Almost every organisation that has been in operation for a long time has a complex IT infrastructure that regularly includes legacy custom-made applications. These applications would have been built to purpose using best in class technology at the time but that could have been 10-20 years ago. Nowadays these solutions are out of date and can be heavily restricting your organisation. In this article we explore the key signs that your legacy systems are holding you back.

6 key signs your internal legacy systems are restricting your organisation

Here are 6 key signs that your internal system is performing badly:

  • High downtime or slow response times. If your internal system is frequently down or unresponsive, this is a sign that it is not able to handle the current workload. This could be due to a number of factors, such as hardware failure, software bugs, or network issues.
  • Data loss or corruption. If data is being lost or corrupted on your internal system, this is a sign that there are serious problems. This could be due to hardware failure, software bugs, or security vulnerabilities.
  • Security breaches. Best practice cyber security approaches have evolved significantly over the years and most legacy applications do not meet modern standards. This opens your organisation up to risks that could lead to data theft, financial loss or reputational damage.
  • Process evolution. When the legacy application was built it would have been designed to work with your organisations processes. Over time these processes evolve resulting in your system no longer working with your business. This can involve workarounds or additional steps being required to complete processes the way your business now needs.
  • High number of support tickets. If the IT support team is receiving a high number of tickets about problems with your internal system, this is a sign that there are widespread issues. This could be due to several factors, such as poor system design, inadequate training or lack of documentation.
  • Negative feedback from users. If users are complaining about the performance of your internal system, this is a sign that there are problems. It is important to listen to this feedback and address the issues that users are raising. Bad IT systems are a growing reason good, talented employees leave organisations.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is important to take action immediately to diagnose and fix the problem. This may involve upgrading hardware, fixing software bugs or implementing new security measures.

The cost of upgrading a legacy system can sometimes seem expensive but when you carefully consider the challenges, risks and productivity loses endured with your legacy apps, you will find building the business case for replacing them suddenly stacks up. At Bridgeall we have helped develop and modernise hundreds of custom applications and offer a range of services to help, contact us today to learn more.