Digital Transformation Series: Adapting Legacy

Successful digital transformation in the telecommunications (or any other) industry requires (beside many things): careful planning, clear vision and robust strategy, leadership engagement, phased implementation and adaptability.

When it comes to technology and processes, in most of the cases, a successful digital transformation involves a combination of adopting new technologies and adapting existing technology / processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

Adapt and Adopt

Let me just re-cap on Adapt and Adopt:

• Adapt: adjustments and modifications made to existing systems, processes, or organizational structures to align with the requirements and challenges posed by the digital transformation. I.e., adapting legacy systems to be compatible with new digital interfaces / channels.
• Adopt: take up new technologies, methodologies, or practices as part of the digital transformation strategy. I.e., the CSP might decide to adopt a new cloud-based infrastructure. (for a full stack or for a specific part, i.e. #B2B)

Adapting Legacy Systems

Ideally, in utopia world, legacy would not exist. I guess you all experienced challenges, costs and failures when it comes to legacy / integration, but somehow, in telecom world - we still need to run it and use it, so...

Adapting CSPs legacy systems to be compatible with new digital channels is a common (and probably the biggest) challenge during the #telco digital transformation program. Legacy systems which are usually built on older technologies (we've seen even Visual Basic 6), may not seamlessly integrate with modern digital interfaces required for enhanced customer experiences and efficient operations.

What can you do to ensure this adaptation process will go on as planned? Here are the few steps to prepare:

1. Assessment of Legacy Systems:

• Conduct a thorough and detailed assessment of existing legacy systems to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and dependencies. Make sure you run the proper discovery with relevant stakeholders to have a complete picutre.
• Identify the key functionalities that need to be integrated into the new digital interfaces.

2. Define Digital Interface Requirements:

• Clearly define the requirements for the new digital interfaces, taking into account customer expectations, industry standards and new technologies. Ensure that the interfaces support features such as real-time communication, mobility, and user-friendly experiences.
• Make sure to involve key leadership stakeholders in requirement definition in order to be aligned with company vision and strategy

3. Integration Middleware:

• Implement #middleware solutions that act as a bridge between legacy systems and new digital interfaces. (such as Salesforce 's MuleSoft or TIBCO ).
• Use integration platforms to facilitate data flow and communication between different systems.

4. APIs and Microservices:

• Develop APIs to expose functionalities of legacy systems in a standardized and secure manner. Make sure to use TM Forum Open APIs guidelines in order to speed up and ease the integration with new technologies
• Consider breaking down monolithic legacy systems into #microservices for easier integration and maintenance.

5. Data Migration:

• Address data format gaps between legacy systems and modern interfaces.
• Plan for data migration strategies to ensure a smooth transition without data loss or inconsistencies.

6. Security and Compliance:

• Prioritize security measures to protect data during the integration process.
• Ensure that the adapted systems comply with relevant industry regulations and standards.

7. User Training & Support:

• Provide training programs for users to adapt to the new digital interfaces.
• Establish a support system to address any issues or concerns during the transition period.

8. Phased Implementation: "Start small, scale fast, end big"

• Consider a phased approach to implementation, focusing on specific platform functionalities (i.e. Lead Management, Sales Management...) or departments initially (i.e. B2B or IoT department).
• Make sure you monitor the performance of the adapted systems and make adjustments on the way when needed before scaling up.

9. Testing and Quality Assurance:

• Implement testing procedures to identify and rectify any integration issues.
• Conduct user acceptance testing (#UAT) to ensure the new digital interfaces meet user expectations This is a crucial part in delivery of project and if you need assistance, our Ritain.io division is ready to help.

10. Continuous Improvement:

• Establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring, feedback, and improvement. Regularly update and upgrade systems to keep pace with evolving digital trends and technologies.

Readiness IT team has vast experience and expertise in delivering E2E digital transformation projects for Telecom Operators. Working on hundreds of different Telco projects (B2C, B2B and B2B2X) with

over 1M+ hours spent in high and low level design, solution architecture, integration and implementation

allowed us to evolve and gather relevant information about technologies, business processes andCSP needs and to integrate it into our standard working procedures.

Our goal is to assure the excellence on service delivery while being aligned to the market best practices and industry standards.

Visit our Telecom page to learn more: https://readinessit.com/industries/telecom/