3 successful software responses: case studies from

Theory is good, practice is better. In this article we present three real case studies of software projects that were just before the final failure – and yet were successfully saved.

These examples show that even in seemingly hopeless situations a turning is possible.

Case study 1: The e-commerce project of a middle trader

Learn how failed software projects have been successfully saved from 3 real case studies.

Leaders exploring 3 successful software responses: case studies from can use Cost Calculator: AI Development, Discover solutions, Software Maintenance sowie Cost Calculator: Software Maintenance as structured entry points.

• 18 Monate delay 250%
• 4 Monate to rescue

The initial situation A midsize trading company wanted to replace its outdated online shop with a modern e-commerce platform.

After 18 months of development with an external agency, the project was far from completion, the budget more than doubled. And the agency had abandoned the project.

The problems The review revealed: unclear needs, lack of documentation, over-complex architecture and massive technical debt. The code was barely predictable, and there were no automated tests.

The solution Instead of a new development, it was decided to save the existing code base.

In a structured process, the most critical problems were prioritized, the architecture was simplified and progressive tests introduced.

• 4 months to go-live 60% Cost savings vs. New developments "We almost gave up hope. That we could go live after only four months was a little miracle for us." – Managing Director.

Case study 2: The SaaS platform of a startup

• 3 Developing teams changed
• 500+ open bugs
• 6 Monates until stabilisation

The initial situation A promising start-up had built an new SaaS platform. However, it suffered from massive quality problems.

Three different developer teams had already worked on the project, each with a different approach. The result: a patch carpet made of incompatible code.

The solution A dedicated rescue team took over the project. The focus was initially on stabilising the most critical functions.

In parallel, a systematic refactoring was carried out to unify the different code styles.

95% Bug reduction 3x Faster Feature Development

Case study 3: The legacy system of insurance

• 15 years old code base.
• 0 Document
• 12 Monate modernisation

The initial situation An insurance company operated a 15 year old core system that no one understood completely.

The original developers were no longer in the company, and there was no documentation. Any change was a risk.

The solution Instead of a risky Big Bang approach, the system was gradually modernized. First, the business logic was recorded by reverse engineering.

Then critical components were gradually replaced by modern microservices.

• 70% less maintenance Occupational period during migration.

The common success factors

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Clarity: Where no primary source is named in the text, figures are illustrative; compare Bitkom and Destatis. Project-related statements: Groenewold IT, 2026.

References and further reading

The following separate 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.

> "ERP programmes rarely fail on software selection; they fail on unclear process ownership."

— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is this article about: “3 successful software responses: case studies from”?

This post explores 3 successful software responses. Case studies from from the perspective of needs, typical pitfalls, and sensible next steps.

In short: Learn how failed software projects have been successfully saved from 3 real case studies. With concrete figures and strategies.

Who benefits most from the content described here?

Useful for project leads and product owners in Software maintenance 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/artificial-intelligence). For multi-system landscapes, [IT consulting and architecture](/en/services/it-consulting) helps align vendors and internal teams.

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