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Application Modernization Services
ScienceSoft's clients discover that modernizing 20-year-old, undocumented legacy applications is achievable without disrupting business operations, while attaining significant enhancements in app functionality, usability, performance, security, and scalability.
Boris Shiklo
ScienceSoft's Chief Technology Officer
Application modernization services cover app evolution, redesign, reengineering, migration to the cloud, and other activities to reduce maintenance costs and improve features, performance, security, and scalability. Adherent to mature software modernization and risk management practices, ScienceSoft transforms apps with minimal disruption to business processes.
Why Partner Up with ScienceSoft for Legacy Software Modernization
Achieving project goals in spite of time and budget constraints, as well as changing requirements, is ScienceSoft's top priority. You set goals, we drive the project to fulfill them.
- 35 years in software engineering, 12 years in cloud migration.
- 550+ software engineers, 50% are seniors/leads with 9-20 years of experience.
- Expert proficiency in modernization of legacy applications and different migration approaches (rehosting, replatforming, re-architecting, refactoring, and more).
- Experience in 30+ industries, including healthcare, BFSI, manufacturing, retail, logistics, oil & gas, and telecoms.
- Partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, and other global tech leaders.
- Well-established Agile and DevOps cultures, transparent KPIs, mature risk management practices.
- Hands-on knowledge of HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS/SSF, GDPR, and other field- and region-specific regulations to ensure full software compliance.
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Quality-first approach based on a mature ISO 9001-certified quality management system.
- ISO 27001-certified security management based on comprehensive policies and processes, advanced security technology, and skilled professionals.
- ScienceSoft is a 3-Year Champion in The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies Rating by the Financial Times.
What makes ScienceSoft different
We achieve project success no matter what
ScienceSoft does not pass mere project administration off as project management, which, unfortunately, often happens on the market. We practice real project management, achieving project success for our clients no matter what.
Our Application Modernization Competencies
Application reengineering
With a wide pool of legacy application modernization skills, we can help you restore and slightly modify code and design of your long-running enterprise applications.
Application reengineering can grant:
- Web and mobile enablement.
- Improved look&feel.
- Simplified and less costly maintenance and updates.
- DevOps, CI/CD enablement.
- Increased performance and response time.
Application re-architecting
We change an application’s architecture to make it more scalable, flexible, integration-friendly, and secure. The apps with modern modular architectures are easier to maintain and evolve, and they can benefit from distributed computing, cloud elasticity and resilience. Nowadays, our clients tend to get maximum value from service-oriented architecture (SOA), microservices, and serverless implementations.
Application recoding (automated and customized)
We revive your applications created on the basis of legacy languages and platforms (such as PowerBuilder, Delphi, VB, C++, COBOL) or aging technologies (outdated Java and .NET versions) with the use of modern programming languages, frameworks and databases.
Application containerization
Across all modernization options, we can pack your apps or their parts into packages isolated from each other at the OS level.
Containerization means:
- Fewer resources required to run.
- Easier scalability.
- Simplified movement across different environments.
- CI/CD practices enablement.
Data modernization
We revamp an approach to data management and upgrade data systems to set up fast, scalable and secure data analytics within your company. We implement self-service BI and apply various data visualization techniques to let you generate on-demand reports and grab enlightening data insights.
Mobile and cross-platform compatibility
Our designers and software engineers help businesses ensure their software offers seamless experiences across platforms and devices. We thoroughly review your solution to identify any potential compatibility issues (like functionality and display problems, security conflicts) and provide recommendations for remediation.
Regulatory compliance
Our compliance consultants, cybersecurity experts, and software engineers help ensure that your apps comply with applicable laws and regulations (HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, ZATCA, SAMA, and others). They assess your software and its design, development, testing, and deployment processes, identify gaps in your compliance program and develop a customized plan to address them.
Accessibility compliance
We help businesses ensure their software is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Our team has extensive experience with ADA, Section 508, WCAG, and other standards. We assess your software and help remediate any accessibility issues (e.g., lacking keyboard accessibility, insufficient color contrast, forms that are not properly labeled or do not have clear instructions, no alternative text and transcripts for images, video, and audio).
Application Modernization Benefits
The market of application modernization services is expected to grow from $15.2 billion in 2022 to $32.8 billion by 2027. The growth is driven by attractive benefits companies get.
Better user experience
due to upgraded UX/UI design, improved app performance, and new highly requested features.
State-of-the art security
due to introducing secure software design and coding best practices, expert security testing, and built-in regulatory compliance.
Lower maintenance costs
due to the reduced IT support team workload and wide cloud optimization opportunities.
Streamlined business processes and improved employee productivity
due to workflow automation and implementation of advanced techs.
Increased app availability & scalability
due to optimized software design and infinite cloud resources (for cloud migration).
Ease of further app evolution
due to the clear software documentation, flexible architecture (e.g., SOA/microservices-based), and reusable code.
For cloud application migrations
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When businesses come to us for legacy software modernization services, we often recommend them to consider cloud migration as a part of the project. At this point, moving to the cloud is virtually always the most rational thing to do: you reduce the operational costs by up to 60%, achieve 99.9% app availability, and gain access to the cloud-dependent techs such as AI automation and data science. To make cloud migration fast and secure, ScienceSoft’s team divides legacy software into manageable parts and ensures gradual transition from one stable state to the next one. We also offer our clients to start off with a pilot migration: it helps assess the viability of the chosen migration approach and make the required tweaks cost-efficiently and risk-free.
Selected App Modernization Projects
Our Satisfied Customers
ScienceSoft's .NET developers have been assisting Upstream Works in refactoring a load testing system and bringing further automation to the load testing process. Their DevOps engineers helped us optimize our infrastructure and set up a continuous software delivery process. The team is very professional, well-organized, and is always on top of the finer details. This is exactly what a long-term, harmonious partnership should look like.
Todd Nilson
MD
We worked with ScienceSoft on the refactoring and modernization of our telehealth web portal and a cross-platform patient application. We are thankful for the meticulous and value-driven approach of ScienceSoft’s team. They created comprehensive project documentation, feature lists, and worked out thorough recommendations to help us improve the stability and performance of our solution.
For the past 6 years, ScienceSoft has been a reliable partner in supporting and maintaining our HR software product. They have fixed hundreds of bugs in the product’s performance since the start of our cooperation back in 2016 and keep modernizing HR on our demand, introducing new features and tweaking existing functionality to let us better cater to our growing client base.
Types of Apps We Modernize
Software type
- Web, mobile, and desktop app modernization
- Enterprise application modernization (ERP, CRM, BPA, HCM, SCM, PPM, BI, data warehouses) & SaaS modernization.
- IoT, big data applications, blockchain, AI/ML modernization
Platforms
- Dynamics 365
- Salesforce
- Magento
- SharePoint
- ServiceNow and other platforms
Installed on
- Cloud-based, on-premise, and hybrid servers.
- Computers, laptops, mobile devices, and wearables.
Components We Modernize
Ready to talk specifics?
Our 4-Step Application Modernization Strategy
Each legacy app will have a unique modernization strategy. However, we follow a structured process to save time on organizational matters.
Application migration to cloud scenarios
- Application re-hosting. We move the application from the on-premises or the old cloud infrastructure to the new cloud (AWS or Azure). This is a fast and simple migration option to enable DevOps and ubiquitous access and optimize the usage of hardware resources that also streamlines more advanced modernization in the future. However, re-hosting offers just limited cloud-driven benefits in terms of app resilience, performance and scalability.
- Application re-platforming. We complement moving the application to the cloud with the introduction of small modifications and upgrades in code that will bring more advanced cloud capabilities (improved performance, scaling, fault-tolerance, etc.) to the application.
- Cloud-native implementation. We transform the app architecture (e.g., split it into web services/microservices) to make it withstand dynamic load and performance requirements, allow partial updates, technology mix, and shared platform usage.
The Methodology Behind Successful Application Modernization Deliveries
Our strategic approach to team assembly, project scoping, and cost estimation ensures your modernization project is handled with exact planning and meticulous execution from start to finish. With our commitment to quality management, detailed documentation, and efficient knowledge sharing, we guarantee a smooth and efficient upgrade for your applications.
Take a closer look at our project management and development frameworks, best practices, and work samples from our recent projects.
Unveil the art of designing the winning team structure and handpicking ideally suited talents. Explore how our resource assignment process is customized to the cooperation model of your choice — full outsourcing or team augmentation.
Dive into our dynamic 6-step scoping process designed for application development and modernization projects. Get an exclusive peek at a section of our Vision & Scope document, feature list, user journey map, and UX wireframes.
Discover the essential factors and guiding principles we employ to accurately forecast costs. Check a list of cost optimization strategies.
Discover the core principles guiding our partnership, RACI-based collaboration matrix, collaboration flows, forms and frequency.
Discover how we identify and manage risks throughout every phase of software development and modernization projects. Learn about our proactive measures to mitigate risks and ensure your project success. Explore our strategies for navigating challenges and securing a smooth development process.
Discover real-world examples of objectives and key results across time, budget, software quality, and other categories. See how we make success measurement an integral part of your project journey.
Learn what insights you can expect in every type of reports we usually deliver. Get access to sample reports.
Discover a range of examples from standard to custom documents we craft at every stage of the development and modernization projects.
Explore our knowledge management techniques and tools that make information sharing seamless and efficient.
Discover our tailored process for managing change requests from the moment you submit a request to its implementation or rejection.
Discover the KPIs we employ to ensure top-notch software quality and project vitality. Get an insider's look at the stage-specific controls we implement under the umbrella of our ISO 9001-certified quality management system.
Discover the meticulous security management practices we apply to protect our clients’ data and IT environments.
Application Modernization Trends We Willingly Use
Low-code development
We use the advantage of fast and cost-effective development to build extra apps that will complement your core application or substitute its parts.
Hybrid clouds
We mix private and public clouds to meet strict security requirements for certain services or storages within an app, and still keep the overall cost reasonable.
Edge computing
We can enable real-time response of apps supporting Internet-connected devices by moving data processing closer to where data originates.
We offer to turn a legacy customer-facing app into a PWA if you want to achieve great user experience on any screens without investing into mobile apps.
Application Modernization: Timelines and Costs
The total cost of application modernization can range from $10,000–$15,000 for a UI upgrade or rehosting of a small app to $50,000–$250,000 for a substantial modernization of a medium/large app. If extensive reengineering, deep recoding, or implementation of advanced techs (e.g., big data, AI/ML) is required, the cost may reach $500,000+ for a large application.
Among the key cost factors that influence the price of legacy modernization services are:
- The complexity of applications and their dependencies.
- The volume of data to transfer.
- The life span of the application and its cloud migration readiness; the scope of infrastructure, code and configuration changes required.
- The extent of modernization automation and the cost of the relevant software licenses (e.g., code conversion tools).
- The required testing efforts.
Our Technological Expertise
Legacy application modernization services help businesses regain the effectiveness of apps by upgrading their design, functionality, architecture, and technology stack.
With 750+ experienced IT professionals on board, ScienceSoft works with a variety of programming tools and application modernization solutions.
ScienceSoft USA Corporation Is a 3-Year Champion in the Financial Times Rating
Three years in a row (2022–2024), the Financial Times has included ScienceSoft USA Corporation in the list of 500 fastest-growing American companies. This is the result of our dedication to driving project success despite any constraints and disruptions.
Advanced Technologies We Are Ready to Implement
When modernizing legacy applications, we don't only improve the core of the app but can also build up new capabilities and functions.
Difference between App Modernization and Digital Transformation
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Digital transformation |
Application modernization |
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Goal
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To improve the speed, resilience, performance and cost of business processes by adopting new digital capabilities. For more information, please visit our dedicated Digital transformation services page. |
To revamp an existing app in a way to improve its vital characteristics (extensibility, security, performance, usability) and optimize maintenance cost. |
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Answering Frequent Questions about Application Modernization
What is the biggest factor in deciding to start the modernization process for an application?
Cost is an overriding factor prompting app modernization. The truth is companies can live with legacy apps but the maintenance and evolution cost will be high. As legacy apps are rigid, a support team will put in significant time and effort to deliver new features, and some changes will be not even possible. The backlog will be mounting just as your irritation and feeling of irrational spending. App modernization is the investment that pays back after the first year of reduced maintenance costs.
Is it possible to modernize a legacy app with no detailed documentation (functional specifications)?
Sure. In this case, ScienceSoft will mine the business rules from the existing application code and documentation, investigate code dependencies and component integrations. Plus, we are ready to cooperate with your in-house IT team, third-party vendors, and other parties knowledgeable of the application work to speed up the process.
How can I be sure that the modernized app will bring the expected results instead of only wasting the company’s time and resources?
At ScienceSoft, we rely on robust risk management practices and start with an in-depth assessment of your legacy system, focusing on technical, business, and economic considerations. Before starting any project, we prepare a comprehensive feasibility study report with estimated gains and risk analysis to help you make a well-informed decision on the legacy app’s future. Plus, to make app modernization as transparent and manageable as possible, our software engineers split legacy apps into several independent modules so that they can introduce the required changes quickly and incrementally.
Can we modernize legacy applications without operational downtime?
At ScienceSoft, we conduct thorough testing and continuous monitoring of the modernized app modules to make sure they run as expected and don’t disrupt your business processes.
Is it possible to avoid long freeze-up of the apps during modernization?
Yes. For this, we split applications into several independent loosely coupled parts (e.g., microservices) to introduce the required changes fast and incrementally.