Definition von Application Modernisation
Application modernisation is the term used to describe the modernisation of (sub)applications or entire application landscapes. Application modernisation projects pose an organisational challenge for companies; however, they also offer the opportunity for them to reorganise and to adapt their IT landscape to the latest circumstances and requirements.
Depending on the initial situation and the strategy chosen, a number of different approaches to modernisation are possible – ranging from a complete technical overhaul, to the targeted further development of the application, and even to replacing the application with standard software.
Application modernisation is necessary so that companies can meet the current and future requirements of their business. Modern companies’ core applications have a decisive impact on how competitive they are: new opportunities on the market need to be acted on quickly, business is becoming more agile and so the software that supports this business needs to adapt as well.
Outdated applications are often based on end-of-life technologies and tend to be extremely complex. As a result, they generate additional costs, pose a potential security risk due to a lack of support, and result in a competitive disadvantage over the medium term.
Herausforderungen von Application Modernisation
Working on a business-critical application is essentially open-heart surgery. It demands exceptional methodology and technical skills. Seamless migration of data, archives, and ongoing business must be guaranteed at all times. Most companies wait too long to start the modernisation process, resulting in additional time pressure and poor underlying conditions. This situation is compounded by the fact that the company is often lacking sufficient knowledge of the outdated application and the supporting processes within the organisation. Application modernisation projects are change projects that go beyond simple technical modernisation and also involve organisational changes and updated processes. For this reason, support from management is critical for modernisation projects.
Additional applications are installed because new business applications can no longer be implemented in the existing system. This makes the overall application and infrastructure landscape even more complex and difficult to maintain. In this way, the outdated applications become an operational risk and inhibit innovation.
Wie eine erfolgreiche Application Modernisation gelingt
Zühlke has successfully used a four-step approach to modernization projects for many years:
The freedom regained in the area of applications offers the business new opportunities to develop. Time to market is reduced over the long term, while service quality is improved. The IT landscape can be streamlined through application modernization, which in turn increases efficiency. The reduction of maintenance requirements also allows additional savings to be made.
Cloud Technologie und Application Modernisation
Cloud technologies such as Microsoft Azure and AWS are another option for the operation of applications. Using the cloud can increase organisational flexibility. Often, cloud providers can offer better data security and a more modern infrastructure than an in-house data centre. Furthermore, the cloud makes it possible to remain independent of providers; however, this needs to be taken into account in the architecture of the application and the use of cloud services. The cloud ecosystem can simplify or even enable the integration of new services in the environment of business applications. This means that cloud applications can serve as a viable alternative to local development or local operation of applications.
Ob Cloud-Migration, Application Modernization oder neue digitale Plattformen und vernetzte Produkte: Wir realisieren Projekte von der Idee bis zum Betrieb und der Wartung des Systems.
Regina Dietiker ist Partnerin bei Zühlke und verantwortlich für die DevOps Practice bei Zühlke Schweiz. Sowohl erfolgreiche Kundenprodukte zu erstellen und zu betreuen als auch die Modernisierung von Anwendungen sind ihre Leidenschaft.
Myles Davidson ist eine erfahrene Führungskraft für die digitale Transformation von Unternehmen und Produktinnovation. Er verfügt über beträchtliche Erfahrung in der Leitung von Geschäftsinitiativen auf lokaler und internationaler Ebene in einem komplexen und sich schnell verändernden Umfeld. Myles ist bekannt als vertrauenswürdiger Berater für Kunden auf C- und Vorstandsebene für strategische Fragen rund um Geschäftsinnovation und Technologie.