How can you integrate old Enterprise Software with modern systems?

1 Identify the integration goals

Before you start integrating old enterprise software with modern systems, you need to identify the goals and objectives of the integration project. What are the business problems you are trying to solve? What are the benefits and risks of the integration? How will you measure the success and impact of the integration? Having a clear vision and scope for the integration will help you prioritize the tasks, allocate the resources, and communicate the expectations.

2 Choose the integration approach

Integrating old enterprise software with modern systems can be accomplished in various ways, depending on the complexity, compatibility, and functionality of the software. Data integration involves transferring data between the old and the modern systems using tools like ETL or APIs, while application integration connects the two systems at the application level through SOA or microservices. Additionally, user interface integration creates a unified user interface through web portals or mashups. Each approach has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it's important to consider the trade-offs and select the one that best fits your needs and budget.

3 Assess the integration readiness

Before you start the integration process, you need to assess the readiness of the old and the modern systems for the integration. This means checking the compatibility, performance, security, and reliability of the systems, as well as the availability of documentation, support, and maintenance. You also need to identify the dependencies, constraints, and risks of the integration, and plan for contingency and mitigation strategies. You may need to upgrade, patch, or refactor some of the old or modern systems to make them ready for the integration.

4 Implement the integration solution

Once you have chosen the integration approach and assessed the integration readiness, you can start implementing the integration solution. This involves designing, developing, testing, and deploying the integration components, such as data sources, APIs, services, or user interfaces. You need to follow the best practices and standards for the integration, such as using common data formats, protocols, and languages, ensuring data quality and integrity, and applying security and encryption measures. You also need to monitor and troubleshoot the integration performance and functionality, and make adjustments as needed.

5 Manage the integration lifecycle

Integrating old enterprise software with modern systems is not a one-time project, but a continuous process that requires ongoing management and maintenance. You need to keep track of the changes and updates in the old and the modern systems, and ensure that they are synchronized and aligned. You also need to evaluate the outcomes and benefits of the integration, and collect feedback and suggestions from the stakeholders and users. You may need to scale, optimize, or modify the integration solution over time, to meet the changing business and technical requirements.

Integrating old enterprise software with modern systems can be a complex and daunting task, but it can also bring significant value and opportunities for your enterprise. By following these steps, you can overcome some of the common challenges and achieve a successful and sustainable integration.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?