How SMBs Can Avoid Costly Mistakes in Application Modernization

Why Application Modernization Is Getting Harder

In addition to traditional systems, many small businesses still rely on mainframes and deeply embedded legacy platforms that can’t simply be refactored quickly.

“Those systems are very, very complex, and you can’t do that overnight,” Peters says. “That takes a lot of effort.”

The difficulty is not just in upgrading individual applications but in understanding how those applications interact with each other — and how changes in one system can ripple across others.

“One of the biggest things organizations don’t realize is how tightly coupled their applications are,” Peters says. “They may need to modernize three, four or five applications at the same time, not just one.”

This interdependence makes modernization planning far more complex than many business IT leaders anticipate, especially when internal documentation is outdated or incomplete.

Businesses often struggle not because they lack motivation but because they lack clarity, Peters says.

They know they want to modernize — but not what to modernize first, how to sequence the work or how to reduce risk along the way.

“Choosing what to modernize is incredibly complicated,” he says. “It’s not just about how many applications you have. It’s about how those applications talk to each other.”

Without a clear roadmap, SMBs can end up spending time and money on the wrong initiatives — or modernizing systems that deliver little real value.

READ MORE: How can businesses ensure success with application modernization?

Misconceptions About Application Modernization

 One of the biggest misconceptions Peters sees is the belief that artificial intelligence can now automate modernization decisions.

“Organizations think they can use AI to modernize everything,” he says. “It’s just not there yet.”

While AI can support some analysis tasks, Peters says, letting algorithms make high-stakes architectural decisions without human context introduces risk for SMB IT environments.

Another misconception: That modernization must be slow, disruptive and resource intensive.

“People think this is going to take a long time, a lot of effort and a lot of their staff’s time,” he says. “That’s not true.”

In reality, Peters says, modern assessment tools can dramatically shorten the planning phase — a crucial factor for SMBs facing limited resources and staff on top of budget constraints.

How CDW’s SAMA Brings Clarity

CDW’s Strategic Application Modernization Assessment is designed to address that planning gap by giving businesses a data-driven view of their portfolios before major investments are made.

Rather than relying on manual analysis or narrow evaluations, SAMA examines applications across 26 different dimensions — including complexity, security, maintainability and business impact.

“Most organizations only look at one or two areas,” Peters says. “We look at 26.”

That multidimensional approach helps SMBs understand not just what to modernize, but why — and what modernization strategy makes the most sense for each system.

One of the differentiators of SAMA, Peters says, is the way results are delivered.

Instead of static PDF reports, CDW provides interactive, browser-based dashboards that allow stakeholders to explore data dynamically.

“These aren’t just reports,” Peters says. “They’re dynamic, HTML-based and fully shareable.”

Leaders can drill into specific applications, examine staffing levels, estimate modernization costs and visualize risk — all without specialized training.

“We don’t make the organization learn a tool,” Peters says. “That’s a big difference.”

For SMBs, this accessibility matters. It allows IT leaders to communicate findings clearly to finance teams and other stakeholders who may not have deep technical backgrounds.

DISCOVER: Unleash modernization success by assessing, prioritizing and updating applications.

Application Modernization Doesn’t End with Assessment 

After the assessment is complete, CDW can also support execution.

“We don’t just analyze,” Peters says. “We help them build and execute the roadmap.”

That can include pairing with internal teams or managing modernization efforts directly, depending on the business’s needs.

If there’s one takeaway Peters wants SMB leaders to remember, it’s speed.

“It doesn’t have to take months,” he says.

With the right approach, small businesses can gain clarity quickly; avoid costly missteps; and modernize in a way that improves security, resilience and service delivery — without disrupting operations.