Upgrading legacy systems can be time consuming. And costly. Even painful!
Whether you’re a safety-first CIO that just wants to keep things running smoothly, or a progressive technologist who’s focused on moving things forward, there’s no denying that consolidating multiple technologies and updating an existing system in an organisation is a challenge.
The first hurdle is convincing people that change is necessary.
Even if your existing business systems don’t work that well, many people will object to a different solution - simply because they don’t want to have to learn how to use a new technology. Often, it’s not that they don’t want to modernise legacy systems, it’s just a matter of prioritising this against all the other work they have to do. Alongside this, you’ve also got to consider the costs, the security and data management implications, and the practicalities of implementation of other systems.
Whether your upgrade is motivated by growth, an acquisition, restructuring, or the simple replacement of outdated software, it’s up to you to make sure that it’s as painless and rewarding as possible.
Following the steps below will set you on the path to success.