Application modernisation
Incremental modernisation of ageing applications: framework upgrades, architecture refactoring, UI renewal and cloud readiness.
Upgrade the system that runs your business without stopping it.
6 deliverables, a 4-stage approach and 6 related technologies.
Overview
Old applications often still work — they are just hard to change, expensive to host and risky to touch. A full rewrite is tempting but frequently fails by trying to replace everything at once.
We modernise incrementally: add tests around existing behaviour, upgrade runtimes and frameworks, extract modules behind stable interfaces and replace pieces one at a time while the system keeps running.
What we deliver
- Application assessment and risk register
- Modernisation roadmap
- Characterisation test suite
- Framework and runtime upgrades
- Refactored modules with APIs
- Updated documentation
Use cases
Typical situations where this service is the right fit.
Unsupported runtimes
Move off end-of-life PHP, Java or .NET versions.
Monolith untangling
Separate modules to allow independent changes.
UI renewal
Replace outdated screens while keeping proven back ends.
How we work
The stages we follow. Each ends with something you can review.
- 01
Understand and test what exists
- 02
Strangle, don't rewrite
- 03
Deliver value at every step
- 04
Retire old code as replacements go live
Things to consider
Questions worth answering before you commit budget.
- Undocumented business rules hide in old code; tests reveal them.
- Parallel running may be needed for critical processes.
Technologies and engagement
Technologies we often use
We choose the stack with you; this is a starting point, not a requirement.
Ways to engage
- Fixed-scope project with milestones
- Dedicated team billed monthly
- Ongoing support and improvement retainer
Frequently asked questions
Solutions that use this service
Related services
Legacy system migration
Data and functionality migration from legacy systems: mapping, cleansing, transformation, reconciliation and cut-over.
Cloud migration
Assessment, planning and execution of migrations from on-premise or between providers, with rehearsed cut-overs and rollback plans.
Enterprise software
Large line-of-business applications with complex permissions, approvals, integrations, audit trails and long-term maintainability.
Ready to talk about application modernisation?
Share a few details and we will reply with questions, options and an honest view of effort.