This is a summary of an article I wrote for Tech Toolbox about IT Modernization, as the need has become critical for innovation, flexibility and speed. Updating the whole mix of technologies from legacy systems to yesterday’s new acquisition is not a simple undertaking, but it's possible to plan for success with a BPM process-based platform and an incremental, people-centered approach.
What is IT modernization?
IT Modernization is the push that CIOs are making everywhere to update all, or even some, of that global mix to better support the business and support innovation. Modern apps, cloud systems, and legacy software don’t always communicate well through the business processes that need them, leading to slowdowns, blockages, lost time and effort, employee frustration throughout the organization, and customer dissatisfaction.
4 important points: what IT Modernization is not
- Modernization is not abandoning legacy for the cloud
- Modernizing is not just replacing technologies
- Modernization that includes legacy is not an impediment to agility and DevOps
- “Modernizing” is not all about technology
- While IT modernization is undoubtedly about updating technology, people are a key part of it too. It’s well-known that people don’t like change.
Read more about each of these points in my original article!
How to speed up IT Modernization
Again, my advice: don’t try to modernize everything all at once. Use an incremental approach with solutions with the least disrupting impact; invest in solutions that mix legacy and modern apps and approaches.
What digital automation platforms provide is the potential to modernize applications without rebuilding older applications from scratch. They permit agility, and speed, to develop enterprise applications that integrate all types of information systems. Open platforms allow wide integration; lightweight, flexible platforms allow fast iteration.
In short, organizations that want to modernize efficiently need platforms that:
- allow people with different skills to collaborate in the modernization of applications and processes
- allow interoperability between different systems (old and new)
- are based on standards and open technologies so organizations can maximize existing resources
- let non-technical people participate fully in those projects.
Plan for change management. Use a “test & discover” approach for rapid deployment and development and integrate feedback from your users all along the way.
Modernizing the IT supporting your business may be a big undertaking, but there’s no need to remodel the whole house all at once to make it fit your needs today. Plan the whole project, and tackle it piece by piece…you can keep on living there while you implement incrementally.
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