Top 5 Low-Code Migration Strategies for Enterprise Apps

Migrating to low-code platforms can save up to 70% in development costs and cut project timelines by 90%. But successful migration requires careful planning and execution to avoid common pitfalls like system complexity and integration issues.

Here’s a quick overview of the top strategies to migrate enterprise apps to low-code platforms:

• Prioritize Apps for Migration: Start with simple, non-critical apps and create a phased timeline.

• Choose the Right Platform: Evaluate platforms like Mendix and OutSystems based on cost, scalability, and integration features.

• Implement Staged Migration: Begin with smaller systems to gain confidence before tackling complex ones.

• Leverage Automation Tools: Use tools like AWS DMS or Talend to streamline and secure the migration process.

• Test Thoroughly: Develop a robust test plan covering functionality, performance, and user experience.

Quick Comparison of Low-Code Platforms

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1. Review and Sort Apps for Migration

List Current Applications

Start by creating a detailed inventory of all applications. Use tools like APM software or simple spreadsheets to document essential details such as application names, types, departments, and owners. Here's what to include in your inventory:

Once you've gathered this information, use a scoring system to evaluate and rank the applications.

Rank Apps by Impact and Difficulty

Create a scoring framework that considers both business and technical factors. Here are some criteria to guide your evaluation:

Focus on 2–10 key data points for prioritization. Higher scores should indicate higher priority. Tailor the weights of each factor to align with your organization's goals. Once ranked, use this list to plan migration phases that minimize risks.

Build a Timeline

With your prioritized list, create a migration schedule that balances quick wins with minimal disruption. Start with these types of applications:

• Non-Production Applications: Begin with test or staging environments to reduce risks.

• Simple, Independent Systems: Target applications with minimal dependencies and cloud-ready setups. These typically run on 1–3 compute instances.

• Department-Specific Applications: Focus on departments eager to adopt early. Their enthusiasm can drive momentum and provide valuable feedback.

Your initial migration projects will shape the success of future efforts, so plan carefully and document the process thoroughly.

2. Pick Your Low-Code Platform

Key Platform Features

Choosing the right low-code platform is crucial for ensuring your applications can grow, integrate seamlessly, and remain secure. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new enterprise apps will rely on low-code or no-code technologies, a sharp increase from less than 25% in 2020. When evaluating platforms, focus on these essential features:

Platform Selection Checklist

If you're comparing platforms like Mendix and OutSystems, here's a quick breakdown of their offerings:

"As a bank, we were looking for an option where we could deploy low-code apps on our own, fully-managed infrastructure. At that time, Mendix was the only low-code provider that supported this wide range of deployment options".

Use this comparison to guide your decision-making process as you evaluate platforms.

Case Study: OutSystems to Mendix

To better understand platform migration, let’s explore a real-world example. Mendix, ranked #1 in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant in 2023, has proven its readiness for enterprise needs.

1. Technical Assessment

Start by evaluating the complexity of your apps and their dependencies. Mendix supports React.js widgets and Java code, while OutSystems offers function-as-a-service using C# and .NET.

2. Resource Planning

"Our investment in Mendix low-code...has allowed us to build beautiful and satisfying customer-user experiences within an environment that allows us to respond to rapid change and ensure that the pace of change inside our organization is as quick, if not faster, than the change outside."

3. Integration Strategy

Both platforms provide strong integration capabilities, but Mendix stands out with its extensive connector library. This makes it especially effective for managing complex enterprise systems.

3. Move Apps in Stages

Start with Simple, High-Impact Apps

When migrating apps using low-code solutions, it's best to take it step by step. Begin with apps that are simple to migrate but have a big impact. This approach helps your team gain experience and confidence.

Use these guidelines to choose your first apps:

Once you've successfully migrated these easier apps, your team will be better prepared to handle more challenging systems.

Move to More Complex Systems

Take a phased approach to migration. Start with non-production environments, then move on to moderately complex systems, and finally tackle mission-critical apps. For these critical systems, thorough testing and fallback plans are essential.

Keep Everyone on the Same Page

As migrations scale up, clear communication across teams becomes crucial. Regular updates help ensure smooth transitions at every stage. Here's a suggested communication framework:

Document everything - configuration changes, performance metrics, user feedback, and how issues are resolved. For critical migrations, consider a "hyper-care" period right after the transition. This means having a dedicated team ready to monitor systems closely and address any problems quickly.

Set clear exit criteria for each phase of the migration. This keeps the process focused and ensures quality before moving on to more complex applications.

4. Use Migration Tools

Migration Tool Options

When following a phased migration strategy, the right tools can make all the difference. Here’s a comparison of some popular options to help ensure smooth transitions:

These tools streamline the process, offering automation benefits that save time and reduce errors.

How Automation Helps

Automation can speed up the migration process significantly. For example, it can save over 3 hours of validation per model, handle migrations involving thousands of tables, and cut project timelines by as much as six months.

"Having Datafold in a situation where you need 1 to 1 migration is critical...No question. I would recommend Datafold for any large-scale migration."

• Jon Medwig, Staff Data Engineer

Using Tools Effectively

To get the most out of these tools, follow these key steps:

• Set Up Monitoring: Use real-time monitoring to track progress and quickly identify any issues.

• Establish Security: Secure the process with strong user authentication, encrypted data transfers, and regular privilege reviews.

• Automate Validation: Run automated checks for data accuracy, cross-database comparisons, and performance testing.

"Datafold allows real visibility into data changes before the changes are live, reducing mistakes and enabling our analysts and stakeholders to feel confident in their changes."

• Adam Underwood, Staff Analytics Engineer

Don’t forget to maintain backups and have rollback procedures ready. By combining these practices with the right tools, you can ensure a smooth migration while keeping your data safe and intact.

5. Test Everything Thoroughly

Create a Test Plan

Develop a detailed test plan that addresses both business logic and infrastructure. Testing often accounts for 60–70% of the total effort and budget in enterprise modernization projects.

Incorporate these testing steps into your CI/CD pipeline to ensure continuous validation.

Set Up CI/CD Pipeline

Building on your test plan, a strong CI/CD pipeline ensures that testing and deployment processes for your migrated applications are reliable. A typical CI/CD pipeline includes:

1. Source Code Retrieval: Automatically fetch the latest version of the code and track changes using version control tools.

2. Application Build: Compile and package the application, identifying build errors before advancing.

3. Functional Equivalence Testing: Automate tests to confirm core functionality using techniques like record, replay, and compare.

4. Manual Approval: Add a review step where stakeholders verify the build before progressing.

5. Deployment: Deploy the tested application to a controlled production environment.

"CI/CD is all about allowing developers to move quickly - with the confidence not to break anything."

Run User Testing

User acceptance testing ensures that migrated applications meet business needs. Ram Shanmugam, CEO of AutonomIQ, explains:

"With low-code testing, you're using advanced AI and ML techniques, so the process of writing and maintaining test scripts is done through machines. This can significantly reduce the time and cost involved, while also decreasing your reliance on test automation engineers, as normal coders and even non-coders can now generate test automation scripts. Ultimately, testers can now focus on the business needs of the software and ensure the intent of the user is preserved."

Engage experienced users, document specific test cases with clear pass/fail criteria, and use low-code testing platforms to streamline script creation.

John Kodumal, CTO of LaunchDarkly, highlights the dual focus of testing low-code solutions:

"Testing a low-code solution focuses on testing two different things: testing the business logic that the low-code user is expressing and testing that the structure supporting the low-code solution is working properly. These two types of tests ensure that the application is working the way end-users expect it to work."

Conclusion: Steps to Start Your Migration

5 Key Steps Review

Switching to a low-code platform requires careful planning. Organizations embracing citizen development have seen application development speed up by 71%. Here's a breakdown of the main steps:

• Assessment: Review your current infrastructure and identify potential risks.

• Platform Selection: Pick a low-code platform that fits your needs.

• Planning: Distribute resources wisely and evaluate risks.

• Implementation: Carry out the migration and test thoroughly.

• Optimization: Keep an eye on performance and train your teams.

Migration Results

The results of low-code migration can be impressive. For example, McDermott, with just six IT support members, manages 6,500 users. By using Kissflow's no-code platform, they processed 23,000 items and cut down support tickets to only 30 in the first year.

Some financial highlights include:

• 40–60% savings by committing to reserved instances over three years.

• 20–30% cost reduction through instance right-sizing.

• Migration costs for mid-size enterprises typically range from $70,000 to $250,000.

Getting Started

The financial and operational benefits make it clear - starting strong is crucial. To set yourself up for success, focus on these steps:

• Define KPIs that match your business goals.

• Bring in key stakeholders and technical staff to lead the process.

• Plan your budget, including costs for assessment ($20,000–$50,000) and modifications ($30,000–$100,000).

"Once you take steps towards digitisation, change management across the organisation becomes much easier. People feel part of the transformation. They see the benefits of the initiatives you are running and are much keener to get involved".

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