Platform migration remains a key topic for IT leaders, CTOs, and project managers dealing with outdated technology and shifting business needs. As we increasingly move toward cloud-native and modular architectures, it's essential to address both the strategic and technical decisions that define successful migrations. Here’s a closer look at the critical factors, opportunities, and pitfalls to keep in mind.

• Tip 1: Start with a fresh look at legacy requirements
• Tip 2: Define a clear target architecture and use a modular approach
• Tip 3: Make flexible, future-proof decisions
• Tip 4: Ensure continuous collaboration between product & engineering
• Tip 5: Control project scope to avoid costly expansion
• Tip 6: Prioritise simplification in your new architecture

Tip 1: Start with a fresh look at legacy requirements

One common pitfall in platform migration is treating it as a purely technical exercise, essentially lifting and shifting the old platform onto new infrastructure. While this approach might sound efficient, it’s a missed opportunity. Instead, migrations should start with a reassessment of the current platform’s requirements. What does your platform really need to do? Which features still bring value? Are there outdated functions that could be replaced with more relevant, valuable features? Collaborating with product teams to re-evaluate the platform’s requirements and prioritise the roadmap can ensure that the new system is leaner, more relevant, and capable of meeting modern demands.

Tip 2: Define a clear target architecture and use a modular approach

The “Big Bang” approach, where an entire platform is rebuilt in a single go, comes with high risks and costs. Delays are common, and it often takes years before any user value is realised. Instead, an incremental or “modular” migration strategy can yield early benefits and reduce risks. Setting a target architecture as a guiding framework, we can take an iterative approach. For instance, components can be updated one at a time, with each module tested for interoperability within the current system. The “strangler pattern” strategy allows for gradual improvements, reducing the burden of backwards compatibility and supporting ongoing delivery of new features.

Tip 3: Make flexible, future-proof decisions

Migrating to a new platform often requires selecting technologies, vendors, and architectural frameworks that may lock in choices for years to come. A decision tree can be a useful tool here, weighing factors like security, long-term viability, and the total cost of ownership for each technology stack. For instance, migrating an ageing Java service may prompt a choice between upgrading and containerizing it or redesigning the function as a cloud-native service. A cloud-native re-write could improve security, reliability, performance and reduce cost. Flexibility and openness to re-evaluate choices over time can prevent the new system from becoming as rigid as the legacy one.

Tip 4: Ensure continuous collaboration between product and engineering

Misalignment between product and engineering teams can undermine the migration effort. Often, engineering teams have cost-saving targets that product teams are unaware of, or product requirements push engineering into unsustainable complexity. The solution? Foster a close, ongoing collaboration. Product and engineering should work as a unified team, revisiting business drivers throughout the migration. Setting clear goals, such as simplification or specific security improvements, ensures alignment and keeps decisions focused on delivering business value.

Tip 5: Control project scope to avoid costly expansion

Platform migrations can take a long time, often stretching over years. To prevent unnecessary costs and delays, it’s important to choose the right migration approach from the beginning. There are two main strategies:

Gradual Migration (Agile Approach)

This method involves replacing components step by step, focusing first on those that will deliver the most value. By tackling high-priority components first, teams can work on critical features on the new platform while temporarily pausing lower-priority features until their supporting parts are ready. This agile approach helps reduce the need to build features twice, saving both time and money.

Big-Bang Migration (Waterfall Approach)

This approach involves moving everything over in one big push. During this process, teams often need to develop features on both the old and new platforms until the migration is fully done. This can quickly become very expensive, as it requires doubling efforts to keep both systems working. It’s less flexible and can lead to high costs if things don’t go as planned.

To keep the project on track and within budget, teams should be careful when adding new features during migration. If a new feature doesn’t align with the main goals—like improving security, performance, or simplifying the system—it’s often better to wait. By staying focused on the key priorities and choosing the right migration strategy, companies can keep things simpler and more efficient.

Tip 6: Prioritise simplification in your new architecture

A well-executed migration provides an opportunity for simplification. Over time, platforms can accumulate layers of complexity, making future development slower and more costly. Leveraging a modular and evolutionary architecture enables future flexibility while keeping core systems as streamlined as possible. However, simplification should not be solely a tech initiative; product and tech must align in their commitment to prioritise leaner features.

Conclusion

Platform migration is much more than a technical upgrade; it’s a strategic opportunity to reset and improve how the platform serves the business and its customers. With a clear target architecture, incremental improvements, and strong alignment between product and engineering, organisations can avoid the pitfalls of traditional migrations and deliver a platform that’s secure, agile, and prepared for the future.