user feedback, as well as evaluate features and initial functionality. However, beta testing requires a lot of time and resources.
Third, application modernization helps organizations improve scalability, security, flexibility, and performance. It also allows them to stay ahead of competition. Older systems may not be up to par, and ignoring the problem could result in worsening the situation. However, application modernization improves usability and can increase conversion rates by as much as 200%. A well-designed user interface can significantly increase conversion rates.
Fourth, application modernization presents new revenue streams. New services and processes can be introduced by modernizing outdated systems. Outdated systems tend to restrict flexibility and prevent companies from implementing profitable changes. Besides boosting customer satisfaction, application modernization also helps increase profits. Customers are more likely to recommend a business when they are satisfied with the product. Furthermore, happy customers generate more leads and referrals. You should also keep your customers satisfied and informed throughout the process of application modernization.
Brings agility back to legacy applications
One of the biggest challenges facing organizations today is how to bring agility back to their legacy applications. Legacy IT infrastructures are slow to evolve and require considerable resources to keep running. To make this transition as smooth as possible, organizations must take a proactive approach and implement agile development practices.
For example, one telco in Asia decided to move quickly when their existing operating model failed to achieve its $200 million run rate. After a frank discussion with their top leadership team, the organization decided to deploy four agile microcosms. These teams brought together doers from across the organization and charged them with joint business objectives, such as reducing the number of inbound service calls.