More and more companies face the unsatisfying reality of dealing with legacy systems and conclude that they should make a change. However, a significant portion of such systems supports daily business operations, making it difficult to rip and replace them entirely.
Did you know that nearly 97% of all collected data ends up being just stored away and never gets a chance to be used again? On top of that, a big part of this data is outdated and redundant, delivering little to no value to the company. But you can change that by reactivating your legacy software.
Luckily, you don’t need to disrupt the whole IT environment to get a new technology platform. After having invested money and time into your legacy application, a complete overthrow of the entire system seems like a waste, right? There is a way of adopting newer technologies without starting from scratch. Instead of building a brand new application, you can upgrade your old one by implementing a method called legacy systems integration.
But what is legacy system integration, and is it relevant for your business?
What Is Legacy Systems Integration?
Legacy system integration deals with connecting APIs on-premises and in the cloud. In other words, it transports data from on-premises legacy systems and advancing new systems that drive the business further. The main challenge is to detect an outdated system and ensure communication between it and the cloud applications. Legacy system integration is also necessary for untangling the so-called spaghetti code when integrating a company’s internal systems.
When Is Legacy System Integration Relevant?
How can you tell if you have a legacy system on your hands and whether it needs modernization? What are the main reasons to integrate legacy systems? There are eight of them:
- Shorter time-to-market
44% of organizations that offer financial services state that integrating new technology is one of the biggest pain points. Integration of a new solution into the existing environment becomes a hardship on the way to digital transformation. Luckily, legacy system integration helps you build a lightweight product that will present a competitive advantage. On top of that, this process speeds up time-to-market and allows you to deploy more frequently.
- Increased performance
Newer technologies come with better performance as well as more reliable and smooth processes. Additionally, modernized solutions reduce security risks and facilitate better functionality.
- Access to buried data
As mentioned before, 97% of data gets lost and forgotten in legacy systems. You can improve your business processes by unlocking the value of data and utilizing it.
- Improved agility
By adjusting your IT environment to fit into the agile and cutting-edge present, you leave a bigger window for future changes.
- Easier to follow data compliance standards
Some industries, such as healthcare, require a specific process of data transfer. Outdated legacy software cannot ensure this strict flow and hinder changes.
- Smoother integration with third-party tools
Newer systems like CRMs, accounting software, and other third-party tools open up new opportunities for your business. However, to capture the benefits of modern systems, you need to bridge the gap between legacy software and the new system.
- Eliminate financial inefficiencies
Every IT business strives to be modern and up-to-date, which is hard to achieve when you keep using outdated software. Jumping on the innovation train will improve your company image and might even attract investors.
- A valid alternative to legacy system replacement
Integration is far less invasive and expensive than a complete replacement of a system. Unlike smooth and continuous integration, the latter requires bigger investments, resources, and time.
3 Types of Integration of Legacy Systems
There is more than one approach to the integration of legacy systems, but we’ll focus on the three basic ones and the one ready-to-go.
Service layers
Adding service layers is a common strategy when it comes to legacy systems modernization. They act as a mediator between your outdated application and a new system. Service layers transform the data before it hits the new or existing system.
Data access layers (DALs)
Data access layers act as a database that allows developers to use various data stored and access information easier. They also facilitate a separate modification of logical data that won’t affect the business layer. This is a beneficial trait for any system, including modern ones, especially when a need to extend comes up. Using DALs, you’ll be able to replicate a data solution that will allow you to deploy a business or data intelligence, or artificial solution.
Application Program Interfaces (APIs)
As one of the most common legacy system integration models, APIs unmask functions of your legacy software to outside integration and make the process significantly simpler. APIs provide much-needed flexibility and ensure better performance.
Ready-made solution for legacy systems integration
Instead of executing the cumbersome process of integration by yourself, you can purchase a ready-made solution. Some companies offer a simple solution for seamless integration, thus solving the problems with legacy infrastructure. Although it is a more cost-effective option, there is a catch. Ready solutions usually pose a greater risk of sensitive data loss. You will be better off choosing a vendor who will develop a custom solution for your business and control every step of the process.
Read the full article on ModLogix
Originally published at https://modlogix.com on February 12, 2021.
