When ISVs (software producers) entered the market during 1980 – 2005, almost all organizations certainly had legacy applications built using a variety of programming languages such as (COBOL, FoxPro, C), platforms (Progress, Forte), environments (PowerBuilder, Delphi, Developer/2000, VB), and technologies (older version of Microsoft, JAVA, LAMP).
Most legacy apps have a monolithic code base that is tightly coupled with 2-tier or 3-tier architecture. In large enterprise-scale applications, the number of modules with independent business and data logic creates a spaghetti code with huge complexity.
As enterprise software became larger and more complex, limitations and constraints of traditional 3-tier architecture and legacy applications became evident.
- Non-responsive UI: Conventional frameworks used to develop UI layers are not responsive and cannot meet the demands of modern business applications.
- Complexity and Spaghetti Code: Software became complicated while accessing the data because of many modules, vast code, and data complexity.
- Monolithic code base: Applications became complex with larger monolithic code bases and unmanageable especially for newer team members in terms of code quality.
- CRUD: CRUD (CREATE, READ, UPDATE, DELETE) model of data persistence, typical operations such as reading data, making modifications, and updating data are done through transactions that lock the data.
- Inflexibility, Lack of integration & modularity challenges: Due to the absence of modularity and interdependence between modules, even small changes need to call for complete redeployment of the application. This leads to inflexibility and risks associated with redeployment, discourages frequent updates, and results in technology debt.
- Inability to Scale: Monolithic architecture and tightly coupled code make scaling of applications possible through multiple instances of the application, which is an inefficient way of handling transactions and data volumes.
Therefore, organizations need modernization to overcome these limitations to cope with current trends and business needs. But when should you look for modernization?
- Enhanced customer experience with sophisticated systems of engagement to support consumerization and personalization.
- Faster time-to-market and business agility with shorter development, test, and deployment cycles.
- Need modern stacks to remain competitive in a fast-changing market.
- Increase operational efficiency by reducing technology debt, lowering Total Cost of Ownership, and higher ROI.
- Ability to support multiple business models in a platform environment.
- When user interfaces are compliant with the latest standards and regulations.
Example of UI Modernization/Facelift
Why modernize UI?
There are several reasons why organizations consider modernizing their applications.
- Performance issues: Performance issues are due to a range of factors, including outdated technology, lack of optimization, and inefficient coding. Organizations should look to update their technology, optimize their code, and create efficient processes to ensure that user interfaces remain performant.
- Negative client feedback: Negative feedback from clients can be a major deterrent to progress. It’s important to take time to listen to client feedback and resolve issues promptly that arise.
- Not intuitive interface: Modern user interface needs to be intuitive. Users shouldn’t have difficulty navigating applications. This can be achieved by creating a UI that is easy to use and understand.
- Usability & accessibility Issues: As user interfaces become more complex, it is important to consider how users will interact with them. This includes factors such as how easy it is to use the interface, how accessible it is for users, and how intuitive the interface is. It is also important to consider the implications of different design choices for different users, as these can significantly impact the overall user experience.
- Losing Competitive Advantage: Businesses can quickly lose their competitive advantage as their UIs become outdated and less appealing to users. To prevent this, businesses must ensure that their UIs are modern, user-friendly, and updated.
- Complex Businesses turning to Digitalization: As companies continue to grow and evolve, they look for new ways to improve efficiency and productivity. When turning to digitalization they need a modern UI.
Approach with modernized UI responsive frameworks to stay ahead
Traditional UI is mostly driven by CRUD with mass input and output. Current applications demand goal-oriented UI based on roles, tasks, state and must be responsive to support a wide range of devices ranging from desktop to mobile and wearables.
In addition, they must support user interactions from multiple sources including touch, gesture, vision, and speech. Popular UI responsive frameworks such as Angular, Svelte, React, Ember.JS, jQuery, etc. are used for creating modern and digital applications.
With the ever-evolving customer expectations, companies must keep up with the latest trends and technologies to ensure their UI is up to date. Traditional user interfaces usually lack the necessary features and functionality that customers expect, which can lead to decreased customer satisfaction.
To avoid this, update your outdated applications with the latest UI modernization frameworks and tools. For more info contact: info@appstekcorp.com