Unlocking Value with Data & Software Modernisation

We gathered together a group of leading London CTOs for a discussion on how to unlock value with data and software modernisation. Following fascinating and insightful discussions, we have produced this article  to support your own journey to digital and data transformation. 

Modernisation as a strategic necessity

Before any organisation embarks on a modernisation project, the need for modernising must first be thoroughly and strategically evaluated to ensure that it aligns with the overall business strategy. Adoption of a new tech stack is not always a valid reason to modernise, and tech leaders trying to get buy-in from the board on this basis will struggle. Having strong technical representation at board level can help tech leaders build a clear business case for modernisation, ensuring that this is seen as a strategic investment rather than just a cost.

Leaders need to look ahead and assess whether the current systems support business operations and future aspirations. A good starting point is to gather relevant metrics to determine if the existing system is a barrier to progress. Key indicators for modernisation include an unnecessarily heavy cognitive load on engineers (which can slow down development and innovation), or the inability of current systems to support future business operations and aspirations. It’s important to evaluate the cost of the risk of not changing versus the cost of the risk of change. Learn about how software modernisation can boost business agility here.

A holistic view of modernisation

Effective software modernisation requires a holistic perspective that goes beyond just updating a codebase. It should be viewed as a strategic process that involves a comprehensive look at the entire technology ecosystem, infrastructure,  including skills, processes, methodologies, and overall team capability.

The need for modernisation can come from a variety of factors such as the specific stage of a company's growth (such as the transition from a startup to a scale-up) or the need to keep pace with the rate of change of related systems. It's also important to recognise that modernisation may be necessary to correct for either over-engineering or under-engineering that has occurred over time. Whilst metrics like staff turnover can be a late-stage indicator of deeply rooted problems, it's crucial that tech leaders proactively assess these needs. Our Software Quality Assessment gives business clear, in-depth independent expert analysis of bespoke software products, people and processes to inform your strategic business decisions.

AI in software modernisation - is it a help or a hindrance?

AI presents both opportunities and new challenges for software engineering. It's a powerful tool for navigating legacy systems; for example, using AI to explain code can reduce the cognitive load on engineers and give them the confidence to touch old code. There have also been promising experiments with AI code review and using AI for tasks like sentiment analysis of social media to create Jira tickets, or to empower support staff with better knowledge. Read our new ebook which explores where AI can add value for engineers.

However, the adoption of AI raises some critical questions. It's known for being "eager to please" and can produce AI hallucinations (outputs that are incorrect, nonsensical, or factually untrue), so it must be challenged to ensure the output is as accurate and reliable as possible. There’s also a wider discussion about its impact on the shape of development teams and the future of innovation. For example, if AI handles tasks traditionally assigned to junior developers, how do tech leaders effectively onboard and train new talent? At present, most AI projects are seen as preparation for the future rather than delivering immediate ROI. Because of this, leaders must identify the right metrics to provide confidence in AI's value and address potential long-term issues, such as a future software proliferation problem resulting from increased productivity.

Codurance’s Data and AI Readiness Assessment gives companies clear, independent recommendations to evolve their data strategy and kickstart AI adoption effectively.

Conclusion

If you’re assessing if your systems are in need of modernisation, reach out to our team who are happy to discuss this with you. We have partnered with leading organisations to modernise their software and unlock new growth opportunities. Read more about our software modernisation service here.