How to get the most out of your IT modernisation?

Why modernise your IT? 

Businesses locked into legacy IT systems face numerous challenges. Their IT security is no longer adequate in the face of today's geopolitical climate, and systems are often no longer compliant with European regulations. Meanwhile, the business wants to move forward. It wants to develop new ideas and stay competitive. Unfortunately, outdated IT cannot keep pace. 

A carefully thought-out IT modernisation strategy can help overcome these challenges. Application modernisation goes beyond simply rebuilding old systems with the latest technology and architecture. Above all, it is an opportunity to rethink and optimise functional processes – and not merely implement technical improvements.

Functional progress alongside technical upgrades 

Think of it like buying a new car. Your old car has served you well, but eventually it lets you down. When choosing a new one, you don't look at what you needed twenty years ago. You look at what suits your needs today.

The same applies to modernising your IT. View the change as a chance to improve other processes as well, and to align them more closely with your organisation's current needs. Eliminate unnecessary complexity, integrate new business ideas, and so on. And don't forget the needs of your end-users. They now expect many more self-service options, along with mobile access. 

A well-planned modernisation strategy is key to success

As you can see, a carefully considered app modernisation strategy presents many opportunities.

But what does a good strategy look like? It is important that your modernisation process is aligned with your organisation's strategic objectives. Our advice: Invest more in the systems that support your organisation's core business, and less in supporting non-strategic systems. In subdomains with low potential for innovation, a simple ‘lift-and-shift’ approach may be sufficient. Whereas strategic systems, for example, such as those related to security, offer greater opportunities and therefore require a more thorough overhaul. Cegeka analyses all IT systems and their role in your organisation to develop a tailored modernisation strategy.

Different strategies

There are several strategies for modernising your IT landscape. The 6Rs model outlines six main approaches.

• Retire. Decommission applications that have reached end-of-life.
• Retain. Keep the application as it is.
• Repurchase. Replace the application with a new one, tailored to current needs.
• Rehost. Migrate the application to a new cloud environment without changing the code.
• Refactor. Restructure and optimise the code to improve component functionality and structure without altering behaviour.
• Replatform. Migrate the application to a new platform. Adapt it accordingly without changing its code structure, features or functions.

To these 6Rs we could add rebuild. This is a complete modernisation of both technology and functionality for bespoke solutions where no off-the-shelf alternative is available. It is a major investment. For that reason we recommend it solely for systems that are strategically vital and offer a clear competitive edge for your organisation. A less disruptive alternative is revive. This updates an older system to an adequate level to keep it in use for a few more years without significant cost. The focus here is on improving security and ensuring compliance with current regulations.

Continuity throughout the transition 

Whichever strategy you choose, it is crucial for your organisation to operate smoothly throughout the transition. A phased approach, such as migrating by user group or module, can help ensure continuity. Cegeka has extensive experience with these projects and ensures that your critical systems remain available even during complex migrations.

Start your IT modernisation in time  

Our advice? Get us involved early on. Often, clients don't reach out until something has already gone wrong. Ideally, however, you should be continuously modernising your IT landscape. Not only does this prevent technical issues, but it saves on costs. It also creates opportunities to improve your functional performance. It’s more efficient and more secure.

Want to learn how to tackle outdated applications?

Get in touch with us and schedule a session with one of our enterprise architects. During this initial meeting, we’ll listen to your challenges and offer tailored advice