What is Application Modernization?

Application Modernization is the practice of adapting old/legacy applications into modern requirements. Updating, re-platforming, rehosting can all be counted as different approaches under the umbrella term Application Modernization. However, Application Modernization is mostly linked with the Cloud and the process of migrating to the Cloud. Find the general ways to modernize a business here.

Especially as one of the very first steps of Cloud Migration, businesses feel the need to analyze their applications and make adjustments. This article elaborates how Application Modernization is an integral part of Cloud Migration and the types of Cloud Migration has also a lot to do with techniques of Application Modernization.

Today, applications that need to go through an Application Modernization process are mostly on-prem ones. It’s because Cloud environments are getting more and more popular as they bring about a lot of benefits for the IT landscape. Even though Application Modernization, as a concept, contains usual updates for monolithic/legacy applications too; a constant shift towards Cloud solutions (SaaS, etc) or deployments of Business Suites are what comes to mind upon hearing Application Modernization.

What are the Benefits of Application Modernization?

Application Modernization ensures that an enterprise is up-to-date with its IT components. This could mean that all their on-prem or Cloud applications are regularly updated with new developments etc. or the enterprise altogether is migrated into Cloud. Being up-to-date brings about several benefits:

1. New technologies would be easier to integrate if an enterprise is completely modern. Legacy applications might be using old software languages, for example. Learn more about technological projections for the future here.
2. Costs of maintenance get reduced.
3. A more process-driven business approach is employed, ensuring a more flawless operation.
4. Provides scalable operations thanks to modernized applications.
5. Reducing the resources that are necessary for an application to run. Data centers or servers might no longer be necessary as migrating into the Cloud answers these needs.
6. A more secure IT landscape. As the security is provided by Cloud providers, overall time and effort dedicated to securing the network is more than a single company can allocate.
7. Improved employee experience. A robust modernization speeds up processes along with providing modern and intuitive screens for business applications that once were quite dysfunctional as legacy solutions.

What is Modernization Strategy?

A Modernization Strategy is a framework for understanding the specific needs of a business in its Application Modernization process. It deals with deciding what is of primary importance: migration into the Cloud, updating the languages of applications, changing the infrastructures etc. This general decision-making process is what determines a business’ strategy when it comes to Application Modernization.

Take a look at this article so as not to fail in your Digital Transformation journeys.

How to do Application Modernization?

Application Modernization is a comprehensive process that requires an overall understanding of all the applications used in different departments of a business. Exponentially beneficial when employed truly, it might result in complete chaos if handled poorly. There are several steps in order to conduct effective Application Modernization. The titles might differ from sector to sector but in general, Application Modernization is comprised of these stages:

• Identifying why some applications are becoming a burden and why the business needs to modernize them.

First, a business should understand what parts of their workload need to be modernized and why. To identify which applications are not business fit or technical fit, the Application Portfolio Management procedure comes to assistance. Feel free to learn about APM (Application Portfolio Management) here. Loggle, for example, could have a lot to offer to your company during your Digital Transformation processes.

• Considering potential resources.

To conduct a successful process, both experienced project managers and data-driven technical applications are necessary. Here are some best practices for the technical aspect of evaluating applications. Determining the roadmap of the project and the people in charge will set the process in motion.

• Describing the “modernization” necessary for defective applications.

Do these applications need simple updates, or is it imperative to re-code them from scratch to migrate into Cloud? Describing what modernization means for each application and the business altogether is a crucial step. During this stage, the actual modernization takes place.

Being acquainted with the IT Infrastructure could help while conducting this stage.

• Conducting post-modernization success evaluations.

Applying the determined modernization techniques does not mean that the whole process is over and done with just yet. Scaling what they brought about and measuring in which processes they put a positive effect are the ways to detect the potential faults in Application Modernization.

• Asking “what’s next” and planning for process change.

Singling the applications and modernizing them one by one might work for some time, but a broadscale business modernization is what actually makes the difference. Having realized a successful Application Modernization process, a business might have got the experience needed for a more general Digital Transformation.