We live in a time when technology trends appear and become outdated in months. To miss these changes means to become outdated and less competitive. Organizations must keep up to match users’ needs and the market’s requirements.
When it comes to applications, they must be timely updated, trendy, and user-oriented. As well as secure and easy to maintain. And it’s better when they bring more profit and require fewer resources for maintenance. It’s relevant for businesses of any size operating in any field.
You can reach these goals with app modernization. In the case of enterprises, the apps are more complicated and tied to each other. These apps’ modernization process has its peculiarities.
In this article, we use our expertise in enterprise application modernization consulting and cover all the essentials. You’ll learn its advantages, concepts, practices, and procedures.
What is enterprise application modernization?
Enterprise app modernization is the process of updating the legacy application. You can change its architecture, design, framework, language, features, or everything simultaneously. The mission is to make the app competitive and able to meet current and future business goals.
The most popular modernization strategy is migrating apps and data to cloud platforms. A more complex approach is architecture modernization. You might also opt for UX improvement or integrating the app with other systems. Modernization can also involve replacing legacy systems with applications. It doesn’t replace your whole system but applies the latest technologies to improve it.
The most prominent outcome of enterprise app modernization is improved functionality. It also reduces maintenance costs, increases scalability, and enhances security. Organizations get stronger market positions and better meet their customers’ needs.
Benefits of enterprise application transformation
When it comes to enterprise apps, modernization might be time and resource-consuming. Yet, its benefits make it worth the effort. Let’s look at these benefits in more detail:
Improved agility: Legacy systems lack flexibility and adaptability. When new business goals appear or the market changes, they can’t fully handle it. App modernization helps to improve adaptability and make your apps more responsive.
Better customer experiences: Modern apps are more user-oriented and provide better services to end users. Modernization improves response time and considers market needs, using chatbots, social media, and email requests.
Cost reduction: Maintenance of monolith applications is expensive. When you perform a tiny action, it involves the entire architecture. Modernized apps work differently, and that’s why they are less costly.
Improved efficiency and productivity: Modernizing your apps improves the entire organization’s efficiency. It facilitates approaches and processes, reduces operational time, and encourages updates and service improvements. Cloud services, for example, help to automate processes and cut human interactions.
Improved security: Legacy systems may not meet the latest security requirements. App modernization is the only way to solve this problem.
Why is enterprise application modernization important?
The proper application modernization strategy opens new opportunities for your business. Here are the main arguments in its favor:
Faster time to market. With container orchestration platforms, microservices architecture, and DevOps practices, you release your app faster and win your place on the market.
Quick implementation of new features. Since you don’t have to change the entire architecture to make changes, you can update your systems more frequently. It also allows for applying user feedback faster and achieving a better user experience.
A future-ready platform. Cloud-native architecture helps automate many processes and frees time for action, requiring more human involvement. It improves communication and teamwork. Container management system enhances security and data management.
How to modernize an enterprise app?
There are various approaches to enterprise app modernization. The choice depends on your capabilities, legacy app characteristics, and business goals. Here are some of the best ways to modernize your app:
Using low code development tools
Including APIs to extend legacy systems
Replacing the legacy systems with SaaS apps
Building new apps through microservices
Reaching a golden mine among traditional, hybrid, and cloud-native applications
Integration with continuous deployment tools and processes such as DevOps
Using Software-Defined Infrastructure — technologies with a minimal level of human involvement
Enterprise application transformation: Best practices
A key to better performance is a well-chosen modernization strategy. It also helps to reach alignment with your business goals. The most popular practices are:
Microservices approach. The microservices-based environment treats each process as a separate service. It becomes easier to update, scale, or change the process as it has its logic and database. As a result, your apps become more agile and scalable.
Modern development methodologies. Agile and DevOps are prevalent approaches. They allow for continuous development, testing, and deployment. They significantly speed up the modernization.
Cloud services. You examine your data and workflows and define those able for cloud migration, getting access to all the benefits of cloud. Then, you consider how your on-premise apps and cloud ones will communicate.
Tracking performance metrics. Metrics help you follow how your modernized apps perform. You can control the code quality and the entire infrastructure. It applies to every part, from the cloud to databases and networks. This way, you can identify problems at an early stage.
User concerns elimination. Let your users know and understand the importance of modernizing the app and what they will get after. Train them to use the apps and easily navigate the changed structure.
Training employees. Modernizing a legacy application involves learning new technologies and methodologies. Provide adequate employee training to ensure they can effectively use the new system. Embedded security at every stage. Early identification of security challenges in legacy systems is the key to protecting your business. Consider strong access controls and data encryption.
Key technologies for business application modernization in 2024
Enterprise app modernization is a complex and lengthy process that includes various technologies. Among the key ones are:
Cloud Services. It’s a critical technology for modernizing enterprise applications. Moving from on-premises to the cloud is solely beneficial. It provides higher scalability, flexibility, security, and cost efficiency. You reduce the need for on-premises infrastructure and reach greater agility.
Containerization. Allows developers to package an application into containers. It makes using the app across environments easier and speeds up deployment.
Microservices. Breaking large applications into components makes updating them easier and faster. It also cuts the time to market and improves scalability and security.
Artificial Intelligence. AI-based technologies, like Machine Learning, help to automate manual tasks, enhance user experience, draw conclusions, and improve decision-making.
Low-code / No-code development. Low-code and no-code platforms allow you to develop faster by writing less code. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways of legacy application modernization. It allows for rapid app development and deployment.
DevOps. DevOps practices combine IT operations and software development. They increase the speed and improve the quality of software deliveries. Nowadays, DevOps is critical for modernizing enterprise applications.
Internet of Things (IoT). IoT technologies provide real-time data from various connected devices. This data can automate routine tasks and improve the customer experience.
Enterprise application modernization process
The enterprise app modernization process includes five main stages. Those are:
Defining business goals
Specify the measurable business goals you wish to achieve by app modernization. Based on them, define the project’s scope, set priorities, and analyze the outcomes.
Legacy app assessment
Examine your legacy application. Check the languages and technologies used in the code. Pay attention to architecture and the UX/UI. Analyze the system’s ability to integrate with new technologies. Check its compliance with a company growth plan.
Creating the strategy
Decide on the best modernization strategy. The options include re-architecting, re-platforming, refactoring, or replacing your app with a new one. Specify deadlines and milestones. Include development, testing, deployment, guidance, and support strategies.
Choosing the tech stack
Pick a tech stack for smooth scalability, upgrading, and integration in enterprise apps. If you are migrating to the cloud, pick the right service provider and platform.
Training end-users
Prepare training for your app’s end users. It will increase its productivity and efficiency. Improve support to ensure the smooth operation of the apps.
Conclusion
There are many reasons to modernize your legacy applications, from catching up with the competition to complying with security demands. Outdated applications might be holding your business back.
While modernization is complex and resource-investive, it pays back. It makes app maintenance more straightforward and less costly. It offers more options for updates and creative decisions. It makes it easier for your final users to operate these apps. If you are unhappy with how your applications work but wish to remain competitive, include app modernization in your business development plan.
Enterprise application modernization with Blackthorn Vision
Modernization is a complex process that requires specific skills and experience. We offer enterprise app modernization services to help organizations stay up-to-date. Technology development and growing competition call for that.
We work with different strategies and pick the best approach. Our priority is to make it follow your business goals and capabilities. We analyze your legacy app and build the most suitable modernization plan.
Contact us if you’re looking for a reliable and experienced application modernization partner.
FAQ
How do you determine if an app or a product needs modernization?
Several indicators can suggest the need for modernization:
Performance issues: Frequent crashes or slow performance
Security risks: Vulnerabilities or old-school security practices
User feedback: Consistent negative user reviews
Competition: Falling behind competitors
Regulatory changes: Failure to meet new compliance standards
High maintenance costs: Increasing expenses for updates
Innovation opportunities: Potential to leverage recent tech trends
Alignment with business goals: App’s relevance to your long-term objectives
Market demand: Declining interest from users
Technical debt: Accumulated inefficiencies and shortcuts
What is an example of application modernization?
One of the clearest examples of application modernization is transitioning from a monolith system to a cloud-native microservices setup. It implies breaking one database into independent microservices with the following migration to the cloud.
This approach improves scalability and allows for quick updates. It becomes easier to maintain the app, and it operates more efficiently.
