The generative AI accelerates IT modernization, reduces costs, boosts productivity and allows companies to innovate faster by relying on flexible infrastructures.
According to Gartner forecasts, global expenses in information technology should increase by 9.3 % in 2025, reflecting the growing importance given to digital transformation (1) . In France, the modernization of IT systems has become a strategic lever for companies wishing to improve their productivity and competitiveness. This modernization also allows better use of data, thus accelerating the innovation and development of new products and services. For example, the integration of artificial intelligence and automation optimizes internal processes, providing greater flexibility to businesses. Invest in the modernization of IT systems is essential for French companies wishing to remain competitive and innovative in a global market in full digital transformation. We note that among customers, Legacy applications, although they have been reliable for decades, become brakes as soon as they have to integrate into modern technologies or meet agility requirements. This is where generative AI completely changes the situation, transforming not only applications, but also their future potential.
Artificial intelligence at the heart of the digital transformation of companies
According to McKinsey, companies that adopt advanced digital technologies increase their productivity by 20 % to 25 % (2) compared to those that do not adopt them. Indeed, modernized IT systems are much more efficient (3). Thanks to more fluid and automated data management, IT systems reduce processing times and increase productivity. They accelerate innovation by facilitating access and integration of data. This can take several forms, for example, by automating repetitive processes thanks to the generative AI, they were able to shorten the development cycles and release their teams so that they focus on innovative projects.
Effective modernization to boost productivity and reduce technical debt
McKinsey’s recent research emphasizes that generative artificial intelligence makes it possible to accelerate computer modernization processes from 40 % to 50 % and reduce costs related to 40 % technological debt (3). This approach significantly reduces the need for manual interventions, allowing IT teams to focus on high added value tasks. McKinsey also notes that 71 % of the value generated by the transformations of activities comes from technologies, which shows the strategic importance of IT modernization. This type of success proves that modern tools, when associated with a clear strategy, transform not only applications but also long -term organizational capacities.
Reduce IT costs by optimizing existing infrastructure
A Cisco survey indicates that companies that invest in modern IT infrastructure reduce their operational costs from 15 % to 20 % on average. For his part, McKinsey reports that financial institutions which provided for modernization costs exceeding $ 100 million were able to reduce them by more than half thanks to the adoption of the generative AI (3). This confirms the strategic interest of investing in technologies capable of transforming technical debt into a competitive advantage. We have often noticed that a large part of the costs comes from what is called “technical debt” – decisions inherited from the past which today slows innovations. The generative AI acts as a catalyst here, by automating the resolution of these problems, whether optimization of code or migration to the cloud.
Towards a more agile company with flexible architectures and intelligent agents
This same survey carried out by Gartner stresses that 63 % of business leaders estimate that the modernization of the IT infrastructure significantly improves the flexibility and the agility of their business. We note that the adoption of modern architectures, such as microservices and APIs, combined with smart agents, gives customers unprecedented agility. For example, these migrations include “self-referral” systems capable of identifying problems, proposing solutions to humans or correcting ineffectures and errors in real time. This allows teams to focus on differentiating customer services. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has just set up a microservice architecture and robust APIs, facilitating data exchanges and allowing new banking services to be launched more quickly. This type of agile organization is essential to quickly adapt to market developments and effectively respond to customer needs.
Accelerate innovation by combining generative and API cloud
To succeed in a constantly evolving environment, it is essential to quickly deploy innovative solutions and products. According to a BCG report, companies that invest in modern IT infrastructures are able to react 33 % faster to market changes, which gives them a significant competitive advantage. The combination of the cloud and generative AI becomes a real engine of innovation. But it is important not to be satisfied with a simple migration or a “lift and shift”, but to use platforms that go beyond the simple migration of data and which help organizations to build agile and secure ecosystems, prepared for future deployments.
Rethink modernization to create real business value
Modernizing is not limited to copying obsolete systems to new platforms. Such an approach, often qualified as “code and load”, is too superficial: it does not solve the underlying problems and does not exploit the potential offered by new technologies. The objective must be to review the processes to create real business value. In this perspective, data management platforms exist today on the market and make it possible to process and secure operational data in real time, while facilitating the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI. We often emphasize customers about the importance of a redesigned modernization around business objectives. It is not only a question of technology: it is an opportunity to reinvent internal processes so that they are more agile, more efficient and better aligned with customer needs.
Automate modernization thanks to AI to innovate faster and better serve customers
For example, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has considerably reduced its costs and accelerated its innovation cycle by modernizing its agent delivery system. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as the analysis and reshuffle of the code, made it possible to transfer up to 90 % of the workload to intelligent tools, thus reducing the overall costs of the project of a ten factor compared to traditional approaches. At the same time, personalized scripts have reduced the duration of tests from more than 80 hours to only five minutes (4).
To achieve these results, the bank has bet on key tactics:
Passage to microservices and APIs: by breaking down the functionality and facilitating data exchange, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has been able to gain flexibility and scalability, translated by a faster marketing of new services.
Use a unified data platform: this is the guarantee of centralization of operational data while guaranteeing a high level of security and availability, and simplifying the integration of new applications.
The generative AI to automate modernization: thanks to tailor -made scripts and prompt, development teams are more focused on innovation, leaving the management of repetitive operations to the tools.
A targeted approach that not only improves customer experience – by offering more relevant and accessible services – but also optimizing the allocation of internal resources, which can then work on high added value projects.
References:
(1) Gartner – Top Technology Trends 2025
(2) Forbes – Modernization of computer systems: a strategic lever for more productive, agile and innovative French companies
(3) McKinsey – Ai for it Modernization: Faster, Cheaper, and Better
(4) MongoDB – Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Partners with Mongodb to Modernize Core Banking Technology Using Ai
