6 More Reasons You Should Consider Upgrading NAV
The Hidden Costs of NOT Upgrading NAV
Obsolete Technology
Asset Overhead
Customizations are assets, value added features that satisfy a need by the client. The value of these assets was evaluated at the time the feature was requested, approved, and implemented. At the time, it seemed like an awesome feature, and, over time, it was forgotten or taken for granted and perhaps now seems like a standard feature of NAV itself. The value from the benefits of the feature continue on and have now fully covered the cost. However, customizations are not “do it and forget about it”. Customizations are perpetually managed forever.Think of customizations as assets that require maintenance and care over time. They will forever be managed code. They will always be merged into new code during every upgrade. It can be a simple automated task, and usually is. However, old, obsolete, or incompatible code can be tricky to merge and add time to an upgrade.
The code might even have to be refactored (re-written) to accommodate new technology, or a new customization, or a code change introduced by an upgrade, add-on or even a HotFix. During an upgrade, merging these customizations into Microsoft’s new code, is a major part of the upgrade. In fact, if there were no customizations, an upgrade would be a trivial task; perhaps taking just a handful of hours, depending on training and server setup.The cost of an upgrade is largely dependent on how many customizations(assets) are involved. The cost to manage these assets will always be higher when upgrades are not done consistently. This is due to the Code Debt factor. In this sense, upgrading can be thought of literally as Asset Management.
Code Debt
Unnecessary costs associated with customizations can be mitigated by always upgrading to the latest version of NAV. I call these unnecessary costs, Code Debt.During the merge process, some code will merge automatically using various tools. However, some customized code requires developer interaction, sometimes re-writing the code. Some code becomes obsolete and is removed. Other times, it might be a customization for a feature that Microsoft has subsequently introduced in their base code. Either way, during the upgrade process, the code is somewhat cleaned up and likely in better shape for the next upgrade. It’s much easier for a developer to refactor to code from a one-step upgrade path than it is to try and figure out how to merge code into a version that is two or more upgrade paths away – linear vs circuitous.Code Debt Example: Client is procrastinating an upgrade, yet wants some of the functionality of the new version. Somehow, the client talks a Solution Center into implementing a customization that does the same thing in their current (old) version of NAV.
I call this the “Borrowing Forward” Anti-Pattern. When it comes time to upgrade, this will invariably create a data conversion task and a code re-factor. The “Borrowing Forward” anti-pattern will always add to Code Debt. The Upgrade is where the Code Debt interest comes due! Code Debt is perpetuated and compounded by Upgrade Procrastination. A good analogy would be Credit Cards that have zero percent interest for 12 months, then change to 35%. It would be wise to eliminate your debt before 12 months.
Human Resource Atrophy
Users will use the technology given to them. They will get really good at using this technology, potentially to a flaw.Users could be happy with ancient technology, as long as they are comfortable using it, or they’ve been using it forever and they’re used to it. Meanwhile, their competition is moving on and running their businesses with the latest supportable, scalable, and superior technology. The user is missing out on technology that’s full of new features and power and losing out on learning to use and talking about the new technology.A staff of users that are really good at the old stuff, but have no exposure to the new and/or current stuff are risking atrophy of certain parts of their brain, or entire parts of the staff. Sounds extreme. I believe it’s true. Sadly, it will go unnoticed due to the rapid pace of technology in our society.
The symptoms will be denial, frustration, apathy, and eventually, thoughts of an early retirement. (Side note: I’ve been known to exagerate to make a point.)Microsoft is constantly adding new features in NAV. Users that are on the most current version of NAV will be ahead of the curve with respect to the latest technology. Many of the most awesome features in the latest version of NAV contain usability functionality that users will find familiar in all user interfaces, including Web Browsers, Phone OS’s, Mail App’s, Music App’s, etc. By perpetually procrastinating upgrades, users will be missing a cross platform training opportunity. What users are learning on their own by simply browsing the Web, organizing their pictures, or downloading music, can be applied to the latest NAV interface.
Support and Maintenance Cost
What is never talked about in upgrade cost discussions is how users will directly benefit from the latest enhancements to the Development Environment, Debugger, Code Designer, Report Capabilities, External Integration Tools, Data Access, etc. Why would anybody care about the Development Environment except the developer? Well, every issue resolution or customization will require the Development Designer. That is where the magic happens. Cost savings due to efficiencies in the latest designer are directly passed on to the client. The latest Development Designer allows the developer to perform complex coding tasks and issue analysis much faster than in previous versions of NAV, directly affecting the cost of every single issue analysis, resolution, and feature request. If the issue or feature is for an older version of NAV, any development, at the very least, perpetuates the old technology, adding to code debt and ultimately making it harder to upgrade. At worst, it technologically limits the development options and requires more work for the developer, adding cost to the client. Either way, this adds to a Code Debt snowball effect. If the client is on the latest NAV version, developers who are tasked with solving an issue or satisfying requests for a new feature are not constrained to the limits that are inherent in old technology.
Finally, and selfishly…
Developers simply like working in the latest development environment. So, make a developer (me) happy. Please upgrade!
Find out what it will cost for your upgrade, request your free upgrade quote today!