That text-based DOS program your company got written 40 years ago might’ve been cutting edge in its time, but using and maintaining legacy software instead of upgrading it might actually end up being more expensive in the long run.
What is legacy software costing your business?
Legacy software has numerous hidden costs that all add up. These include:
- Additional burden on IT teams or external IT companies to maintain outdated systems.
- Outdated systems leading to data breaches or unpatched security flaws. (And data breaches also lead to heavy fines.)
- Downtime leading to lost production.
- Slow response times leading to various difficulties depending on the nature of the software (such as lost leads, lost sales, frustrated customers, etc.)
Of course, that doesn’t mean that modernising your software will be cheap, but there are solutions to this.
Are there new, free/cheap solutions that will do the job for you?
Some companies baulk at modernising legacy software due to the costs involved. These days, there are numerous free solutions available for software that once needed to be created in-house. For example, HubSpot has a free CMS, and WordPress is the go-to- solution for all sorts of web software needs due to its many plugins.
There could be free/cheap solutions around that might do the job for you. You might just need to hire a professional for migrating data from the old system to the new one.
You don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel
Modernising legacy software doesn’t mean the entire software must be rewritten. A competent software development company would usually be able to modernise the software by integrating parts of it that work well with newer parts that need to be upgraded.
Incremental upgrades might be easier to face
Very often, legacy systems can be upgraded bit by bit instead of all at once. Employees and customers will see the improvements immediately, leading to better service and faster response times without breaking the bank.
Upgrading legacy software this way is very often possible, although how it is done varies from system to system. The first step is to get a consultation for your particular system to see what can be done.
Alisco IT can upgrade your software
Alisco IT is an expert at modernising legacy systems and we strive always to do it at the fairest possible price. Our team has experience in a wide variety of web, desktop, and mobile software and is more than ready to guide and assist you through your legacy system modernisation.
