As hardware capabilities rapidly evolve, critical applications are presented with a difficult scenario. Even though hardware advancements help boost functionality and performance to a large extent, they also multiply the complexities involved. The expanded software requirements tend to add fragility and increase costs involved in the systemâEUR(TM)s development.

Changing the software in order to take advantage of such increased capacity is definitely not a cheap affair in terms of the costs involved. Moreover, if the technology used to build the software is poor in terms of scalability, the applications will be difficult to maintain and prone to errors.

The solution to this problem lies in Legacy Modernization, also known as Software modernization. It is similar to migration from one platform version to the other, like ASP to ASP.net Migration. The terms refer to the conversion, rewriting or porting of a product platform or legacy system to a modern computer programming language, software libraries, protocols, or hardware platform. Legacy transformation helps you gain more agility. It aims to retain the value of the legacy system through migration to new and advanced platforms. These are two of the major reasons why the appetite for software modernization is growing and organizations are beginning to recognize the need for it.

The Need to Modernize

Cost is one of the major reasons that lead to organizations opting for modernization. However this is not the only reason why people want to move to modern Microsoft Development and.NET development platforms. The decision to modernize can be related to many circumstances, like retaining the value of the legacy application, vendor dependence, poor integration capability of the system, long time to market, low agility or lack of trained personnel in the labor market. Organizations are often seen moving to modernization due to lack of strategic flexibility.

Legacy Modernization Techniques

Re-engineering

Legacy applications can be re-built using new and advanced technologies and platforms with the same or enhanced business functionality in a Service-Oriented Architecture.

Re-hosting

Legacy applications can be employed using this non- invasive method onto a contemporary platform to reduce high maintenance cost of applications on legacy platforms.

Integration

Data in a service-oriented approach can be unlocked from closed architecture legacy systems to provide new access channels.

Package implementation

This involves replacement of legacy applications with modern, off-the-shelf packages or ERP software.

Benefits of modernization

• Lets you invest more in business growth


• Reduces the cost of running your business-critical applications


• Improves rate of return


• Moves your applications easily to the cloud

Legacy modernization is a complex process and needs a considerable amount of prior planning and program management. While the transition takes place, integration issues may also be faced by businesses. Therefore, it is essential to have an integration technology in place before modernization is planned or executed. When a legacy mega-application is broken into many different pieces that include newly written applications, various purchased or licensed applications, etc., it results in business processes which span multiple applications. These newly-purchased and newly-written systems need to be connected back into the existing corporate applications and data.

Integration technology can help leverage cost savings and other benefits like elimination of unsupported hardware and software. It also frees up people and cuts down on budgets that can further be repurposed within IT to provide better support for the business.