Extending Software Investment Lifespan by Retaining Knowledge & Code
Software development is a rapidly growing field with new technologies, tools, and methodologies being introduced every day. In today's fast-paced business environment, organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve their software development processes to stay ahead of the competition. One key area that has gained a lot of attention in recent years is the concept of retaining knowledge and code in software development. By retaining knowledge and code, organizations can reduce the time and effort required to develop new applications and improve the longevity of their software investment.
After about 3 years or so, the obsolescence issue becomes apparent – whether the business has changed or the software itself – the operating system, features/functionalities, etc. The knowledge of the software as to how it works, the documentation, etc. is not there anymore. The people who made the software originally, whether in-house or outsourced third-party have already left or cannot accommodate your project anymore.
One of the two is often the case – either the organization does NOT have the source code, or the source code cannot be accessed for whatever reason. Even if the organization has the source code, it’s pretty much useless as it cannot be modified as it is poorly written or the code lacks documentation.
As the CIO or the business head, you often end up asking for another round of capital from the Executive management to build it from the ground up instead of building on top of the existing application that was already there. This is where automated development platforms like Xamun come in to solve the problem.
The Insane Rate of Business Evolution
According to a study by McKinsey, businesses that are able to successfully leverage digital technologies can increase their profit margins by up to 60%. This is because digital technologies enable companies to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience. Software applications have become an integral part of modern business, and the exponential change in digital technology has driven a similar exponential change in the way that businesses operate. With the increasing availability and accessibility of software, companies are able to improve their operations, automate processes, and reach more customers than ever before.
One way that digital technology can help beat the competition is by improving productivity and efficiency. By automating tasks such as data entry, inventory management, and customer service, companies can free up employees to focus on more strategic tasks that drive growth and innovation. This not only improves efficiency but also reduces costs and improves the overall customer experience. Another way that software can help beat the competition is by providing insights into customer behavior and market trends. By collecting and analyzing data, companies can gain a better understanding of their customer's needs and preferences, and use this information to tailor their products and services to meet those needs. This can help companies stay ahead of the competition by anticipating market trends and innovating faster. Finally, software technology can help beat the competition by improving the customer experience. By using software to create personalized marketing campaigns, provide real-time customer support, and offer innovative products and services, companies can differentiate themselves from their rivals and create a loyal customer base.
However, the exponential change in software technology is not without its challenges. One of the main challenges is the need for businesses to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change. With new software applications and services being developed every day, it can be difficult for companies to stay up-to-date and ensure that they are using the most effective tools for their business. While there are certainly challenges associated with keeping up with the rapid pace of technological change, the benefits of using and upgrading software applications are clear.
With the organization staring at obsolesce and the source code knowledge either lost or useless, business executives are forced to invest more in building software applications that would keep them relevant in the cut-throat competitive marketplace.
The knowledge and experience of software development professionals is a valuable assets for organizations. This knowledge includes an understanding of the business requirements, the technology stack, the design patterns, and the best practices for software development. When this knowledge is retained, organizations can take advantage of it to streamline their software development processes and reduce the time required to develop new applications. However, software development professionals often leave organizations, taking their valuable knowledge and experience with them. This can result in the loss of institutional knowledge, which can negatively impact the organization's ability to develop new applications efficiently. To prevent this, organizations need to implement strategies to retain knowledge and ensure that it is not lost when employees leave.
However, code can quickly become outdated and difficult to maintain if it is not kept up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices. In addition, code can be lost or become obsolete when developers leave the organization, making it difficult for new developers to understand and maintain the existing codebase. To prevent this, organizations need to implement strategies to retain code and ensure that it is kept up-to-date and well-documented.
Automated Software Development: Staying Technologically Relevant with Minimum Investments
An emerging branch of software development i.e. Automated software development ensures that this problem can be tackled effectively. Automated software development platforms like Xamun ensure that even if today you build the software with Xamun and you need to tweak it to match the evolving user expectations; neither you are not at the mercy of a vendor lock-in or a developer who might have moved on to another company. Additionally, your organization necessarily don’t have to spend as much by building software ground-up. Not to mention the time you would save, which you are not accounting for.
There are numerous benefits to deploying automated software development to build applications:
Improved Productivity: Using tools like Xamun to help retain knowledge and code can significantly improve productivity by reducing the time and effort required to develop new applications. This is because developers can build on existing knowledge and code instead of starting from scratch.
Reduced Cost: By retaining knowledge and code, organizations can reduce the cost of software development. This is because they can reuse existing code and knowledge instead of developing everything from scratch.
Improved Quality: When knowledge and code are retained, it is easier for developers to understand and maintain existing applications, which can lead to improved quality and reliability.
Better Time-to-Market: By retaining knowledge and code, organizations can reduce the time required to develop new applications, which can lead to faster time-to-market and increased competitiveness.
Xamun: Longer Software Investment Lifespan by Retaining Knowledge and Code
Retaining knowledge and code is a critical component of software development. By implementing tools like Xamun and strategies to retain knowledge and code, organizations can improve the longevity of their software investment, reduce the time and effort required to develop new applications, and improve the quality of their software. By taking a strategic approach to knowledge and code retention, organizations can ensure that their software development processes are efficient, effective, and able to adapt to the changing needs of their business.
Reach out to one of our digital transformation evangelists HERE to understand how Xamun can enhance software investment lifespan by retaining knowledge and code.