Rebuilding software: why, when and how?

Businesses rely on software every day to support their processes. But what if that software becomes outdated, no longer fits your organization or simply becomes too expensive? Rebuilding the software is then a logical step.

Why would you rebuild software?

There are various situations in which companies decide to rebuild their software. This often happens in situations such as:

• Legacy systems that are no longer supported or updated by the vendor.
• Custom software that no longer fully meets your needs because your organization has changed.
• You pay a high price for software while only using a fraction of its functionality.
• Significant increases in the licensing costs of existing software.
• You are locked in to a single vendor, making it difficult and costly to switch or adapt the software.

Rebuilding software may seem like a major operation, but with the right approach it can be done quickly, efficiently and affordably. What's more, investing in building your own software can actually save you money in the future.

When is rebuilding software the best solution?

Many organizations hold on to their old systems, often because they have worked well for years. But over time, you often run into the limitations of outdated software. The IT department then frequently has to apply 'band-aid fixes' to keep these critical systems up and running. As a result, software sometimes becomes more of a burden than a tool. If you are experiencing one or more of these problems, it is a good idea to seriously consider rebuilding your software as a solution:

• High maintenance costs: Because legacy systems often no longer meet current technological standards, they constantly need patches and bug fixes to keep them working.
• Difficult integrations: Outdated software often does not connect well with modern applications and cloud solutions.
• Lack of flexibility: Simple changes take a lot of time and money, because old technology often makes them unnecessarily complex.
• Limited scalability: As your business grows, an old system can become a limiting factor.
• Dependence on a small group of experts: Sometimes you depend on a single developer or vendor (a single point of failure) who truly understands the software, which poses a risk.

How can you rebuild software efficiently?

When it comes to developing software, many companies immediately think of a long and costly project. But nowadays there are faster and more flexible ways to build custom software.

Low-code platforms, such as Mendix or Power Apps are an excellent example. With these platforms, you design and create applications visually by dragging and dropping visual components. You can then add logic to your application by providing instructions and creating workflows. This means traditional programming with code is no longer necessary, allowing organizations to replace or rebuild their outdated software in a short time.

Benefits of (re)building software with low-code:

• Rapid development: By using visual models and reusable components, software can be developed many times faster than with traditional coding.
• Lower costs: The simplicity of low-code reduces the amount of programming work. This means fewer expensive developer hours and lower costs for maintaining the application.
• Flexibility: Software can easily be adapted and extended without months-long development projects.
• User-friendly interfaces: Future users of the software who have no IT knowledge can now also actively contribute ideas and input to the development, so the software better matches their needs.
• Easy integration: Low-code platforms offer ready-made APIs and connectors, allowing new systems to integrate seamlessly with software that is already in use.
• Sustainability: Because low-code applications are easier to maintain and upgrade, you avoid facing the same challenge again in a few years' time.

According to Gartner, the impact of low-code on software development continues to grow strongly. Gartner predicts that by 2029, no less than 80% of companies worldwide will use low-code platforms for business-critical applications, a significant increase from 65% in 2024.

Want to know more about the possibilities of low-code?

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Case: Atoompool

The Atoompool is part of De Vereende and is a partnership of insurers that focuses on insuring nuclear installations.

For its contract and claims management, De Vereende used ARIS, an outdated Microsoft Access application that no longer met modern requirements. E-mergo completely renewed this application with Power Apps and Power Automate, rebuilding the existing functionality in a future-proof solution. This not only increased efficiency, but also ensured a smooth transition without employees having to give up their familiar way of working.

Read the case

Rebuilding software: how do you go about it?

Rebuilding software sounds like a big challenge, but with a structured approach it becomes a manageable process. By working step by step, you avoid surprises and make sure the new solution fits in with existing ways of working.

1. Start by taking a good look at what's there

Before you begin, it is important to gain insight into the current software. Which applications are being used? Where are the limitations? And which functions are indispensable? Mapping this out properly creates a clear starting point. It is also valuable to interview users to get a better picture of their needs and daily challenges. Their input helps determine the most important functionality and possible improvements.

2. Analyze and draw up a plan

With these insights, the next step follows: a thorough analysis. What needs to be kept, what can be improved and what does a modern version of the software look like? Based on this, a concrete plan is created that can be used as a roadmap.

3. Build in manageable steps

Software is not rebuilt in one go. By dividing the project into parts, the process stays manageable and components can be tested and adjusted along the way. The aim is to preserve the familiar user experience while improving the technology under the hood.

4. Switch over without hassle

The new software is ready, but then the next challenge begins: the switchover. Ideally, this happens step by step, so existing processes can keep running and the transition goes smoothly. Data is carefully migrated and tested at the same time, so that everything works properly in the new environment right away.

5. Keep your app in top condition

Just like a well-maintained machine, software needs attention from time to time to keep running. Important security updates ensure a safe and stable environment, while new or additional functionality keeps the application aligned with new needs. That way, your software is future-proof and easy to maintain.

Alternative: modernizing software

Replacing an outdated system sometimes seems like the only solution, but that is not always necessary. Instead of completely rebuilding software, you can also choose to modernize it. For example, by adding extensions to your existing application or implementing an API layer. Extensions let you expand functionality without changing the core of the system, while an API layer lets you connect legacy software to modern applications. That way, you keep the best of your current system while your software still benefits from the latest technologies.

App in a day

At E-mergo, we guide organizations through this process step by step. Whether it involves completely replacing a legacy application or modernizing it smartly, we make sure your software meets the needs of today and tomorrow.

With our “App in a Day“ session, we transform your idea into a working prototype in just a few hours. We start with an inventory of your challenges and needs, so we have a clear picture of what is required. During the session, you experience the basics of how low-code works to replace or modernize your software.

After just one day, you have a worked-out use case, a draft roadmap and a clickable prototype of your application. So you know exactly what to expect. Would you like to talk things through first? Feel free to get in touch!