Research: Legacy systems the biggest challenge in digital transformation

New research from Computing reveals that IT leaders are most concerned with integrating legacy applications into new digital initiatives, with cultural change coming a close second

Understanding what to do with legacy infrastructure is the biggest challenge in digital transformation programmes today.

That's one result to come out of Computing's latest research, in which 100 senior IT leaders from medium to large UK-based businesses were asked about their digital transformation initiatives.

Commenting on the findings, John Leonard, Computing's research editor said: "Of the top three concerns, legacy infrastructure presents the most immediate barrier to digital. The inflexible nature, need for ongoing management and resource, and the host of customisations and integrations required to make disparate systems ‘talk' is a big block in the road.

"Many mission critical applications remain married to purpose-built bespoke infrastructure that is difficult to bring up to date.

"There may be cost savings by biting the bullet and finally shelving aging infrastructure," he added.

Behind the legacy issues which received 44 per cent of the vote, 41 per cent of respondents said they were concerned with cultural change, with a further 37 per cent selecting 'lack of vision and management drive'.

"The challenge of lack of vision and management drive is one that some organisations are tackling by hiring a chief digital officer, to ensure that digital transformation remains a boardroom issue," said Leonard.

'Budget contraints' was chosen by 35 per cent, just ahead of 'siloed mentality and structure' which received 34 per cent of the vote.

When asked why their organisations were implementing digital transformation programmes at all, 52 per cent of respondents said it was to make business processes more efficient, ahead of 43 per cent who said the projects were designed to improve the customer experience.

This research will be revealed in full, and discussed tomorrow during Computing's live web seminar 'Digital strategy - pulling it all together.