
Are you still using an old application or system that’s holding your business back? It may be time for a change. Updating to a newer, more modern system can provide your users with a better experience and improve productivity.
That way, you won’t find yourself in the same situation that 62% of the participants in a study done by MIT found themselves in when they couldn’t easily integrate their legacy systems with more recent and efficient multi-cloud technology.
But this can be a difficult process – especially if your old system is deeply embedded in your business operations. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for updating legacy systems and applications.
So, what should you do to make your software switch successful?
1. Involve Your Users – and Do it Early Enough
Updating legacy systems is easier said than done, mainly due to the fact that some users may not be ready to accept the sudden change.
To get them on board, you need to provide a clear explanation of why this change is happening. And if there’s something new and exciting in the software you’re switching to, be sure to let them know about it.
You should also provide training for your users so that they are familiar with the new system and can use it with ease. It’s also important to do acceptance testing, also known as beta testing. These users can provide feedback on the new system and you can use this to improve it before full release.
Involving your IT team in all of this will also be beneficial, as they’ll provide technical support if things go wrong or simply help with any issues your users may have when using the application for the first time.
If you provide these things early enough, your users will be more likely to embrace the new system. That way, it becomes easier to achieve the goals that made you want to change the system.
2. Utilize Application Transformation Services
For many businesses, the decision to update or change systems comes from a need for better performance. This can be difficult if your business is relying on outdated hardware. To make this process faster and more efficient, you can resolve to provide a modern user experience with application transformation services such as KMS Technology.
Such services even provide a way to deploy new applications and systems without the need for physical hardware or expensive data center space. They are also great if you want to provide access to your business’s IT infrastructure from anywhere in the world.
3. Encourage a Progressive Company Culture
A company’s culture is a reflection of the people within it. If you want to successfully update your legacy system, you need to encourage a progressive company culture that supports change.
This means being open to new ideas and changes, as well as being able to adapt quickly. And it should go without saying that communication is key in this process, as it will help you provide a clear explanation of why the change is happening, provide training to your users, and so on.
If your employees are comfortable with a different way of performing certain tasks while still achieving the same goals, doing so won’t be detrimental to the operation process of your business.
4. Pay Close Attention to ROI – But Not Just Profit
When you update your legacy system, the return on investment (ROI) isn’t just about profit. You need to provide value for all stakeholders – including customers and employees.
That means providing a better user experience for customers when they use your products or services. A horrible customer experience could cost you in ways you never expected. A good example is how Vodafone ended up being fined millions of dollars by the British telecom regulator after a failure while trying to consolidate its CRM systems.
In truth, quite a number of companies experience serious failure while attempting to update their legacy systems. According to this study, 21% of the companies were not successful in their attempt at system modernization.
In that light, it’s important to evaluate the risks and rewards of updating your legacy system before making a final decision. You need to be sure that the potential benefits of doing so outweigh the costs.
Final Word
Updating your outdated systems can be a challenging process that requires careful planning and execution. But with the right approach, you can make it work for your business and provide value in both the short and long term. The tips discussed in this post provide a good starting point and by paying attention to them, you’ll be well on your way to updating your legacy system with ease.