Let's say your technological operations aren't as efficient as you would like. Perhaps your business could benefit from new technologies and improved data flow. However, how do you decide how to incorporate a new system into your business practices in the least painful way?
Should you replace your entire infrastructure, or would a system integration business model be more appropriate? How should you address your legacy computing?
Legacy computing is an old piece of technology (computer software or hardware) that hasn't been upgraded. Very often, legacy systems still perform the basic functions that they were intended to perform. However, because more innovative products have since come into the market that perform faster and more efficiently, the old system has become a competitive liability even if it still functions as designed. The system integration business model is the transfer of modern computing systems into the older but still functioning legacy systems. This strategy is often the most cost-effective solution for most businesses whose existing systems still have value to them but need certain other functions and additional flexibility.
Cloud-based services, in particular, can improve your organization's efficiency and competitiveness. Many organizations experience poor system performance and high operational costs. Technology incompatibility poses difficulties for system updates, which cannot be kept current according to the pace a company strives to evolve and accommodate changing trends. Insufficient vendor assistance and constant updates for legacy technologies can render you vulnerable to data breaches and security failures. System integration is key to maintaining the effective operation of an IT infrastructure.
An upgrade of an outdated system demands flexible, easily updated technologies that can adjust to disruptions without compromising the user experience. System integration transitions older technologies into a modern infrastructure that performs to a higher standard.
Organizing a seamless system integration process can be challenging. You need to decide what your long-term goals are with regard to your IT infrastructure. Are you performing a system integration intending to slowly replace all of your legacy technology over time, or do you want to maintain your customized architecture because your older system still provides a particular function you can't find anywhere else?
System integration offers the benefit of providing an entirely customized system that can perform your unique operations. You can upgrade your technology to provide a more unified experience across users and vendors while maintaining certain key services that allow your business to perform at an optimal level.
Even if you do wish to entirely overhaul your infrastructure, system integration allows you to gradually introduce new technology into your practices to give your team members time to adjust. Very often, switching from one computing system to another abruptly can cause productivity issues as team members struggle to adapt to new processes. By integrating new technologies at a more systematic, gradual pace, business operations can experience fewer disruptions overall, even if the project takes longer to execute.
Is a systems integration business model right for you? If you aren't sure what the best strategy for your IT upgrade is, please contact the team at GCSIT for an in-depth consultation today.
