Modernisation by Design: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right

Modernisation isn’t just a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic necessity. Many organisations still rely on infrastructure implemented decades ago, creating security risks, compliance challenges, and barriers to innovation. Moving to modern platforms ensures resilience, agility, and future readiness.

Why Modernisation Matters

Legacy systems often lack vendor support, depend on niche skills that are disappearing, and slow down innovation. Modern platforms improve security, reduce risk, and enable faster responses to market changes.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

One major mistake is treating modernisation as a simple migration task. A ‘lift and shift’ approach—moving legacy systems directly to the cloud without re-engineering—rarely delivers long-term benefits. Instead, organisations should embrace cloud-native practices, automation, and containerisation for maximum value.

How IBM Technologies Support Modernisation

IBM offers a comprehensive modernisation stack:

• Cloud Paks provide pre-integrated capabilities for AI, data, and automation on Red Hat OpenShift.
• Watsonx Code Assistant accelerates code conversion and guides developers on best practices.
• Modernisation Accelerator Tools assess legacy applications, recommend target architectures, and reduce risk during transformation.

Measurable Business Impact

Modernisation delivers tangible results:

• Up to 70% reduction in deployment times
• 40% drop in administration overhead
• Faster time-to-market and improved resource utilisation

Culture: The Hidden Driver of Success

Technology alone doesn’t guarantee success. Organisations must evolve their culture—retrain teams, foster collaboration, and encourage experimentation. Working with trusted partners like IBM and DeeperThanBlue helps bridge the human side of transformation.
What’s Next for Modernisation?

Expect intentional hybrid strategies, AI-driven automation, and continued SaaS growth. The future is modernisation by design, aligning technology, people, and processes from the outset to deliver sustainable business outcomes.

Ready to modernise with confidence?