The theory of business evolution: modernising apps

Robert Ekstrom at  Couchbase describes how businesses are turning to application modernisation to adapt to demands for rapid, personalised user experiences and combat the barrier of outdated IT systems and legacy apps

The world in 2023 may look very different to when Darwin theorised about the importance of adaptability in order to survive. But as the demands on enterprises for rapid, personalised user experiences increase incessantly, the need to be agile and adaptable has never been as urgent.

Unfortunately, monolithic IT systems with legacy applications built on top are a barrier to achieving such experiences. These applications were built for a different era of interaction, and businesses now struggle to incorporate modern interfaces and features, as well as ensuring apps are robust enough to manage increased demand.

Outdated applications can have serious consequences for businesses. Users have little patience for slow-running applications, and customers take their spending elsewhere if their demand for a personalised, digital experience is not met.

Organisations are therefore turning to application modernisation for improved speed, flexibility and scale of their apps. In fact, a recent poll of IT leaders revealed the need to modernise applications was a top three priority given the current state of the economy.

But what is application modernisation, and how does it help?

Delivering the goods

Application modernisation refers to the process of modernising legacy apps by updating internal architecture and features, as well as the platform infrastructure they sit upon. This can be done by refactoring the application – optimising without changing core functionality, or the application can be re-platformed, using cloud services, to an environment better suited to modern demands. Some businesses even choose a third option, to rewrite the app from scratch.

By modernising an application, businesses are best placed to keep up with users’ constant expectations of innovation. New features can be introduced, as more modern applications often use contemporary technologies and practices like AI, cloud computing, microservices and containers that lend themselves to agile development. Modernisation can also improve the robustness of apps, making sure the business can cope with spikes in demand.

No longer constrained by legacy apps, businesses can respond much faster to market demands – such as the current growth in AI. Many businesses are currently looking to AI technology as a way of automating straightforward tasks and making the organisation more efficient. Enterprises will struggle to utilise this technology with outdated applications still in play.

Another crucial benefit for businesses is how the process of modernisation can keep their developers on side. IT leaders recently cited pressure from developers to support agile development and innovation as their primary driver behind digital transformation projects. Simply put - working with legacy systems is challenging for developers.

With the adoption of better tools and techniques, the challenges associated with manually managing legacy systems become easier to overcome.  

Watch out for the roadblocks

It’s not always plain sailing, however.

Application modernisation can be a complex process. Enterprises must start by assessing existing legacy applications for business benefits, risk factors of modernising and establish a clear list of dependencies that are linked to the app. Although a detailed report on this can be time consuming for teams, it’s a crucial step to provide visibility on the application, and minimise the risk of service outages across the business.  

If enterprises then plan to go ahead, one key consideration must be the cost. As well as having to factor in elements like cloud services costs, enterprises may require tech support specialists to modernise the application– adding to the budget.

Businesses can fall into the trap of thinking that re-platforming an application and moving it from a data centre to be cloud-hosted, for example, is an efficient move for the enterprise. But long term, this method can actually result in increased costs if the application is not properly optimised for the cloud. This can lead to the cloud provider charging for expensive, over provisioned compute resources, costing the business more.

And despite the benefits, enterprises must be cautious of the challenges of working with cloud providers. Businesses may have compliance requirements to store data in specific regions, or with specific security controls, that may not be reflected by cloud providers.

Vendors can also insist that business only use certain management tools, or “lock in” enterprises to services – limiting access and control over their own data. Factors such as these can contribute to significant overspend – research shows this at over $6.5m a year.

It’s time for action

With these warnings in mind, enterprises must balance their approach to application modernisation.  

Despite these warnings, the challenge for businesses is clear: applications that no longer meet the demand from users in 2023 will be holding them back.

Through an innovative process like application modernisation, they can leverage the features, scalability and speed required to stay ahead of the competition.

To successfully complete this process, businesses must consider the best strategies to modernise their applications, as well as the best services and configurations for their individual needs.

While there is no one size fits all, a balanced approach to application modernisation will give businesses the best chance at managing change. 

Robert Ekstrom is Vice President, EMEA at Couchbase

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com