Application modernisation: what it is and how companies can introduce it

The term application modernisation refers to a procedure which enables companies to transform their business applications, so as to render them more efficient and less costly. It has become an almost obligatory requirement for any company wishing to keep up with market trends.

Modernisation of the applications generally involves converting to digital and opting for native-cloud technology over other technologies. Organisations must still plan adequate strategies in order to maximise the benefits they can gain from this transformation.

When is application modernisation necessary?

Many companies who have been in business for many years, find themselves using obsolete application legacies. That is not to say that these applications do not perform as they should, but their limits (often dictated by the technologies used for development) can be a significant drawback in today’s digital era.

The greatest disadvantage is the programs’ lack of flexibility, especially if we consider monolithic architectures. This type of application (quite common up until a few years ago) showed began to show its limits following the launch of cloud-native applications and the DevOps approach.

Every function of a monolithic architecture is in fact interdependent with all the others which form it, meaning that it lacks versatility, is difficult to update and costly to maintain. Nevertheless, by implementing a well-planned application modernisation, it is possible to reduce or remove those limits. This results in an enhanced quality of service and major financial savings.

Application Modernisation made to measure

Application Modernisation is a rather costly procedure in terms of time and resources. For this reason, when deciding to undertake modernisation it is essential to adopt the right strategy. Each company has different requirements, which can be met using a customised approach.

If we consider monolithic architecture as an example of a banking management system (generally developed using COBOL/CISCS), the main problem that the organisation may face is not the efficiency of the application, but rather its maintenance.

Finding professionals able to program in such an obsolete language is difficult but not impossible. In order to resolve this kind of issue (instead of re-writing the code from scratch using more modern languages), it could be sufficient to move everything onto cloud, so as to facilitate the sourcing of technicians with the required skills who could even intervene remotely.

This example helps us to see why application modernisation should not be considered as a single process for converting past technology into something more modern, but rather as a range of versatile solutions which vary depending on the individual case.

How to plan the right strategy

In order to plan an application modernisation strategy properly, the first thing is to establish the nature of the problem to be resolved. Technological limits, the architecture of the application and difficulties with its functionalities are all key points to be analysed in order to select the most suitable approach.

Once you are aware of the causes and their influence on the need to modernise the applications, the steps to follow in order to carry out the improvements are as follows:

• Encapsulation;
• Rehosting;
• Replatforming;
• Refactoring;
• Rebuilding;
• Replacement.

Each option brings with it advantages and disadvantages to be carefully considered during the planning stage. There is no general rule to say that one solution is better than another, since every case is different and each method meets different needs.

It is clear that application modernisation has now become a must for those companies wishing to remain competitive. The opportunity for a dynamic, fast service which responds directly to clients’ needs represents a universal key element.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith