As of: 19 June 2026 · Reading time: 4 min
Key takeaways
- In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies.
- They're not just expensive in maintenance, sonde...
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies. They're not just expensive in maintenance, sonde...
“Good software is not an accident—it comes from a structured development process with clear quality standards.”
– Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions
Altsystem migration: A guide to cost and budgeting
Short: In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies.
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies.
They are not only expensive in maintenance, but also hinder innovation and growth. The Altsystem Migration is therefore not an “Ob” for many companies, but a “Wann”.
But how do you properly budget such a complex project? This article highlights the cost factors and gives you strategies for successful budgeting.
Why the migration of old systems is inevitable
Short: Executive answer: In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies.
Executive answer: In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies.
For Altsystem Migration: A Guide to Costs and Budgeting, Legacy Modernisation, Cost Calculator: Legacy Modernisation, Solution: Legacy Reduction sowie Monolith vs. Microservices help you align implementation, scope and budget before you commit.
Old systems are often the result of years of internal developments and adjustments. They are deeply rooted in the business processes, which makes a detachment a great challenge.
Nevertheless, there are compelling reasons to dare this step.
The hidden costs of old systems
Short: The most obvious costs of old systems are the direct maintenance and licensing fees.
The most obvious costs of old systems are the direct maintenance and licensing fees. But the real cost drivers are often hidden. This includes:
- **High operating costs:**Old hardware and software often require special and expensive maintenance.
- Short to skilled workers: Experts on outdated technologies are rare and expensive.
- Safety risks: Old systems are often more vulnerable to cyber attacks, as security updates are no longer available.
- Integration problems: The connection of modern applications and services to old systems is often complex and costly.
- Slower productivity: Slow and cumbersome systems frustrate employees and reduce efficiency.
The advantages of a modern IT infrastructure
Short: Migration to a modern IT infrastructure offers far more than just cost savings.
Migration to a modern IT infrastructure offers far more than just cost savings. It allows companies to become more agile, innovative and competitive. Benefits include:
- ** Increased efficiency and productivity * * ***Improved scalability and flexibility * * *** Increased security and compliance * *
- More data analysis and decision bases * *
- **Support for new business models and digital transformation * *
The cost factors of an old system migration
Short: The costs of Altsystem Migration may vary greatly and depend on the complexity of the old system, the chosen migration strategy and the scope of the project.
The costs of Altsystem Migration may vary greatly and depend on the complexity of the old system, the chosen migration strategy and the scope of the project.
To create a realistic budget, you must take into account both direct and indirect costs.
Direct costs
Short: Direct costs are all expenses that can be assigned directly to the migration project.
Direct costs are all expenses that can be assigned directly to the migration project. This includes:
| Cost factor | Description |
|---|---|
| ** Software licenses** | Costs for new software, operating systems and databases. |
| ** Hardware | Acquiring new servers, storage and network infrastructure. |
| ** Development & Adaptation | Costs for adapting the new software to the specific business requirements. |
References and further reading
Short: The following independent references complement the topics in this article:
The following independent references complement the topics in this article:
- Bitkom – German digital industry association
- German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
- European Commission – Digital strategy
- MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
- W3C – World Wide Web Consortium
"APIs are the backbone of modern systems; stabilise contracts early or pay twice in integration work later."
— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this article about: “Altsystem Migration: A Guide to Costs and Budgeting”?
This post explores Altsystem Migration: A Guide to Costs and Budgeting from the perspective of requirements, typical pitfalls, and sensible next steps.
In short: In today's fast-paced digital landscape, outdated IT systems, often referred to as old systems, are a considerable burden for companies. They're not just expensive in maintenance, sonde...
Who benefits most from the content described here?
Useful for project leads and product owners in Software development who must choose between standard software, custom development, and integration.
How does this topic fit into an IT or digital strategy?
Technically and organizationally, alignment with experienced partners pays off — from requirements to operations; start with the [services overview](/en/services/software-development). For multi-system landscapes, [IT consulting and architecture](/en/services/it-consulting) helps align vendors and internal teams.
What are sensible next steps if we need support?
A practical next step: book a consultation and clarify which MVP or pilot fits your team and landscape.
About the author

Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH and Hyperspace GmbH
Since 2009 Björn Groenewold has been developing software solutions for the mid-market. He is Managing Director of Groenewold IT Solutions GmbH (founded 2012) and Hyperspace GmbH. As founder of Groenewold IT Solutions he has successfully supported more than 250 projects – from legacy modernisation to AI integration.
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