Companies around the world still run their businesses
with the assistance of Legacy software. By definition, Legacy software is older
software that was either Custom Written or Customized in some major way to make
it work for a specific company. There are many reasons that such software is
still in use even though the technology may be getting old.
1) It still works and as the saying goes: “If it ain’t
broken, don’t fix it”
2) Similar off the shelf up to date Windows based software
is not available.
3) Similar Windows software is inefficient requiring more
people to do the same amount of data entry work.
4) The cost to reprogram the software would be extremely
high in the Windows programming marketplace.
5) The software interfaces to older hardware technology
that would be incompatible with newer software.
6) Historical data cannot be converted to provide seamless
financial reporting.
7) Older workers that know the existing software may find
it difficult to operate more complicated software.
Changing accounting software often causes a lot of
disruptions for a period of months and sometimes years. When you combine this
with cost factors which are often several times above initial estimates you can
see why many companies are reluctant to change their accounting software. Data
conversion and staff training on more complicated systems are additional
problems that any conversion plan must overcome to be successful.
On the other hand there can be good reasons to replace
older Legacy software. These factors may indicate conversion is necessary.
1)
The
older software has begun to malfunction and cannot be repaired or reinstalled
to solve the problem.
2)
Technical
support for the product is no longer readily available.
3)
Staff
that operates the software is retiring so new staff have to be retrained in
either case.
4)
New
software is now available that does everything the existing product does as well as providing new features that the company
needs.
5)
The
existing software will not run on newer versions of Windows limiting the
availability of other software requiring Windows XP for example.
For many companies the ultimate solution to the
replacement of a Legacy system with a newer Windows system is to develop a
hybrid approach. In some cases this may lead to the replacement of certain core
Accounting Modules while retaining several Legacy Modules and developing
interfaces between the two systems. Interfaces almost always cost a mere
fraction of the cost of total replacement of large custom systems. The side
benefit is a system that you know works and you then have time to plan and test
final conversions down the road if you feel they are necessary. Where
conversions are required, keep in mind that we can provide complete Libra Data
Conversion Services to limit data entry. Older systems can always be retained
for historical inquiry and reporting purposes.