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Companies that grow by acquisition often end up with multiple software applications that perform the same functions. In the Federal and State Government, many agencies with similar missions often develop competing IT systems to support the same functions. This results in enterprise-level information technology that is overly complex, expensive to maintain, and very difficult to integrate. In many cases, the software is developed and supported by internal development organizations that resist change. Often, the software users also resist change from their "proven" and familiar software solutions.

LABBLEE has developed a flexible methodology, along with the supporting tools needed to retire legacy systems in an orderly fashion. The process, SRAC™ - Systems Realignment and Consolidation, includes collection and analysis of the functional components, data entities, information technology, vendor/developer, and cost characteristics for each legacy system. The analysis of the systems includes several facets: a scoring methodology that includes cost effectiveness, measuring the value of the system to the organization; a functional overlap analysis that determines the degree of redundancy between systems; and a gap analysis that identifies opportunities for future automation.

The next step in the process uses the legacy system scoring to influence the development of the software system migration strategy. This plan recommends whether each legacy system should be retired and/or replaced with upgraded or new information technology solutions. Because the approach is both objective and defendable, it can be used as the basis for change management: the most difficult aspect of enterprise IT modernization and integration.

LABBLEE developed a legacy system rationalization process for reducing the number logistics systems for a DoD organization with over 250,000 personnel worldwide. The legacy environment included well over 200 applications that ran on many different hardware and software platforms. The organization wished to transition their infrastructure to a reduced number of systems that operated on modern network-centric technology. This upgrade incorporated the latest automated identification and wireless communication technologies.

Through a combination of facilitated workshops and virtual team collaboration technology, we collected and categorized data about all legacy systems. Based on the analysis of that data and input from key subject matter experts, the LABBLEE team developed specific recommendations for migration of the legacy systems into a modern information technology framework over a five year implementation period. The result was a proposed reduction of 65% of the total number of legacy systems.

We continue to work with the organization to implement the migration recommendations, as well as to eliminate more legacy systems in other functional areas of the organization by adapting these proven methodologies and processes.

For more information about our approach to SRAC™ Systems Realignment and Consolidation, contact us at: SRAC@labblee.com.

SRAC™ is a registered trademark of LABBLEE Corporation.