One of the biggest challenges organizations face today is modernizing legacy systems. By 2025, says Gartner, 40% of the IT budget will go towards paying off technical debt. Additionally, McKinsey says over 70% of digital transformations fail. This is due to outdated infrastructure and systems. These figures show the urgency and complexity of addressing legacy systems. Businesses that don’t modernize will become inefficient and costly. They will also be more vulnerable in the business world. Igor Kuzevanov, a pioneer in software, knows how to modernize an obsolete system. He makes it efficient and scalable.
Igor’s work spans firms like Profinit and Deutsche Börse Group. At Profinit, he overhauled an insurer’s internal processing system. At Deutsche Börse, he revamped the bonds and futures pricing platform. Igor’s specialty is bridging the gap between legacy constraints and future readiness. His story gives technical insights and a strategy for modernizing.
Modernization is more than a technical need. It’s a spark for growth and innovation. Igor’s journey reveals the keys to modernizing legacy systems. We learn the right principles, strategies, and mindset. His approach shows that overcoming these challenges can unlock potential. It can also ensure long-term business success.
Start with a Clear Vision
Modernizing legacy systems starts with a clear vision. It must define the goals of the organization. Igor says that modernization is not about discarding what works. It’s about enhancing it to meet today’s demands. At Profinit, this meant finding inefficiencies in the insurer’s internal system. It aimed to reduce costs and improve response times. However, it’s hard to set a clear vision. Organizations struggle to predict the outcomes of modernization efforts. By aligning stakeholders early, Igor reduced uncertainty. He set a clear direction for progress.
Analyze Pain Points
A key challenge in modernizing legacy systems is prioritizing the most critical issues. Igor succeeded at Profinit because he could spot delays in the legacy system. At Deutsche Börse Group, he analyzed a bond and futures pricing platform to find its weaknesses. “We took the time to map out every pain point,” he explains. “This allowed us to focus on changes that would deliver the most immediate value.” The analysis found inefficiencies and hidden risks. These included data integration issues and concerns about system downtime.
Install Incremental Changes
Organizations often resist modernization due to fears of disruption or failure. To address this challenge, Igor calls for an incremental approach to modernization. At Profinit, this meant migrating components to a modern platform, like Spring Boot or React.js, one at a time. His strategy at Deutsche Börse Group was similar. But it had to meet the financial industry’s needs. He refactored core components in stages. This cut developer onboarding time by half. It lets the organization hire new talent and adapt to the market. It did this without disrupting operations. “We showed immediate improvements by focusing on one area at a time,” he says. “It built trust with users and other stakeholders.”
Use Technology with Careful Planning
Legacy systems are complex. Their tech stacks are often outdated. It’s hard to integrate them with modern platforms. Successful modernization happens when you choose the right technologies. Igor’s skills in Java 11 and cloud tools made Profinit’s new system efficient and future-proof. At Deutsche Börse Group, he used similar strategies. He modernized the platform with scalable solutions. They maintained the precision and reliability required by financial markets. These decisions dealt with common headaches. They included avoiding compatibility issues and ensuring long-term scalability.
Focus on Collaboration
Siloed teams and misaligned goals are common reasons why modernization fails. System modernization is a collaborative activity. Igor emphasizes that good changes need wide support. Team members across departments must recognize that changes must meet real business needs. This approach shaped his work at Deutsche Börse Group. He used cross-functional teams to create a platform. It balanced tech needs with business priorities. “Modernization is not an IT project,” he points out. “It’s a business transformation effort.” This approach means the new system will align with organizational goals and deliver value.
Measure and Adapt
Modernization is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Igor’s work shows that to assess changes, we must track key metrics. They affect system uptime, processing speed, and cost. But, even with careful planning, we must adapt to unforeseen issues. These include data inconsistencies and user training problems. At Profinit and Deutsche Börse Group, these metrics showed the value of the modernization efforts. They also identified areas for further improvement.
Learn from Success
Igor’s modernization projects have lessons that extend beyond organizations. To modernize legacy systems, businesses must focus on three things. First, they should make incremental changes. Second, they should adopt technology with careful planning. Third, they should collaborate. This will help them navigate the challenges of modernization.
Igor’s story is a guide for organizations. It aims to future-proof their operations and unlock their systems’ full potential. Modernizing legacy systems is tough. But the right strategy can transform them. Igor Kuzevanov’s journey offers key insights for businesses. It shows how to stay agile, competitive, and ready for the future.
