In business, the status quo can be deadly.
And there is no deadlier force than the quiet march of technological progress, somewhere in the wild, slowly but surely rendering your business obsolete.
This thought isn’t new if your critical business operations are running on a legacy language like COBOL. It’s a trusty system, has been the go-to language for decades, and remains the backbone of many organizations that process large amounts of data.
But the tide is rapidly shifting in favor of more modern and versatile languages like Java, and time is getting short.
So what do you do?
The first step is establishing the benefits and the urgency of getting all that conversion work done.
In this article, I outline higher-level bullet points of converting to a modern language like Java, making the project easier to pitch.
While COBOL has played a significant role in business computing, the future belongs to languages like Java
Why Shift from COBOL to Java?
Transitioning from COBOL to Java offers numerous benefits that can help future-proof your business operations.
1. Eases Talent Retention and Acquisition
Anyone managing an IT team overseeing a COBOL application is well aware of the difficulty of finding and retaining talent, given its declining popularity in academia and among new-age developers, and it’s mentioned here first because it’s one of the biggest issues.
If key personnel leave, you’re looking at the very real prospect of higher maintenance costs and potential risks.
Java, on the other hand, is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It’s versatile, platform-independent, and boasts a large, active community of developers constantly working to improve and update the language.
Java is also widely taught in universities and coding bootcamps, resulting in a large pool of skilled Java developers. Businesses using Java have an easier time recruiting and hiring new talent compared to those sticking with COBOL.
No matter where you find yourself on the demand curve, you can find the technical talent to match it.
2. Boosts Efficiency
Java allows for writing reusable code, which means developers can build upon existing codebases instead of starting from scratch each time. This reusability significantly enhances efficiency, reducing development time and costs.
3. Streamlines Application Management
Migrating to Java not only increases the efficiency of coding practices but also simplifies application management. A Java-based system is generally easier to integrate with other modern technologies and platforms, which is critical for businesses looking to adopt a microservices architecture or expand their suite of applications. This ease of integration allows for streamlined processes across various departments and services, creating a more cohesive IT infrastructure.
4. Enhances Developer Productivity
Additionally, Java’s well-established set of development tools, frameworks, and libraries accelerates the development process. Tools such as Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA provide developers with sophisticated functionalities to identify and fix errors faster, write less code, and automate routine programming tasks. These enhancements in the development environment vastly improve developer productivity, thereby contributing to the overall efficiency of the software development lifecycle.
5. Enhances Security
Cybersecurity is a growing problem requiring modern methods to thwart it.
Java is widely recognized for its strong security features, which include a robust permissions system, a security-conscious runtime environment, and standard cryptographic functionalities. By migrating to Java, businesses benefit from these protections, mitigating risks associated with data breaches and cyber-attacks. This is especially critical for enterprises handling sensitive financial data, where security is paramount.
6. Fosters Scalability
Java is inherently scalable. As businesses grow and their software needs evolve, Java applications can be easily extended to meet these changing demands without needing a complete overhaul. Its object-oriented structure allows for modular programming, which is ideally suited for scaling up and adapting to new technologies or market conditions.
These advantages position Java as a strategic choice for organizations looking to modernize their IT infrastructure and ensure their business remains robust in the face of technological advancements.
7. Builds Resilience
Java’s platform independence makes it a more resilient choice for businesses. With Java, you’re not tied to a specific hardware or operating system, allowing you to adapt to future technological changes.
8. Your Customers Will Love It
The transition from COBOL to Java may seem daunting, especially if you’ve relied on COBOL for years. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term challenges.
In addition to all of the technical benefits, the shift will also allow you to keep pace with consumer expectations. Modern consumers demand fast, efficient, and reliable digital experiences – something that Java can deliver much more effectively than COBOL.
Although I mention this as the last bullet, making your customers happy and loyal might be the most impactful of all the many benefits of a COBOL to Java conversion.
Final Thoughts
While COBOL has played a significant role in business computing, the future belongs to languages like Java. Converting COBOL applications to Java is a strategic move that can significantly enhance efficiency, ease talent acquisition, build resilience, and ultimately future-proof your business operations for many years to come.
CM First Group Can Help
Our deep experience with legacy enterprise systems puts us uniquely positioned to help reinvent your modernization efforts and set the stage for COBOL to Java conversions that can transform your organization.
Please contact us for more information or to schedule a demonstration of our CM evolveIT software and how its impact analysis capabilities can set your COBOL to Java project up for long-term success.
You can also call us at 888-866-6179 or email us at info@cmfirstgroup.com.
