As modernising business applications becomes a key focus at many enterprises, the question of how this can be done naturally comes to mind.
In the past, companies would turn to systems integrators to build or modernise their applications – a process that could take several years. But it’s much easier to do so today, thanks to a plethora of apps available in the app marketplaces and easy-to-use development tools.
“In application modernisation, people are looking for satellite applications, especially systems of engagement, and are trying and buying them through app stores under their operating expenses,” said Stephen McNulty, managing director at Progress Software in Asia-Pacific and Japan.
Systems of engagement refer to decentralised applications and may include technologies that encourage peer interactions. These are usually bespoke applications that rely on what’s commonly known as systems of record, such as core banking systems.
In cases where businesses are unable to find the satellite applications they need, they can build them using rapid application development tools. A recent survey by Gartner showed that more organisations are expected to build their software, rather look shop for out-of-the-box solutions.
“In Australia, we have a mortgage broker company that built an application using our tools in his spare time,” McNulty said, adding the application can be used to generate quotations and has workflow and document management capabilities.
Whether businesses choose to buy or build their software, there’s an undisputed need to cater to a mobile workforce and tap the benefits of the cloud in any application modernisation effort.
“People are skipping web and desktop development completely and going to mobile,” McNulty said, adding that many organisations in Asia are gearing towards mobile-first applications.
For example, in the last six months, the number of companies using tools from Progress to build mobile apps has been growing at a phenomenal rate. “This is the case across all industries and countries in the region, especially with the decline of PC sales.”
According to IDC, 45 per cent of businesses are undergoing or planning to undergo application modernisation projects.
The insurance industry, for example, is expected to invest almost US$101 billion to improve data warehousing, claims and policy administration systems this year.
These replacements or refreshes are required as legacy IT systems become increasingly complex, inflexible, and archaic, to the point of negatively affecting technology integration and interoperability, IDC said.
