From Quick Fixes to Enduring Success: A Lasting Application Modernization Approach
Discover the importance of a focused and sustainable approach to legacy modernization, which entails understanding the “why” and “how” of modernization before implementing new technologies like cloud and containers.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I only had an hour to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my axe.”
When imagining chopping down a tree, you may picture powerful axe swings. However, sharpening the axe is crucial, as it greatly enhances the speed and ease of cutting down the tree.
This timeless wisdom applies to legacy modernization initiatives as well. In fact, implementing modern technologies like cloud and containers is only the last leg of the process – just 25% of it. The remaining 75% consists of understanding the why and how of modernization.
The axe sharpening.
In this blog, we’ll guide you toward a focused and effective modernization approach, enabling your business to optimize resources and achieve lasting results. No more grappling with recurring six-month modernization cycles. Instead, you’ll embrace a sustainable strategy that fosters long-term success and enhances your organization’s competitiveness.
What is the correct definition of application modernization?
Let’s begin by examining the true meaning of modernization.
If you were to look up its definition, you may find something like this:
application modernization entails the process of updating obsolete software, which includes the incorporation of new programming languages, frameworks, and infrastructure platforms.
But that definition covers only the what. application modernization transcends the use of technology.
To get closer to why modernization is needed, I turned to my new friend, ChatGPT:
The why: to meet current business needs.
However, to select the right modernization approach for your organization, you need to understand specifically why your current software isn’t meeting those needs.
Let me help you uncover the root causes of your application shortcomings and direct you toward the most suitable modernization strategy tailored to those specific issues.
How to identify what’s driving your modernization needs
Before beginning any modernization initiative, it’s important to ask yourself two key questions:
- What are the main issues with the current application?
- What are the causes of those issues?
Your answers to these questions will help you identify whether the primary issue is functional, architectural, or platform-related.
In addition to identifying technical issues, it’s also important to understand why the current application isn’t meeting your needs. This will help you align your modernization efforts with your business goals and ensure that the modernized application meets the specific requirements of your organization.
Modernization drivers can be viewed from both business and IT perspectives:
Modernization drivers from a business perspective
Business Fit: The application fails to satisfy current business demands.
Innovation: The application constrains the business from leveraging new business opportunities.
Agility: application and its supporting ecosystems are not able to keep up with the pace of change, or those changes may come with an unacceptable level of cost and risk.
Modernization drivers from an IT perspective
Cost: The total cost of operating, maintaining and changing the application is too high in relation to its business value.
Complexity: The application’s high level of complexity results in multiple issues and significantly affects maintainability, as it influences the time, cost, and risk of implementing changes.
Risk: The application poses security, compliance, supportability and scalability risks. In older application platforms and languages, the risk of a skills shortage is often a major concern.
After identifying the main drivers, use the table below to determine whether the issues are functional, architectural, or platform-related. This will help you decide what kind of modernization is required to address the primary issue.
Once you have determined the primary issue and the corresponding modernization focus, you can take the appropriate steps to improve your application.
There are three areas of focus when it comes to application modernization:
The three focus areas of application modernization
- Functionality Modernization: Boost software capabilities, redesign user interface, enhance user experience, and outpace competitors with innovative features.
- Architecture Modernization: Strengthen the software structure, ensuring stability, scalability, maintainability, and security for seamless adaptation to future changes.
- Platform Modernization: Upgrade the technology stack, embrace cloud migration, adopt microservices, and leverage cutting-edge programming languages and tools.
Once the primary focus of modernization is identified, you can now answer the how of modernization: the modernization approach.
How to choose the appropriate modernization approach
When forming a modernization strategy, you typically have six choices, known as the six R’s: Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, or Replace.
The below decision-making framework illustrates the relationship between modernization approaches, drivers, and focus areas. This enables you to determine the minimum necessary modernization approach (one of the six R’s). For example, if the primary issue of the application or component is platform-related, then a rehost approach will be required at the very least. However, based on the desired effort and impact, you have the flexibility to opt for a more comprehensive approach.
By understanding the root causes of the problem, you can make a more informed decision on which modernization approach to adopt, ensuring that it effectively addresses the core challenges faced by your software application.
Nonetheless, choosing a modernization approach from the 6 R’s is not the final step in developing a comprehensive strategy.
To guarantee a lasting and effective modernization strategy, it’s crucial to expand our perspective.
For example, last year I enrolled in a weight loss program, which was a form of modernization I wanted for my body. I adopted a new diet and exercise regimen, all of which were beneficial. Yet, if I don’t turn these practices into habits, I’ll find myself revisiting the modernization process for my body six months or a year down the road.
The point is, a single-minded focus on modernization isn’t enough, whether for our bodies, an enterprise, or a product.
So what else do you need?
You need cultural modernization
We cannot overlook the importance of cultural modernization in our businesses. You can’t outpace the consequences of poor habits, regardless of how quickly you modernize your technology. Without incorporating cultural modernization, your organization’s journey toward success will be hindered, caught in a repetitive cycle akin to a guinea pig running endlessly on a wheel.
Cultural modernization consists of three crucial components:
- Pipeline Modernization: Boost software delivery by automating processes, enabling rapid feature releases, and minimizing errors and downtime.
- Security Modernization: Integrate security into development and operations, using best practices and tools to protect data, assets, and meet regulations.
- Organizational Modernization: Adopt new mindsets, practices, and collaboration models, leveraging agile methodologies and cross-functional teams for a more adaptive, innovative, and customer-centric approach.
Beyond the surface: a client’s software upgrade dilemma
To better illustrate the importance of these questions and frameworks I’ve given, let me share a real-world example. I once received a call from a client struggling to release new versions of their software. They explained that their end-users were hesitant to upgrade to the latest version, as it would malfunction immediately upon deployment. This issue persisted even after exhaustive testing had been completed.
To figure out why, we conducted a series of workshops. We discovered that version upgrade challenges were only the tip of the iceberg. The real problems were system stability and scalability, complex business rules, and lack of automation in their code integration and delivery pipeline.
In this case, the root problems were agility and complexity, indicating an architectural issue. Referring to our decision-making framework, we concluded that rearchitecting and replacing, at a minimum, were absolutely necessary. However, after discussing with the client and doing a deep dive into their architecture, we ultimately decided to take a rebuild approach.
Conclusion
To embark on an effective and sustainable modernization journey, it is essential to grasp the why and how of modernization. By identifying the root causes of your application’s shortcomings and understanding the driving factors behind your modernization initiative, you can choose the appropriate modernization approach.
However, cultural modernization is equally important. Successful legacy modernization necessitates adopting a long-term strategy instead of perpetually playing catch-up. Integrating modernization into your organization’s daily practices helps avoid the pitfalls of “yo-yo modernizing” – addressing tech issues only when they become critical, akin to crash dieting as a response to weight gain. Opting for a steady, strategic modernization path not only guarantees enduring benefits but also cultivates a robust and adaptive organization capable of navigating ever-changing technology trends.
What Relevantz Can Do for You
Relevantz can be the partner you need to help you along your application modernization and digital transformation journeys. With our business-first, outside-in modernization approach, we can help you rehost, replatform, refactor, rearchitect, rebuild, and replace your current enterprise systems, separate the applications from legacy infrastructure, modularize intermingled business processes, liberate data from legacy systems, and innovate new digital systems.
And because our approach is iterative, your enterprise will be able to enjoy all the benefits of new information technologies, such as having the agility to adapt quickly to the demands of the marketplace, while keeping your legacy systems humming behind the scenes.
Are you ready to embark on your modernization journey with a stable, well-planned approach?