Modernisation is a crucial step for any organisation that wants to remain relevant and competitive in today's fast-paced world. However, it can be a daunting task for many companies, especially those with legacy systems. John Regan, Operations Director for Application Modernisation at Advanced, offers his expert advice on how to embark on a modernisation journey with confidence.
Get your inventory in order
The first step in any modernisation journey is to get your inventory in order. This means tidying up your code and ensuring that what you're converting is the real deal. It's essential to eliminate any outdated or redundant code and focus on what's important to your business. By doing this, you'll have a better understanding of what needs to be converted and how much work is involved.
Pick the right solution
Choosing the right solution for your modernisation project is crucial. You need to select a solution that will deliver code that's maintainable, performs well, and meets your requirements. At Advanced, we offer our customers a proof of concept or a pilot to help them see exactly what they'll be getting. We can take their code, convert it, and get it up and running so they can see for themselves how it works. This approach gives our customers peace of mind, knowing exactly what they're getting into before moving forward.
Get involved
It's essential to have the right mindset when embarking on a modernisation journey. This isn't a passive process, and you need to be actively involved if you want it to be successful. Work out who is going to work with the modernisation provider to answer questions and get to know the system. It's important to get your hands dirty and be part of the process. You need to be ready to get stuck in and help with the migration process.
Sort out your testing
Testing is a critical part of any modernisation project. It's essential to have a comprehensive plan in place to minimise the time it takes to run all your tests. This way, you won't be stuck with single-threaded testing, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. Prioritising testing ensures that your new system is robust and performs as expected.
Plan for the future
Finally, it's essential to plan for the future when embarking on a modernisation journey. Think about what your business will look like in five or ten years and plan accordingly. Ensure that your new system is scalable and can adapt to future changes in your business. By planning ahead, you'll be able to make the most of your investment in modernisation.
About John Regan
John Regan, Operations Director for Application Modernisation at Advanced is responsible for the delivery of all service engagements, customer support, and maintenance. John's expertise has been invaluable in some of the company's biggest engagements, such as Police Mutual, Desjardins, and Barclays. With over two decades of experience in leading modernisation projects, John consistently delivers excellent services to clients.