By Steve Morland, Specialist Tech Lead, Leighton.
Replatforming is the process of migrating from one software platform or application to another and means moving data, assets, content, modules, templates and integrations to a new solution. Whilst replatforming can be complex, it does provide the chance to implement a cloud-based strategy whilst improving (or preserving) existing functionality.
When it comes to replatforming, most businesses decide to do so once they run into a challenge with their current technology, and often, when they’re thinking about replatforming it’s already too late. This is largely because most commercial, off-the-shelf software from the last decade was not designed for the cloud and therefore has limitations in terms of cost, scale and availability. Typically, as platforms age, their limitations start to show.
The more business-critical or large scale the app, the more value cloud native architecture can add, but ultimately the decision to replatform must be based on specific business needs. In this article, Steve Morland, Specialist Tech Lead at leading software development business, Leighton shares some of the most common reasons to replatform.
1. Scalability
One of the most common challenges with legacy software is scalability, or lack thereof. As your business grows, your current technology might not be able to keep up with an influx of visitors or users or perhaps functionality can’t keep up with the needs of your business – especially if you are using a closed system and you can’t influence the product roadmap or technology decisions are reliant on the vendor’s decisions. Likewise, your business may be forced to shrink based on market conditions, so your software capabilities need to expand or decrease with you. Replatforming empowers businesses to scale with more control.
2. Costs
Increasing operating costs are another common reason for ditching legacy systems in favour of replatforming. By transitioning from on-premise to cloud-based services, you can switch from buying licenses or software outright to pay-as-you-go or subscription-based models, meaning you are only charged for the resources you consume. With these models, typically there are no upfront fees, minimum commitments, or long-term contracts required. Replatforming can also help increase automation, improving staff productivity and minimising human error, which ultimately impacts the bottom line.
3. Availability
This one goes hand in hand with price and scale, but the availability of your existing application might be a factor when it comes to replatforming. For example, your current platform might not be performative during peaks, or you may be having issues with downtime, meaning your software just isn’t available when you or your users need it. Alternatively, you might be trading in different regions or operating at a global scale and your technology might not be available in specific countries or regions.
Unfortunately, there is no ‘right time’ to replatform once your legacy software becomes outdated. But putting off replatforming can put your businesscritical application at risk of becoming obsolete and unusable. So, if you’re thinking about replatforming, it’s probably too late… Start now by working with your technology partner to assess your business’ needs and find the right solution. Think about your business’ goals. What features do you need to add or remove to get there? What functionality in your current platform is hindering your growth? Answer those questions and you’ve already started the process of replatforming.