Application modernisation today

Legacy applications can hold organisations back from realising their full potential, which is why modernising them is necessary. However, several barriers or challenges can present themselves throughout the process:

Hesitation due to lengthy and complex digital transformation
Shortage of skilled talent for development and implementation
Apprehension about costs in modernisation process
Concerns over evolving regulatory landscape
Security concerns and vulnerabilities during transition
Resistance to organisational change and adaptation

Despite these challenges, organisations recognise that modernisation is essential to remain competitive and agile in today's ever-evolving business environment. Recent industry trends indicate that 92% of organisations plan to or are currently modernising their applications. However, most struggle with where to begin. KPMG's experience in digital transformation can help companies streamline processes, increase efficiency, and boost productivity, all of which can position them for future success.

92%

of organisations plan to or are currently modernising their applications

16% have just started

34% have made moderate progress

18% have made significant progress

28%

of organisations want to modernise, but many don't know where to start

8% don't plan to modernise at all

28% plan to modernise, but have not started yet

Benefits of modernisation

speed

Speed to market

payment

Lower technology costs

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Improved security posture

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Scalability and resiliency

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Enhanced user experience

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Streamlined technology landscape

SPEED Accelerate the migration process up to 10x, boosting efficiency SAVINGS Cut the expense of licensing and maintaining your legacy systems Savings of between 50% and 85% REMOVE TECHNICAL DEBT Simplify the transition from legacy systems through automated digitisation and implementation SECURITY Reduce security vulnerabilities associated with legacy systems, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected

Accelerating modernisation with GenAI

KPMG leverages an advanced GenAI technology that extracts business requirements from your legacy applications and helps transform them into modern low and no-code solutions. The technology enables accelerated application discovery, re-engineering, and development, which significantly reduces the cost, time and risk to application development and migration.

In addition to this technology, we leverage an integrated suite of assets, automation, and tools, backed by our business expertise and alliances. Our capabilities support the end-to-end application lifecycle, which include program management, change management, risk management, data migration, low-code implementation, and cybersecurity.

Our methodology and experience, coupled with our strategic alliances, positions KPMG among the leaders in application modernisation.

KPMG application modernisation methodology

Legacy application analysis

Business Rule Engine
IT Service Management
Collaboration Platform
BPM Platforms
Integration Tools
Programming Languages
Database Management
Document Management
Low-code Platform

Enablement using GenAI

Extract

Application and config files extracted from legacy systems using machine learning and logic mining.
Reengineer

Legacy app files converted to Universal Application Notation (UAN); practitioners review and modify apps based on extracted elements.
Transform

UAN transformed to configuration files based on the specifications of the desired platform; further changes as needed completed following SDLC.

Build a migration strategy by analysing application landscape, accessing legacy applications, defining modernisation targets, and planning the application transformation(s).

Leverage the GenAI technology to extract, reengineer, and transform each application according to the migration plan.

Deploy on modern platforms

Confirm and configure applications on the target modern platform via agile sprint iterations. Complete testing phase, deploy to production, and provide ongoing hypercare and application support.

Success story

An HR legacy application, built on .NET/SQL, needed to be modernised.
The goal of the modernisation was to transition the legacy application to the ServiceNow platform, while minimising development time, effort, and cost.
By working with KPMG and leveraging Legacy Modernisation automation resources (Powered by GenAI), developers estimated reductions of development effort of up to 25-30% in the areas of scope for Legacy Modernisation (Powered by GenAI). The tool produced about 10-20% of development effort for creating workflows and 60-80% of development effort for creating tables and roles.
KPMG enabled a transition to ServiceNow to remove technical debt, improve user experience, and increase efficiencies in development speed.

Get in touch

Unlike technology-only firms, we can draw from our deep bench of in-house talent to form teams that can cover all the bases required for a successful and sustainable AI or analytics project. Please don't hesitate to contact us!

Technology Consulting

Our Technology Consulting professionals help clients align IT operations with the strategic and financial goals of their business.

Know more

Blocos 3D azuis dispostos em várias direções.

César Santos

Technology Consulting Associate Partner

KPMG in Portugal

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