69 it a popular choice when developers lack the time or expertise to refactor older software. But replacement can be expensive, and IT teams must embrace new ways of working when deploying and learning to use the technology. In November 2021, Kyndryl’s chief information officer replaced existing systems with standardised apps and platforms whenever possible. The goal was to reduce IT complexity, technical debt and the total cost of ownership. Over two years, we downsized our app portfolio from more than 1,800 business apps to fewer than 360. Ultimately, this technology transformation will play a significant role in lowering Kyndryl’s selling, general and administrative expenses by $200 million. Often called ‘lift and shift’, replatforming involves modifying older software to work in the cloud without rewriting its core architecture or drastically altering its functionality. Replatforming is often the easiest way to move apps because it requires minimal changes to the underlying architecture and data. Although this approach reduces overall risk, longterm maintenance costs may be higher than replacing or refactoring an app. We’re currently helping a global communications provider control its infrastructure costs and derive richer insights from its data by moving critical mainframe apps and data to Azure. The cloudbased apps will connect to the customer’s service management platform and support its artificial intelligence for IT operations estate model. Software that remains on the mainframe will integrate with data from a more comprehensive set of systems for analytics. By 2026, we project replatforming will reduce an organisation’s mainframe operating costs and energy consumption by 70 per cent, leading to savings worth more than $22 million annually. Regardless of how a company approaches modernising mainframe apps, the overarching goal should be to put the right workload on the right platform. By aligning technology strategy and budget with long-term business objectives, organisations can choose a path that optimises performance and efficiency now and in the future. Ken Gambon is director and principal of global engineering in Kyndryl’s applications, data and AI practice Photo: Unsplash/Surface
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