Better to Upgrade Mainframe Systems or Replace?

Mainframe systems are expensive and complex. They often present legacy challenges that take time and resources to combat. So, for an enterprise looking to do a technology overhaul that reduces complexities and cost, it is common to ask whether it is better to upgrade mainframe systems or replace them.

Modernizing, or upgrading mainframe, turns out to offer a variety of advantages for enterprises working to achieve these goals. The cost (of both financial and human resources) of replacement outweighs that of upgrading. In fact, a mainframe upgrade can save money and time, reduce complexities, and empower your teams. Further, modernizing rather than replacing mainframe puts your organization in a position to utilize new, lightweight, affordable resources to get more from your existing mainframe without having to make major investments in the kinds of large-scale changes that create time lags and other issues.

Upgrading Mainframe Saves Money

While it is not always the case that upgrading is cheaper than replacing, in the case of mainframe, upgrading saves money. Upgrading mainframe systems is more cost effective than replacing the system. This is the case both in the immediate and over time.

So, consider the budget impact of your mainframe decisions. Make the case for modernizing mainframe by demonstrating, first how and why replacement costs outweigh the cost to upgrade.

Leverage Existing Assets

For starters, upgrading your mainframe helps to leverage existing mainframe assets. Let’s be clear. We are not saying that sticking with your existing mainframe means that you must “do more with less.” Quite the contrary, in fact. When you choose to upgrade, you are doing so in a way that allows you to capitalize on the system investments you have already made.

But you do not stop with your older investments, you leverage what you have already invested, and integrate new system improvements and new technologies to improve the speed and efficiency of your mainframe. Essentially, you use your existing technology assets as a foundation, on which you can build a stronger, more effective system.

Save Time

Building and implementing new systems is not just expensive. It is time consuming. As we so often note, time is our most precious asset. This is especially true in the technology space.

Upgrading existing mainframe applications is a significantly smaller time commitment than embarking on a mainframe replacement project. To save valuable time, assess the resources you have. Research tools like DevOps that you can use to your advantage in a modernized mainframe environment. And focus on upgrading your mainframe so it can work for your organization efficiently.

Upgrade Mainframe to Reduce Complexities

Mainframe complexity is a common challenge. However, that does not mean that you need to chuck your mainframe and start all over again with a new system. Nor does it mean that you need to be stuck with an outdated, overly complex system that costs you time and makes your employees miserable.

Instead, upgrade your mainframe to reduce complexities. Leverage new technologies and marry them with the existing mainframe landscape. This helps to fight the mainframe complexity that grows with each application update. Streamline and speed up!

Read more on how to carefully consider the cost, benefits, and opportunity of?#mainframemodernization, and then make right strategic choices.