You found the perfect piece of technology and invested in it. That application, server, or device has been running just fine for several years. Why should you make plans to replace tech that seems as though it’s still working? The problem lies in the fact that software and hardware age rapidly.
While that legacy application might still function, continuing to rely on it could limit where and how your employees work. Your company will miss out on the capabilities of cloud-based software, while your clients may start to notice competitors offering more enhancements. Once your business starts to drop off, you’ll lose market share, and no amount of advertising is guaranteed to bring it back.
Because using tech tools past their prime can cost you revenue and talent, replacing them should be a budgeted priority. By replacing outdated devices and software, you’ll actually save money. Besides retaining customers and employees, you’ll streamline processes and heighten productivity. Here are four signs that now is the time to get started.
1. System Downtime and Sluggishness Are Increasing
Dealing with the unexpected is part of running a business. But when employees and customers start to experience outages or slow response times more frequently, frustration can quickly take over. It’s that frustration that can eventually lead to employee turnover and customer churn.
Some workers and clients might be willing to hang in there longer than others. However, repeated downtime and performance delays tarnish your company’s reputation. That’s why it’s time to invest in an AI-driven data observability solution. You can’t rely solely on manpower or individual system monitoring tools to show you what’s happening throughout your data pipeline.
There’s a chance that a badly written query could create a blockage in your data pipeline. Modern data monitoring tools automatically alert you about discrepancies and problems, sometimes correcting them before they turn into another outage. With the high expectations of today’s consumers, intelligent, automated system oversight is something every business needs.
2. Support From Vendors Is Expiring or Limited
As applications and systems age, you’ll notice the developers and manufacturers will start to limit updates and maintenance options. They’ll probably even send you a warning that support for their product is about to end. That timetable might be a year or six months from now, giving you a chance to upgrade or migrate.
It can be disappointing or cause a moment of panic when you receive these types of messages. Critical operating systems or applications that will no longer receive security updates can necessitate a complete overhaul. Every device that runs that software will need to be updated or replaced. Hardware that has successfully run your soon-to-be obsolete software for years isn’t always compatible with its replacement.
Rip-and-replace and reactive device refresh scenarios aren’t good situations for your business. Employees go into overdrive, and service quality levels can suffer. While most hardware and software eventually lose vendor support, you don’t have to wait until you get a warning. Start researching suitable replacements ahead of time so you don’t find yourself playing catch-up. Better yet, look for maintenance solutions from vendors that include future upgrades and migrations.
3. Various Applications Won’t Sync or Integrate
You’re six months into launching your company’s redesigned website. The team and your web developer have worked hard to create a more functional, eye-catching, and interactive platform. Everyone’s excited that your online store will finally complete orders without manual intervention from the e-commerce team.
However, you’ve run into a major complication. Your payment processing software doesn’t have an API that will integrate with your billing app and e-commerce site. You’re stuck at square one until the software vendor can build a custom API or you find an alternative application. Online sales continue to stagnate or dip while your customers wonder whether the website will ever truly work.
This scenario could involve factors such as inadequate research and vendor support. Yet it’s also a clear sign your business tools are on their way out. When systems and applications stop syncing or integrating with the latest tech developments, they’ve outlived their use.
Again, your company finds itself having to react to a situation, backtrack, and do some damage control. Instead of trying to patch things together, replace apps that can’t support the latest features your customers expect. That means staying on top of new developments and regularly auditing all applications to ensure they’ll align with business objectives.
4. IT Is Spending More Time on Security Issues
Cybersecurity is a vital part of the job for IT teams. Whether you have an internal department or use a managed services provider, expect them to spend time defending your network. Staying on top of security patches, putting preventative measures in place, and monitoring technology use are routine activities.
What you don’t want to hear is that the team’s overwhelmed with potential — or actual — security breaches. This is another clear sign that your systems are probably outdated. As technologies get older and no longer receive security updates, they become easy targets for hackers and cybercriminals.
IT might be able to ward off or recover from some cyberattacks. However, others could cause more serious complications, such as compromised customer data. Severe incidents can result in hidden costs and take years to recover from. Some of the less visible costs include rising insurance premiums, lost contract revenue, and impaired brand value. It’s time to update your systems if your tech team is spending most of their day putting out security-related fires.
Conclusion
Maximizing the lifecycles of your company’s resources is usually a smart and cost-effective business strategy. But when it comes to technology, that practice can work against you. Failing to sunset tools before they become outdated leaves you vulnerable to outages, security breaches, and loss of revenue and productivity. By researching and investing in updated apps and devices, your business will keep pace with the competition and market expectations.