Application Re-engineering
Application Re-engineering Services (ARS) is one of the major services offered by Xminds. It has always been a challenge for corporate entities to re-engineer existing legacy systems to meet evolving business needs. The need for re-engineering may vary from simple changes like increasing the number of users, to a complex business process modification. An important reason to re-engineer is the high cost that is involved with maintaining legacy systems. The ARS team of Xminds believes that Return On Investment (ROI) is one key factor that determines the success of the re-engineering process.
By incorporating ROI into their methods, our ARS team is very keen in identifying and handling the typical bottle necks of ARS projects, including the absence of user documentation, defects in capturing requirements of existing systems, dealing with the inertia of users moving to a new system, and more.
The ARS system primary focus is on the users of the existing system since their acclimatization with it invariably renders a mental block that emerges when trying to switch to an entirely new system. To address this, Xminds has devised a structured plan that prepares the users for a smooth transition from the existing system.
EPPDT
Xminds has developed a unique methodology for Application Reengineering Services called EPPDT (Envision, Plan, Prototype, Develop, and Train). EPPDT is a flexible, interrelated series of models that can guide an organization through assembling the resources and techniques needed to re-engineer the existing technology infrastructure, in conjunction with their business objectives.
The goal of the EPPDT process is to not only perform application reengineering, but to ensure a cost effective, smooth transition from the existing system by following these steps:
- Envision
- Plan
- Prototype
- Develop
- Train
Envision
The “Envision” phase implies creating solid business value. Xminds team of highly regarded industry experts ensures that the client's business and technology positions are properly assessed by focusing on the following areas:
Business:
Xminds consultants, in collaboration with the client, examine the existing business need to re-engineer enterprise software applications. Upon completion of the evaluation, the consultants develop a high level list of requirements and suggested solutions for the application reengineering.
Technology:
Xminds consultants are professionals at IT outsourcing. They review the current architecture and determine the technology road map that will provide a successful conversion.
Resources:
Xminds reviews the skills possessed by the client's personnel and may recommend necessary training programs or skill upgrades. Xminds is committed to ensure the success of every project and believes technical agility helps to accomplish this.
Cost:
After developing high-level requirements, Xminds consultants develop a detailed cost estimate to complete the project. Xminds makes sure to recommend areas where conversion is most beneficial to the client.
Plan
Xminds believes that structured planning is critical to the success of any project. The company’s highly acclaimed consultants provide architecture consulting to achieve this.
Architecture:
Xminds team proposes application architecture that is most beneficial to the client. The consultants review the current system and propose the most cost-effective and efficient solution.
Resources:
Xminds develops the resource allocation plan for the project, taking into account project phases and thereby aides the client in assigning the appropriate number of available, skilled personnel. Xminds is committed to professional project management and employs a structured project management approach, which encourages involvement from the client's personnel at every phase to ensure a successful project completion.
Prototype:
Based on the initial analysis, the Xminds team provides the client with a proof of concept which ensures that business requirements are properly absorbed in the initial stages of the project itself.
Application proof of concept:
An application proof of concept during the architecture stage identifies the scope of the project and helps demonstrate the benefits of the proposed solution.
Infrastructure proof of concept:
An infrastructure proof of concept highlights technology issues before the client spends time, money, and resources to implement a complete system. This proof of concept validates the proposed system design, the technology to be used, and the estimated cost and effort required to integrate them into the existing system.
Develop:
This phase is the actual implementation of the project.
Coding:
The Xminds team will employ expert resources of the field of technology chosen for the project. The Xminds team has its own development frameworks which will considerably reduce the development time.
Testing:
Xminds, in unison with the client, performs vigorous testing of the converted application prior to its deployment.
Train
Xminds ensure through training that, after project completion, the client's personnel are fully qualified to maintain and extend the application.
Application training:
Xminds provides clients with all pertinent documentation and reviews of the application architecture and functionality.
Technology training:
Xminds will train the client’s personnel in any technology, if needed.
ARS Services
The ARS offered by Xminds encompasses one or more of the following, depending upon the specific requirement demands:
Re-engineering Consultancy and Assessment:
This includes analysis and consultation of the existing system and feasibility study of the re-engineering approach. It consists of risk assessment, application assessment, migration strategy definition, migration roadmap, preparing user training plans, and more.
Business Re-engineering:
This is set of ARS services that re-engineer the application for new and improved business functionality. The application reengineering process may result in an entirely new system, or the development of subsystems that support the existing system.
Performance Re-engineering:
This re-engineering process targets attaining performance gain for an existing application. The project kick-starts with a definite criterion by setting a predefined scale for performance gain and the success of the project is solely determined through the evaluation of this criterion.
Technology Re-engineering:
This set of services adapts the existing legacy to take advantage of new technology. This may involve a complete revamping of the application to make it web enabled or switching to better technology with the same architecture.
Application Porting:
The application porting service includes the re-engineering for cross platform compatibility. This involves porting existing applications to new Operating Systems.
Application Upgrade:
This involves re-engineering the existing product for a new version of an Operating System, language or database.
Data Migration / Data Porting:
Data Migration / Data Porting is associated with any one of the application re-engineering services which includes schema change, version change, technology change, etcetera.
