Extend the Life of Critical Systems With Legacy Software Support
Empower your team with faster, safer software that makes trusted legacy systems more future-focused.
The True Cost of Aging Software
You may be using outdated software as a savings measure. Switching to something new often requires an up-front investment or taking on new subscription fees. Legacy systems sound much cheaper by comparison, but they may be imposing hidden costs on your business.
- Security vulnerabilities – legacy system security is often reduced by a lack of regular updates. This leaves you open to hackers and viruses that can be costly to constantly remove.
- Performance issues – when software ages, it often becomes slower and more difficult to use, preventing workflow optimization and reducing productivity, which are indirect costs to your business.
- Integration problems – when using a legacy system, compatibility with new software is reduced. You may find yourself paying for more programs than you need to compensate for the lack of integration.
The Three Levels of Legacy Software Support
Sometimes, it makes sense to keep using legacy software; other times, it’s better to upgrade. Zelifcam offers three tiers of legacy software support that you can customize to your business needs.
Maintenance
We’ll do basic system updates and upgrades without significant software changes. Maintenance is ideal for systems that still serve you without any performance issues. The goal is to keep your legacy programs working well with newer hardware and prevent security risks.
Optimization
A legacy system modernization exercise that will make your software easier to use and enhance its back-end performance. Optimization looks different for every program, and we’ll direct the work according to your priorities. The developers can make changes to the code to improve user interface and search functionality without rebuilding the app’s core architecture.
Migration
If your software creates more issues than it solves, it may be time for legacy system migration. That means moving your entire operation to a new platform or building one from scratch. If this sounds daunting, we can plan a phased approach to make it easy and stress-free for your team. We’ll move all your existing data over to avoid losing previous work.
Legacy Software Support by Industry
Ironically, legacy software usage is most common in industries where security risks are of utmost concern. Many businesses in these sectors were early adopters of now-outdated technology and have built entire industries around them. It is here that legacy system modernization has the most potential.
● Healthcare
Strict regulation around electronic health records makes legacy system migration more challenging in the healthcare sector.
● Manufacturing
SCADA systems have been used in factories since the 1960s. While some have embraced digital transformation, others retain outdated interfaces and functionality.
● Banking
Zelifcam works with business owners in these and other critical industries to optimize and enhance aging software while retaining its core functionality. Our main priorities are reinforcing data security and making upgrades without downtime.
1. System Assessment
First, we comprehensively review your existing software suite to find out where changes are needed. This often includes a legacy code analysis that shows us what’s under the hood of your business software, helping us find cyber bugs that could be slowing you down.
2. Strategy Session
Next, we review our findings and chat with you about your goals for the project. These can include increasing what your software can do or fixing daily problems caused by slow technology. From here, we will develop a strategy for upgrading the software over time or simultaneously.
3. Day-One Improvements
Usually, there are things that we can change immediately to improve your software experience instantly. We’ll handle these right off the bat before diving into deeper automation projects. Examples of initial tasks include code clean-ups to improve performance and modernizing the interface to make it more user-friendly.
4. Updates and Check-ins
Zelifcam assigns each client their own dedicated software project manager. Your PM can help answer your questions and schedule meetings with the developers. We’ll provide you with a timeline for the optimization work and keep you in the loop throughout the project.
5. Future Planning
Continuous maintenance can eliminate the need for substantial software overhauls in the future. In stage five, we discuss ongoing system updates and upgrades for your tech stack. In some cases, legacy software may eventually require migration to a different platform. Knowing this in advance can help you plan and budget for the change.
Beyond Technical Support - Tips for a Smooth Software Migration
In the case of migrations, Zelifcam goes the extra mile to make sure your people feel comfortable working with the new system. What starts with legacy code analysis and optimization ends with human-centered guidance and support.
- Plan for a gradual roll-out – generous adoption timelines and incremental changes.
- Flatten the learning curve – training sessions, employee workbooks, etc.
- Create a supportive space – positive communication, helpful and friendly guidance.
At Zelifcam, we simplify complex tech projects by putting your professional comfort at the center of what we do. Please contact us for more information about our legacy system support or custom software development services.