Between 2010 and 2019, the number of remote workers increased by 400%. When COVID-19 struck, many companies adopted flextime and telecommuting policies. Almost overnight, these alternative work arrangements became a means of facilitating business continuity. Remote work is here to stay, no question about it. In a recent survey of 317 business leaders, 74% of participants expect that the switch from on-site to remote work will be permanent. In all, VPN connectivity has benefited many organizations. But, how do we navigate a transformed global marketplace after the pandemic recedes? And, are there benefits to reevaluating legacy software in light of COVID-19?
What Happens After the COVID-19 Curve Flattens?
Once the pandemic subsides (and it’s going to happen), companies will have to adjust to the new virtual work landscape.
Instead of a gradual adaptation, the world embraced (in many cases) industry-wide remote connectivity in just a little over three months. Yet, even as the COVID-19 curve flattens, many businesses will continue reaping the benefits of this new framework. The question then begs to be asked: Is COVID-19 accelerating the timeline for digital transformation? The answer appears to be yes. All things considered, the crisis has precipitated changes once thought impossible.
Problem: The existing tech stacks the majority of companies rely on weren’t created with a virtual landscape in mind.
Solution: As the new reality settles in, many of these companies must reevaluate their current tech stacks to maintain brand relevance and business continuity.
Step#1: Identify Vulnerabilities in the Existing Software
To safeguard functionality and security, the following steps are critical.
- Arrange a meeting with your team to discuss the key problems with existing apps. Give team members time to talk about operational challenges and the relevance of current apps in a remote work environment.
- Consider the features that are critical to achieving your business goals. Does your current CRM (customer relationship management) app work on various platforms? Perhaps, your existing software does an excellent job running on desktop frameworks but falls short on a mobile interface. Or, maybe it runs on Linux while the majority of remote workers use Windows.
- Identify the number of users who will need to access the system. Can your current tech stack handle the increased number of connections?
- Evaluate the need for real-time simultaneous access. Perhaps, your existing tech system needs to be moved to the cloud to ensure fast, reliable, and secure access from different locations.
- Determine which software needs to be upgraded/replaced first to ensure a smooth progression of digital transformation.
Step#2: Outline the Scope of the Work
Once you evaluate the downsides of your existing tech framework, you can determine the scope of the change you need to implement.
- Objectives — What problem is your company facing with legacy software? Which issues do you want fixed?
- Milestones — When do you want to start the project? Or, rather, when do you want to start implementing new solutions? Aim to discuss benchmarks and milestone achievements with software developers, testers, and frontline employees.
- Tasks — What needs to happen to migrate from the present legacy framework to a digitized platform?
- Budget — How much do you expect to spend on the project?
- Outcome — What results do you expect to see once the project is over? Are there particular business objectives you’d like to achieve?
Depending on the software you’re using, you may settle for an upgrade or a complete revamp of your current system.
Step#3: Replace Legacy Technology
After completing Steps 1 and 2, implement procedures to replace legacy technology with new software solutions. It’s important to realize that the replacement process may take time as employees adjust to the new interface and its functional quirks.
Reevaluating Legacy Software and Adapting to the Realities of COVID-19
As the world adjusts to the new realities of the pandemic, companies must leverage new tools to stay ahead of the competition. By replacing legacy software with cloud-based and mobile-friendly solutions, your company can achieve agility during the crisis and beyond. At Entrance, we offer Sharepoint and Office 365 consulting to facilitate digital transformation in various industries. Our solutions can help your company break down document collaboration silos, gain more insight into structured and unstructured data, and execute more efficient workflows. The result is a finely tuned digital culture that promotes operational efficiency, agility, and scalability.
For more information about developing flexible and effective software solutions for the modern workspace, contact us today.