Discover the Advantages of Upgrading Legacy Applications
Enterprises, including higher education institutions, understand the burden that outdated legacy applications can exert on their systems. These applications, which are often incompatible and obsolete, lead to user frustration, security vulnerabilities, and data management challenges. As a result, organizations are constantly looking for ways to modernize their applications to avoid these issues.
Technical debt is a common challenge in higher education, with legacy applications contributing to this burden. Although modernizing these applications may seem like a daunting task, it is essential to address technical debt to prevent further complications. Postponing app modernization projects due to their complexity and cost only serves to exacerbate the existing challenges.
Cole Camplese, the CIO at the University of Texas at Austin, highlighted the areas where technical debt is likely to accumulate in institutions. He emphasized the importance of addressing technical debt in critical enterprise areas, such as HR, payroll, and student lifecycle management solutions, to avoid ongoing maintenance issues.
It’s crucial for institutions to integrate their applications seamlessly to provide students with a quality user experience. In today’s digital age, where students question the value of higher education, delivering an optimal user experience is imperative. Investing in application modernization is a step toward meeting students’ expectations and enhancing their overall experience.
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Centralized vs. Decentralized App Modernization: Understanding the Benefits
Organizations can choose between a centralized or decentralized approach to application modernization to meet their specific needs. A centralized strategy allows for better integration and management of applications, ensuring a seamless user experience. Working with partners like CDW and Enquizit can help organizations assess their current application environment and determine the best course of action for upgrading their applications.
Centralizing application deployment and management offers various benefits, including:
- IT support: Centralized management enables IT teams to focus on approved tools, ensuring users receive full value and minimizing downtime.
- Cost savings: Centralization can lead to reduced costs through enterprise purchasing discounts and software consolidation opportunities.
- Enhanced security: Centralized systems are easier to secure, reducing vulnerabilities and improving overall network security.
While centralization has its advantages, a decentralized approach also offers unique benefits that cater to user preferences and comfort. Decentralization allows users to choose applications that best suit their needs, enhancing user satisfaction and productivity.
Decentralized app modernization can provide the following benefits:
- User choice: Users have the freedom to select applications that align with their needs and preferences.
- User comfort: Switching to new applications can be challenging for users, so maintaining their comfort level is essential for a smooth transition.
- Less red tape: Decentralization reduces bureaucracy and speeds up the application deployment process, improving user satisfaction.
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Embarking on Your App Modernization Journey
Starting an app modernization project can be overwhelming, but it’s crucial for organizations looking to enhance their systems and user experience. Leveraging tools like the Strategic Application Modernization Assessment from CDW can provide a roadmap for organizations to evaluate their current application environment and determine the necessary upgrades.
ServiceNow and Salesforce offer solutions that can streamline enterprise functions and provide a centralized platform for managing applications. Institutions like Utah State University have successfully implemented these solutions, showcasing the benefits of a streamlined application environment.
As organizations navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, incorporating artificial intelligence into their applications is becoming increasingly important. Consulting with experts on the potential impact of AI on application environments can help institutions stay ahead of the curve and provide a cutting-edge user experience.
This article is part of EdTech: Focus on Higher Education’s UniversITy blog series.
