App Modernization

5 Application Modernization Challenges No One Talks About

Q: How to pitch the importance of application modernization to colleagues?

To pitch application modernization effectively, focus on its impact on the company’s growth and efficiency. Highlight current pain points, long-term cost savings, and customer expectations. Use real-world examples or data to illustrate the risks of falling behind and the benefits of being ahead. Emphasize how modernization aligns with the team’s goals and ask for feedback.

Q: How do I get stakeholders aligned for application modernization?

To get everyone aligned, build a strong business case that links modernization to business goals and shows the risks of doing nothing. Engage stakeholders early, address their concerns openly, and show quick wins to demonstrate progress. Clear communication and shared goals are key to gaining consensus fast.

Q: What are the most common challenges in application modernization?

Common challenges in application modernization include upgrading legacy systems to modern standards, safely moving large amounts of data during migration, being security compliant with current practices, managing the budget while prioritizing modernization, keeping the project on schedule despite its complexity, and finding professionals with the necessary expertise. While these challenges have weight, they often pale in comparison to the deeper issues like stakeholder alignment, understanding user needs, and overcoming internal resistance, which can significantly impact the success of modernization.

December 16, 2024•5 min read

When it comes to application modernization challenges, most articles on the web focus on technical stuff like upgrading legacy systems, data migration issues, or managing security concerns.

These challenges are important but overlook the bigger problems that companies can face. Based on our app modernization experience with clients, we know what goes beyond the obvious technical bits and which challenges really matter.

In this article, I want to share unique and important insights that founders and executives may not expect but will encounter. By knowing these unobvious challenges and how to overcome them, you will succeed in your modernization journey.

Challenge 1: Internal Resistance to Change

The first application modernization challenge is internal resistance to change. Teams within the company may not accept the new direction, especially if it disrupts workflow or introduces tools they don't like.

You can overcome this by open communication and collaboration with your team. Explain why modernization is needed and how it benefits the company and its employees. Involve teams early in the decision-making process so they feel heard and valued. Cool training and support can also ease the process and help teams adapt to the new environment.

If you’re someone who strongly believes in the importance of modernization and is actively pushing this idea in your company, we wish you good luck as you embark on a big and noble mission.

By addressing internal resistance, you can create a more cohesive and motivated team, ensuring a smoother and more successful modernization journey.

Challenge 2: Align All Stakeholders to Modernize

The second and the biggest application modernization challenge is deciding to move forward and align everyone in your company. The person who recognizes the need for modernization and wants to do it must persuade other stakeholders that app modernization is essential for staying competitive.

Product managers, sales teams, and team leaders must rally behind the idea that modernization is not optional — it's critical for survival. You may need to go to your CEO and justify the investment or convince your CTO to prioritize modernization over new features. And the hardest part is resolving conflicts of interest among people in the company.

It's common for some individuals to rate modernization as something that can wait. But as I like to say, this mindset is like shooting yourself in the foot. Modernization delays put your business at risk of losing customers to competitors, and once they are gone, getting them back will require a lot of work.

Challenge 3: Endless Preparations and Discussions

Even if your team is aligned and ready for modernization, the next challenge is turning words into action. This is where things get even more complicated. Our experience shows that even when companies understand the need for modernization, the decision-making and process launch can take from 6 to 12 months.

That's an incredibly long time for such a critical initiative.

Why does it take so long? It's natural — allocating budgets, focusing teams, and dealing with internal bureaucracy are all time-consuming tasks. But the real danger is dragging out the process. The longer you wait, the more you risk falling behind competitors and losing market share.

Once you've decided, don't slow down. Don't wait. Modernize.

Challenge 4: Reinventing the Wheel

One of the biggest challenges during application modernization is trying to "reinvent the wheel." Today, we have patterns and standards in development that can simplify the modernization process. These standards have been tested over the years and proven to work. However, some people in the company, or even experts, may overthink some aspects and overcomplicate what should be a simple task.

Take security, for example. While it's really important, some teams may spend too much time and resources worrying about details covered by modern frameworks and best practices. Instead of fixing core issues, people create unnecessary complexity by trying to come up with unique solutions for problems that already have industry-standard answers.

You don't need to invent something new when working methods already exist.

Challenge 5: Modernizing Without Understanding Your Users

Another big challenge in modernization is to do it without knowing your users and their needs. Imagine you give a development team to "modernize the product" without providing any information about the product or the pain points of its users. Without those insights, they will create products without the features or interfaces that matter to your audience.

Think of modernization as a unique chance to make your product really better. You can rethink workflows, improve usability, speed, and user experience. Knowledge within your company should flow freely between departments, especially during modernization. Don't hesitate to involve product managers or collect direct user feedback about what they want and need, and make sure those insights guide the decisions made during modernization.

By focusing on user needs, modernization becomes more than a technical upgrade — it's a strategy for growth, loyalty, and long-term success.

Conclusion

In my opinion, I have covered the biggest application modernization challenges that truly matter. There's much more to say on this topic, but I have focused on the important ones rather than the obvious ones like costs, timelines, and lack of skilled talents.

My challenges list might plant some doubts, but don't let that hold you back. Our company specializes in application modernization and would be happy to help you through the process. Contact us for a free consultation, and we will help you deal with all the challenges and give you the insights needed to make your modernization journey fun, motivating, and successful.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Vasylenko

CEO at The Frontend Company, Founder of Digital Business Card

Alex Vasylenko is the founder of The Frontend Company, DBC and several other successful startups. A dynamic tech entrepreneur, he began his career as a frontend developer at Deloitte and Scandinavia's largest banking company. In 2023, Alex was honored as one of 'Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs' by USA Today.

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