Obsolescence - avoid if possible
We live in a disposable society. Experience IT works in an industry characterised by dramatic change and where the-next-great-thing is all anybody is ever interested in.
Experience IT software tends to last. It doesn’t wear out like other software. This may seem funny - but in an industry where many software systems seem to be replaced as quickly as they went in - many of our systems have 5+ years useful life without change and with minimal support after they are go-live. I don’t believe that this is accidental.
We are aware of systems which we developed almost 10 years ago which are still in daily use and unlikely to be replaced soon either. This makes us proud. We believe that good software, well designed and in which a deep understanding of the business is reflected will be used over the longterm. And this is good for us and for our customers.
The above is not to suggest that the systems have remained static over protracted periods. In many cases the solutions have been enhanced and extended. But the original designs were sufficiently flexible that the ‘go no further’ barriers which force re-think or replacement were not hit.
