Going-end-of-life: How to overcome the risks through migration

Going end-of-life means end of support. Your dedicated tech teams, your updates, your security patches — it’s all gone.

For users, that means you have to make a choice: take responsibility for maintaining your legacy system or migrate to a new platform.

There are challenges either way. But ultimately, the risks of not adapting outweigh the risks of migration.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of making this transition and explore the inherent risks of holding onto end-of-life software.

Why B2B businesses should embrace migration

1. Futureproofing for success

Sure, your current legacy software might be meeting your needs today, but it won’t be equipped to handle the demands of tomorrow. The technology landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses need software that can keep up with changing trends, customer expectations, and emerging technologies.

Cloud-based solutions are designed with scalability and flexibility in mind. They provide a platform that can evolve along with your business, ensuring that you’re always equipped to meet future demands.

2. Boosting efficiency and productivity

Embracing modern e-commerce software opens the door to a world of advanced features and improvements that can significantly enhance your operational efficiency and productivity. Your legacy product becomes stagnant over time.

The automated upgrades that come with modern, cloud-based solutions ensure that you benefit from the latest enhancements without causing major disruptions to your operations. This enables your team to focus more on strategic tasks and less on managing software-related issues.

3. Enhanced security for peace of mind

In today’s digital landscape, security is paramount. Legacy systems often become more vulnerable to cyber threats as they age, since they no longer receive regular updates and security patches.

Cloud-based solutions prioritize security, offering advanced measures such as uptime guarantees, regular database backups, and robust security capabilities compliant with the OWASP standards. This proactive approach shields your business from potential breaches and data compromises.

4. Superior support and maintenance

The support and maintenance of older software can be a drain on resources, both in terms of time and costs. With end-of-life software, the availability of support dwindles, making it increasingly difficult to address technical issues that arise.

In contrast, cloud-based solutions receive consistent updates and full-fledged support. This means that any challenges you encounter can be resolved swiftly and efficiently, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.

5. Seamlessly integrating business functions

In today’s interconnected business landscape, integration is key. Most legacy products require costly development work to customize their integrations.

Modern solutions offer superior integration technologies, allowing you to create a cohesive ecosystem where each software solution communicates effectively with your other business systems, streamlining operations and improving customer experiences.

6. Long-term cost efficiency

While the prospect of transitioning to a new e-commerce solution might seem financially daunting initially, it’s essential to consider the long-term cost savings. If you are responsible for your own support and maintenance for End-of-Life software, those costs could add up quickly.

Cloud-based solutions offer significant cost efficiencies over time by reducing maintenance expenses, increasing productivity, increasing adoption rates, and leveraging more modern and efficient tools. These cumulative benefits often offset the initial investment and result in substantial savings down the line.

The risks of using end-of-life software

1. Incompatibility

As technology evolves at a rapid pace, newer software releases are meticulously optimized to function seamlessly within the latest environments and ecosystems. Unfortunately, end-of-life software lacks the compatibility required to keep up with these advancements. This discrepancy often results in a cascade of challenges for businesses.

Incompatibility issues can lead to a significant decrease in performance, hampering the speed and efficiency of critical processes. Moreover, limited compatibility could constrain functionality, preventing you from utilizing cutting-edge features and integrations that could otherwise give you a competitive edge. In the long term, these obstacles can seriously disrupt your ability to scale and adapt as your business grows, ultimately hindering your competitiveness in the market.

2. New vulnerabilities

End-of-life software becomes a prime target for cyber threats due to its lack of regular updates and patches. The absence of security updates means that any vulnerabilities or weaknesses discovered post-end-of-life will remain unaddressed, making your system an easy target for malicious actors. Firewalls and anti-malware solutions, while essential, might not provide sufficient protection against emerging risks that exploit unpatched vulnerabilities.

The potential consequences include data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and even ransomware attacks. The aftermath of such breaches can be financially devastating, not to mention the harm they can inflict on your brand’s reputation.

3. End-of-life SLA

When software reaches its end-of-life, the support landscape changes. Service level agreements (SLAs) that were once comprehensive are now limited or, in some cases, non-existent. This shift leaves businesses in a vulnerable position when encountering technical issues.

With minimal resources available for support, the resolution of problems can be frustratingly slow, leading to extended periods of downtime and operational disruptions. Such disruptions not only impact your internal processes but also have a cascading effect on customer satisfaction. An inability to address issues promptly can erode customer trust and loyalty, further adding to the negative impact.

4. Reduced reliability

The reliability of end-of-life software gradually diminishes over time. Downtime and performance issues become more frequent occurrences, causing frustration for both your internal teams and external customers. Slow or inaccessible platforms can lead to missed opportunities and potentially drive customers to seek alternatives that offer a smoother experience.

In the highly competitive B2B landscape, reliability is a crucial factor in maintaining customer loyalty and sustaining revenue streams. An increase in downtime and performance problems can tarnish your reputation and cause financial losses.

5. Compliance challenges

Many industries are subject to regulatory compliance frameworks that mandate regular software updates and patching. Operating with end-of-life software might expose your business to compliance violations, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage.

For instance, sectors such as healthcare, finance, and data-driven industries often have strict data protection requirements that necessitate up-to-date software for safeguarding sensitive information. Failure to adhere to these standards not only invites legal repercussions but can also erode trust among clients and partners.

Migrating is the best move

In B2B commerce, the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might not hold true when software turns end-of-life. While legacy systems may function well today, the risks and limitations they pose can severely hinder your ability to grow and adapt in the future.

Transitioning from a legacy product such as SAP ECC to a modern, cloud-based experience is a strategic decision that ensures long-term success, security, and efficiency. By embracing modern, cloud-based e-commerce solutions, B2B organizations can future-proof their operations, enhance security, boost efficiency, and create a foundation for sustained growth in an ever-changing digital landscape.