From COBOL to Java : Modernize Your Existing Legacy Software

Feb. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Vienna, VA -- Technology moves forward at a remarkable pace,‭ ‬so‭ ‬that most of the hardware and software we see in the market today can become nearly useless in less than half a decade since their introduction.‭  ‬The problem is that new versions of software and operating systems place ever-increasing demands on the hardware,‭ ‬and new software is often incompatible with older software.

How does this reality affect your business‭?

It is a reminder that‭ ‬on‭ ‬the fast-moving platform of business and commerce today,‭ ‬there’s a need to be more vigilant to newer developments and to find ways to easily adapt or modernize accordingly.‭  ‬Modernization is the only chance your business has to remain competitive in an ever-changing business climate and meet‭ ‬its challenges‭ ‬head-on.

Consider this scenario:‭  ‬you expect an increase in demand for one of your products,‭ ‬but your current system may not be able to handle the surge and provide the right leverage to an influx of traffic and sales that you expect,‭ ‬or you may have to meet new regulatory requirements or support entirely new business initiatives.‭  ‬What would you do‭?  

You should think of ways and plan the means to have the right resources and augment the technologies that you will need to be able to prepare for a surge in demand.‭  ‬However,‭ ‬genuinely new software‭ ‬such as an ERP package‭ ‬will cost a lot of money,‭ ‬and you would like to save on cost,‭ ‬wouldn’t you‭? ‬This is where modernization can come in handy.

Modernization vs.‭ ‬other Options
‎
Today,‭ ‬most software applications get a makeover.‭  ‬Anti-virus programs download a daily dose of updates from their developers to respond to the ever-growing number of malwares and‭ ‬Trojan viruses in the wild.‭ ‬Even operating systems and web browsers pick up patches,‭ ‬and fix flaws and bugs that crop up on their customers’computers.‭

How about your critical business applications,‭ ‬how often do you get an upgrade or a good fix‭?

It is alarming that most businesses seldom get an upgrade or a boost in technology,‭ ‬primarily because of the attending cost that comes with it.‭  ‬Also,‭ ‬some computer applications do not easily allow an upgrade,‭ ‬and sometimes the programmers cannot be found to work with the older technology.‭

Obsolete company software has strict coding features in their design that often limits them from communicating with newer technologies and programs.‭ ‬Some aging business systems today,‭ ‬used by a number of top government agencies and corporate institutions,‭ ‬that‭ ‬are operating for mission-critical competencies may no longer be able to easily communicate with a number of the latest on-line modes of data interaction.‭  

So what are your options‭?

Certainly,‭ ‬buying new software may sound appealing,‭ ‬but how about all the data you have stored since the inception of your business,‭ ‬what will happen to‭ ‬it‭? ‬Will you be able to easily migrate from software to software,‭ ‬without the risk of losing some data‭?‬  The new package will have strict data editing rules that your existing data probably won’t pass.‭  ‬And,‭ ‬what about customizing that package to fit your needs‭? ‬What about retraining all your staff to use the new software correctly,‭ ‬because it certainly won’t work the way your existing software works.

The risk of data corruption is very high,‭ ‬and the tendency for bugs and design flaws to migrate or get integrated into the new system is another possibility.‭

The Most Practical Solution to an Aging Technology

You should give modernization of your aging applications‭ ‬more than‭ ‬a little thought.‭ ‬If you do the analysis,‭ ‬you will realize that it is the most cost-effective approach to‭ ‬getting the same functionality on a modern platform,‭ ‬with fresh,‭ ‬properly structured and commented‭ ‬code,‭ ‬and having a more technically and technologically sound approach to keeping the‭ ‬automation‭ ‬you have had for‭ ‬processing your vital business‭ ‬data all those years‭ ‬supporting your modern users with their browser-based access.‭  ‬And,‭ ‬you can add functionality from open source frameworks,‭ ‬and reduce your cost by accessing the pools of modern programmers trained in today’s technologies and‭ ‬avoiding never-ending‭ (‬and often increasing‭) ‬license payments to vendors with proprietary packages.‭  Wouldn’t it be good to control your own destiny‭?‬

# # #

Founded in 2000, ResQSoft has built a reputation as a resourceful and reliable software development firm capable of undertaking large, complex, and often unconventional projects. For more details, you can visit http://www.Resqsoft.com or call:703-821-6999