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Did you know that the average lifespan of a software system is 6-8 years? Yes! That’s right! And this countdown begins from the moment you launch your software. The depreciation of software is an unavoidable fact that all business owners have to keep in mind. But the question remains: how would you determine whether your software system is on its last legs? Well, there are definitely some red flags that hint at software modernization of your system. And that is what I’m going to talk about in today’s article. 

But before we begin, let’s take a look at why software modernization is so necessary these days.  

A couple of years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly accelerated the adoption of digital technologies – by small and large businesses alike. And to keep ahead of the curve, each company must develop new strategies and adopt new technological trends. Therefore, modernization is no longer a choice but a necessity in this situation. 

However, that is easier said than done. Most major sectors like banking, healthcare, government, etc., are dealing with outdated IT, hardware, and legacy systems from ages past. That’s because these legacy systems are responsible for generating enormous amounts of revenue. 

Furthermore, there is a general belief that legacy system modernization is quite time-consuming and messy. But it doesn’t have to be! TheCodeWork’s team of experienced developers can help you upgrade your outdated software quickly and seamlessly!

Interested? Connect with our team now!

Wondering how you will know whether it’s time to upgrade your software? Well, read on to find out! 

Let’s begin!

Warning signs that indicate software modernization 

Outdated legacy software can slow down your company’s growth and make it lose its competitive edge. But how can you tell when it’s time for a system upgrade – or as we call it – software modernization? 

Make sure to watch out for the following red flags!

1. Your system is slow and shows cracks in functionality

Have a look here and evaluate if your system/software encounters any of these situations:

• Your software system is taking forever to perform standard, routine tasks
• It has several glitches in the process or crashes often
• Your team has to process a lot of the business operations manually
• It is difficult to gain access to the data that your team members require on a regular basis

If your answer is yes to most of the above statements, it may be time to look for software modernization experts. 

Now, I acknowledge that it is not easy to upgrade your system, nor is it easy to find the right team to do it. So why don’t you get on a call with us at TheCodeWork and see if there are chances of possible synergy here?

Click below to book your free call now! 

Also, do you know? Since new features and updates put significant strain on your aging software, parent companies typically release fewer new features for such software. However, this can be quite detrimental to your business. Slow systems can have a butterfly effect throughout your company’s functioning,

• It can reduce employee productivity, and negatively impact the quality of the customer experience you strive to provide. 
• It’s even more concerning if you find yourself facing a software that crashes frequently. Unexpected software glitches can lead to the loss of crucial company data. 

Not very ideal, is it? 

And you wouldn’t want that to happen to your business, would you? So take it as a sign to modernize your legacy systems before it’s too late! 

2. There are gaps in your software’s security system

Security lapses are probably one of the most serious consequences of using outdated legacy software. In fact, an Accenture Security Report claims that legacy software poses one of the biggest threats to cybersecurity today. 

Now, you must be wondering: why is that? 

The answer is: software with obsolete code cannot properly receive newer security patches. This in turn exposes the business data to a wide range of threats (think: hacking, data theft, etc.).

Moreover, the method of generating passwords has also changed greatly. Nowadays, modern technology allows you to set up sophisticated authentication procedures and passwords–something old systems are not capable of. 

This is why you must regularly audit your software to preemptively detect and fix any vulnerabilities. However, the truth is, routine upkeep can only take you so far. In order to protect your company from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, you need to modernize your software too at some point. 

If you have not updated in the last few years, your system may be more vulnerable to security lapses. This can compromise both your business as well as your customers.

System modernization may be a difficult process but what about the positive impacts that it comes loaded with? Want to know more about how it can benefit your business and the revenue generation process? Let’s connect for 15 minutes.

Click here to give us a call now! 

3. The system is heavily reliant on hardware

Do you still need to host your business’s software systems on-premises? If yes, it’s likely that the system is already outdated. 

Hardware-dependent software is almost a thing of the past now. And that’s hardly surprising since it has a number of drawbacks. Any software that heavily relies on hardware is,

• expensive to maintain
• difficult to scale up
• frequently requires a team to work on-premises

In the post-pandemic work-from-home era, you can see why that might be an inconvenience! 

So what’s the alternative, you ask? 

The cloud, of course! 

Nowadays, cloud-based software systems require very little hardware and allow you to build a versatile, distributed workforce. Moreover, Azure TCO Calculator reports that within the first three years, cloud-based solutions can save you approximately 65% of your total IT expenses.

See? It’s a win-win all around! 

Looking to migrate your software to the cloud? Reach out to TheCodeWork to get such issues sorted. Looking for a team of experienced developers who are fluent in cloud migration and modernization?

4. Your software cannot meet your business needs anymore

All businesses are constantly evolving to meet the changing market needs. And your software system should be able to keep up with it. 

If you find that your software is lagging behind, you might just end up adjusting your business goals to accommodate the software.  And that is a huge no-no! 

On the flip side, it’s quite difficult, if not impossible, to scale legacy systems to greater functionalities. This could be because of their out-of-date technology stack or an overly complex internal architecture. Consequently, adding extra features on top of existing ones becomes particularly difficult. 

Are you concerned about upgrading the tech stack of your existing software? Reach out to us and get inputs from tech professionals who are proficient in software upgradation in a wide variety of tech stacks.

At this stage, you might want to think about the following:

• Can your team add simple features to your system with minimal effort and coding?
• Is it possible for your existing system to support growing production capacity and grow alongside your business? 
• Will it be capable of scaling and pivoting in the future? 

If you responded no, it’s probably time to upgrade your current software or develop a new system altogether. 

Chalk out the finer details of software upgradation with TheCodeWork team! 

Click below to give us a call now! 

5. Your software is incompatible with other applications

All businesses employ a variety of tools and applications to carry out their regular tasks. These may include internal communication tools, as well as customer-facing solutions such as technical help-desk or chat support.  

The effectiveness of these tools is determined by how well they work together. If all your applications work smoothly together, it enables different departments and teams to collaborate effectively, increasing productivity.

But this is where legacy software can pose problems. 

Because they are old, they may not always work well with new applications. As a result, your business may be losing out on essential new features, particularly those employing modern automation tools. And if you’re in a particularly competitive industry, this can cost you heavily.

Swapping legacy systems for newer cloud-based versions can help you provide the best possible experience to your clients and employees. It may be difficult, but it is the only way to move forward. So, if you are considering cloud migration or software modernization sometime soon, TheCodeWork would love to discuss synergies with you.

Key Takeaways

No technology can last forever (as I already mentioned at the beginning of the article). While your business software may be serving you just fine right now, it is bound to become less efficient over time. 

And you need to be prepared for that. 

I have listed the major signs that indicate that it’s time to upgrade your software soon. Certainly, there might be roadblocks or hardships that will deter you from modernizing or upgrading your systems right away. But keep in mind that the issues you are facing now will not go away on their own. In fact, it might just worsen over time. 

So it’s always better to act sooner rather than later for the well-being of your business. Wouldn’t you agree? 

Software modernization may be a complex process, but one must think about the benefits that it brings! Want to learn more about how it could help streamline your business operations and the process of revenue generation? 

Get on a call with TheCodeWork team now!