Is Your Company's Legacy Technology System Truly Worth It?
When companies decide to purchase a technology system, most would like to stay with that system for as long as possible. There are several reasons...
2 min read
It's as true in the working world as throughout other areas of life; people are afraid of change. In the business world, companies often stick with a technology system that has proven successful in the past, even if it's no longer up-to-par with modern standards.
While there is something to be said for comfort, most people would agree that the pace of technological advances has completely revolutionized the business world in more ways than one. Consumer expectations have increased in a way such that the businesses that are going to survive are those that are best able to put this technology to use. This means that people who remain firmly attached to their older legacy systems have run into several common problems:
I Can't Find Someone To Repair My System
As companies continue to employ more up-to-date technology systems, the IT professionals who are graduating from school spend more time learning about these new systems. This means that when these young professionals graduate, they don't know anything about older legacy technology systems, and therefore aren't equipped to fix these systems. As the professionals who are familiar with these systems retire, this leaves fewer people available to fix issues that arise with old machines, softwares and coding.
[DOWNLOAD] What's the cost of outdated technology systems?
It Costs Too Much Money To Maintain My Systems
Most people know the pain of having to repair or replace a broken piece of equipment in the office; however, this price is rising quickly for people who use legacy technology systems. When these systems go down and parts need to be replaced, it’s difficult to find replacement parts. Because these machines are so old, few people use them anymore. This removes any incentive for a technology company to keep these parts in their inventory. As it becomes more difficult to find these parts, the price of parts will rise, leading to a high cost of maintenance.
My System Can't Communicate With Other Systems
Every business needs the ability to talk to other systems either in other departments throughout the company or other businesses that a company may have partnerships with. In order for this partnership to function effectively, the systems have to be able to talk with each other reliably. However, legacy technology systems frequently don't have the ability to communicate with newer systems because they simply do not have the proper technology capabilities. This can put a strain on business partnerships.
[INFOGRAPHIC DOWNLOAD] The Cost of Legacy Technology Systems
I Cannot Complete A Merger Because Of My System
When two companies are attempting to finalize a merger, technology can be a serious roadblock. For example, one business partner might use ERP software; however, the other partner's system is too old to handle this type of technology. If the logistics don't match up, this could place a significant obstacle in the way of finalizing a merger. A legacy technology system doesn't have to prevent a merger from happening if a company is willing to modernize their system to meet the innovation age and the demands of their consumers.
My Business Is Always The Last To React To Change
Most businesses would rather be proactive than reactive; however, a business cannot be reactive with a legacy technology system because the software is too unwieldy to react quickly. In an era where most businesses have integrated their decision-making into a central location, having a legacy system means that every piece of data has to be analyzed piece by piece. Then, the data has to be compiled and a decision has to be made. These steps can all be integrated into a single process with a modern system. Therefore, companies that use a legacy system always feel like they're falling behind.