After a few years, you may find it’s time to improve your custom software. Maybe you need to give the user interface a facelift or improve compatibility. Or maybe you want to scale it up.
Software modernization is of utmost importance for a growing business. If your business has been using the same custom software for a long time, then it’s like running Windows XP on the latest laptop. Outdated and underperforming software will undermine your operations.
You may think legacy application modernization is hard. It’s true that it’ll require planning and forethought. Of course, the time, cost, and resources you’ll need for a legacy system replacement strategy will depend on the extent of the upgrade, required enhancement of compatibility, and integration with other systems.
However, if you choose an experienced custom software development vendor with talented developers, updating your outdated software will be easier than you think.
Here’s how you know it’s time to update your custom software.
Need for Adoption of New Technologies
New devices and applications are frequently and constantly introduced on the market. Apple, Microsoft, and other companies are updating and launching new software. After some time, you may find users cannot access some of your old software’s functionalities. In such a case, new APIs and integrations will greatly improve your custom software.
Security Updates
If legacy software was not updated recently, it may be vulnerable to hackers. Old software tends to have holes that hackers can exploit and inflict damage on your business. You must perform regular updates and maintenance patches for this reason. Don’t believe the old adage, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” when it comes to custom software development.
Increasing Demand
As your business grows, your software will need a reboot in terms of increasing server size. Also, if you find that your business is great and your customer base is exponentially growing, you’ll need to scale up your software. Another sign is when your customers start complaining about slow load time or lack of functionality.
Changed Business Processes
With the changing business environment, your custom software may need modernization. So far it’s served its purpose well, but time takes its toll and now it needs a reboot. In such a case, you may not need to start from scratch with entirely new custom software. Adding some functions and features may be more cost-effective.
Some other reasons for legacy software modernization are…
- Happier clients/employees
- Future-proofing your business
- Unlocking big data opportunities
- Better performance and reliability
If you have any questions on legacy software modernization or want some clarification on custom software development or updates, contact us.
