Top 6 Application Modernization Trends
Application modernization isn’t just a fancy technology term designed to create hype around an ephemeral trend. Application modernization is a driving force behind efforts to re-engineer an enterprise’s digital arsenal to make it more intelligent, agile, and adaptable. CIOs believe that application modernization is essential to help them stay ahead of the competition, deliver the experience their customers want, and equip their employees with the tools to perform optimally. As many as 87% of business leaders believe application modernization is crucial for their business success in this decade, as per a 2023 survey.
However, every organization cannot have a one-size-fits-all solution to their modernization-related challenges. Modernization strategies depend on various factors, including the company’s business goals and the state of its legacy infrastructure.
It also depends on the technologies adopted to support the modernization initiatives. It’s here that automation comes forth as a prevailing theme or trend. It paves the way for leveraging disruptive technologies like Generative AI and Low-Code Development to deliver business value in application modernization.
Here’s a rundown of such trends and technologies that businesses must take notice of for their application modernization initiatives:
1. Low-Code/No-Code Development (LCNC)
LCNC tools empower business users with limited programming expertise to design and create highly functional business applications. With their user-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop functionality, they facilitate application development and upgradation by eliminating the need to write complex code.
According to Gartner, low-code and no-code development tools will help design 70% of all business applications by 2025.
The LCNC approach is gaining popularity as more companies look to innovate and modernize their applications. They are keen on getting LCNC tools in place, which have a rather low technical entry barrier, reduce the stress on core technology experts by empowering business users, and expedite digital transformation efforts.
2. Generative AI
Generative AI enables AI-powered systems to generate content in the form of images, text, and synthetic data. Although the technology is nascent, generative models have gained widespread adoption. A lot can be attributed to the prominence of ChatGPT.
Today, Generative AI solutions are being used widely across several use cases. For example, they can help create outbound marketing campaigns, develop synthetic data for better analytics, etc.
In the realm of application modernization, Generative AI can speed up development time by:
- Understanding customer requirements
- Reviewing the available data faster than human employees and suggesting the next course of action
- Automating the generation of application code
Effectively, Generative AI can enable business agility by helping companies respond quickly to evolving customer demands and requirements.
3. Cloud-Native Development
As per recent reports, 75% of companies are interested in cloud-native application development. In fact, Gartner estimates that companies will deploy 95% of their workloads on cloud-native platforms by 2025, up from just 31% in 2021.
At its core, cloud-native development is an innovative approach to building, deploying, and managing applications optimized for the cloud environment. The inclination towards cloud-native apps is justifiable as they are cost-efficient, offer high flexibility and reliability, require shorter release cycles, and offer improved user experience.
Besides these advantages, cloud-native platforms also align perfectly with popular methodologies like DevOps and Agile. In the context of application modernization, cloud-native technologies like containers, microservices, and Kubernetes can help develop modern, flexible applications.
These applications can be scaled easily and cost less when it comes to updates and upgrades. Plus, they are backed by built-in redundancy and failover capabilities of the cloud environment.
4. Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)
This is truly the age of the mobile workplace. Employees need to be empowered to work “wherever, whenever” because that’s how customers want to interface with the brands that serve them. That’s why PWAs are in focus.
PWAs are web applications that can operate on any mobile or desktop device. These apps offer a host of benefits, including:
- Faster loading speed
- Optimum and consistent performance
- Low data intensiveness
- Regular updates
A report found that PWAs have a 36% higher conversion rate than native applications. The global market for PWAs is set to reach a value of $10.44 billion by the year 2027.
With increasing mobile app consumption, PWAs can help accommodate the experiences that users desire. This, alongside their cross-platform compatibility and easy maintenance, makes them a perfect fit for application modernization.
5. DevOps
Would DevOps even qualify as a trend, considering how it has been the underlying framework for development initiatives over the years? Definitely! That’s because it’s all the more relevant today as application modernization initiatives get up to speed in the wake of quickly evolving technologies and customer expectations.
Also, it’s noteworthy that modernizing applications is also about choosing the right methodology or approach for application development. With DevOps, organizations can monitor the overall modernization process, along with ensuring control and efficiency. That’s because it allows for efficient collaboration, automation, and risk management.
Besides, DevOps can minimize human intervention, thus reducing errors and improving operational efficiency. In the context of DevOps, approaches and frameworks like infrastructure-as-code (IaC), containerization, and GitOps can deliver significant value to modernization efforts.
6. Cloud Migration
Cloud migration has been an ongoing modernization trend in recent years. Companies are deploying various migration techniques like re-platforming, refactoring, and repurchasing as part of application modernization.
According to Microsoft, 62% of organizations already have a cloud migration and modernization strategy. And about 82% of companies view cloud migration as the stepping stone to digital transformation.
Organizations going for cloud migration and modernization can, in fact, realize business benefits like reduced investment in costly data centers, simplified IT environment and operations, etc.
Successfully Modernize Enterprise Applications with i-Source
Application modernization is not a one-step process but a journey that involves the continuous transformation of existing applications. However, a recent study reveals that 79% of application modernization projects fail for a host of reasons.
It’s here that collaborating with a trusted IT partner like i-Source makes a whole lot of sense. We provide our customers with cost-effective application management and support (AMS) and spearhead their application modernization efforts using the latest technologies. Book a strategy call today to learn more.