Modernizing older business applications that are used internally can provide several compelling reasons for a company to invest in the process. Here are some key reasons:
- Improved Efficiency: Modernizing applications often involves upgrading from outdated frameworks and operating systems that are no longer supported. This upgrade can lead to improved efficiency, as employees can work with tools that are optimized for contemporary hardware and software environments, allowing them to complete tasks more quickly and with fewer errors.
- Cost Savings: Older applications may require custom support and patches due to running on unsupported operating systems or frameworks. Modernizing these applications can result in long-term cost savings by reducing the need for such custom support and maintenance expenses.
- Enhanced Security: Unsupported operating systems and frameworks can pose significant security risks. They are more susceptible to vulnerabilities that can expose the company to risks like data breaches and compliance violations. Modernization often includes migrating to supported platforms and strengthening security measures to ensure compliance with industry regulations.
- Scalability: Outdated applications may struggle to scale with the growing needs of a company. Modernized applications can be designed to scale easily, accommodating increased workloads and data volumes without the constraints imposed by unsupported technologies.
- Competitive Advantage: Companies with modernized applications often have a competitive edge. They can adapt to market changes more quickly, deliver better customer experiences, and respond to new opportunities faster than competitors relying on outdated tools running on unsupported operating systems.
- Integration Capabilities: Modern applications, unlike their older counterparts, are more likely to offer APIs and integration capabilities. This facilitates seamless connections with other systems and services, both internally and externally, fostering better data flow and collaboration.
- Enhanced User Experience: Modernizing applications can lead to a more user-friendly and intuitive interface, optimized for the latest operating systems and frameworks. This can significantly boost employee satisfaction and productivity, as users can leverage modern features and capabilities.
- Data Analytics and Insights: Modern applications are better equipped to capture and analyze data effectively. This provides valuable insights that can inform strategic decision-making and process improvements, thanks to their compatibility with contemporary analytics tools and platforms.
- Mobility: Many older applications are not optimized for mobile use, which can hinder remote work and on-the-go productivity. Modernization ensures that applications are accessible from smartphones and tablets, accommodating the mobility needs of today’s workforce.
- Legacy System Risks: Unsupported operating systems and frameworks become increasingly challenging to maintain and find skilled personnel to support them. This can create a significant risk of system failures and downtime, which modernization can mitigate by transitioning to supported technologies.
- Compliance and Regulations: Regulatory requirements evolve, and unsupported systems may struggle to keep up. Modernized applications can be updated to comply with the latest regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated fines, while also aligning with the latest industry standards.
- Business Continuity: Unsupported systems are more prone to failures and downtime. Modernization enhances system stability, reducing the risk of critical disruptions to business operations and ensuring business continuity.
- Talent Attraction and Retention: Skilled employees may prefer to work for companies that use modern technologies and tools. Modernizing applications can help attract and retain top talent by providing them with up-to-date and relevant tools for their work.
- Future-Proofing: Investing in modernization ensures that the company is better prepared for future technological advancements. It helps avoid the need for a complete overhaul down the road, especially when dealing with obsolete operating systems and frameworks.
- Customer Satisfaction: If internal applications are part of customer-facing processes, modernization can lead to better customer experiences, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and loyalty by ensuring that the underlying technologies are robust, secure, and up-to-date.
In summary, modernizing applications and migrating away from unsupported frameworks and operating systems not only addresses immediate technical challenges but also offers a wide array of long-term benefits, including improved efficiency, cost savings, security, and competitiveness. The specific reasons for modernization will depend on the company’s unique circumstances and the extent to which they rely on unsupported technologies.
Recently we have taken on several projects that are modernization efforts for older Visual Basic applications. The applications have been used with great success by our clients for many years, but they have reached the point where Microsoft has dropped support for them and they simply can’t run on a modern version of Windows. If you’re in similar situation, please contact us for a free consultation.