Yankee Group: The Importance of Regular Software Upgrades

Regular software upgrades are a critical component for extending the life of any commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software. However, upgrades should not be done too often because this will disrupt regular business operations and negatively affect the stability of operations. So when is the right time for software upgrades? It is an extremely important question because understanding the optimum time for a client to undergo a Version-to-Version (V-to-V) upgrade is critical for operators that want to decrease their cost of ownership and reduce time, cost and complexity associated with the upgrade project.

In this report, Yankee Group looks at the key steps of a V-to-V upgrade strategy. Yankee Group also investigates why carriers delay their upgrade process, discuss the critical components of successful upgrades (the six Ts). In addition, based on primary and secondary research (which includes carrier interviews), Yankee Group quantifys the optimal time for upgrading, which will enable operators to lower their total cost of ownership for COTS software.