IT Experts in Action: Future-proofing Your ERP Investments with Rimini Connect

Desmond Whitt
Vice President & General Manager, Rimini Connect Solutions
3 min read

In the rapidly evolving world of IT, ensuring systems remain robust, reliable, and adaptable is no small feat. In this interview, I recall one of our clients that found themselves grappling with this challenge as they approached a massive ERP implementation project. The original budget? Over a billion dollars. The timeline? Ten years.  

In ten years, those systems might already require another overhaul. By crafting custom-fit solutions like  Rimini Connect, we enable clients to extend the life and value of their systems. This approach allows them to operate with familiar, reliable software while staying compatible with modern technologies, like updated operating systems, browsers, and email platforms, without constant reinvestment. 

Watch the full video to find out how Rimini Connect gives our clients options to get maximum value out of their software investments. 

Preventing fragility with resilience

I’ve been involved in the IT space and supporting ERP applications for a really long time. Starting out back with Oracle in the early nineties, I was one of the first 500 DBAs that were certified by Oracle. In my 13 years at Rimini Street, I’ve been mostly focused on helping our larger accounts on the infrastructure side of the business. 

Over time, one of the most pressing concerns I see for IT leaders is system fragility. What makes systems brittle? What can make them more resilient? One example lies in the evolution of virtualization. When VMware introduced virtualization over 20 years ago, it revolutionized IT operations. Companies could run multiple programs on less hardware, saving costs and increasing flexibility. If hardware failed, virtualization allowed seamless migration to new hardware. Over time, this concept has shifted upward in the stack, moving from hardware to applications. 

Today, our focus is on protecting applications from disruptions in their supporting structures, such as operating systems or browsers. By introducing layers of isolation between applications and these underlying systems, we’re able to help shield critical operations from potential failures or interoperability issues. This is the philosophy behind our Rimini Connect products — providing options and flexibility to maintain resilience at the application level. 

For example, Rimini Connect™ for Browsers, grew out of helping a client address an ERP system that didn’t support Safari, frustrating the client who preferred Apple products. The vendor refused to adapt and had no plans to develop compatibility options for them. So, we did. We developed and patented a browser solution prototype that became the product that clients know and love today.  

Bringing expertise to the table

Ultimately, the cornerstone of our approach is experience. When tackling a client’s challenge, we bring our collective expertise to the table, ready to assess, strategize, and implement. Many of our clients just aren’t aware of these possibilities. They assume that they have to do the upgrade to the next version to maintain compatibility. In many cases, we can just put this server in the middle, and it works – without upgrading, downtime, or learning a new interface. For example, if a client’s operating system becomes outdated, they shouldn’t have to overhaul their ERP system just to accommodate a new version of Chrome. That’s where our solutions shine, ensuring compatibility and longevity without unnecessary reinvestment. 

Looking ahead, IT resilience will depend increasingly on application-level protections. While hardware concerns are largely a thing of the past, new vulnerabilities are emerging in operating systems and application environments. By building solutions that insulate applications from these risks, we’re paving the way for more adaptable systems. Our mission is clear: empower clients to protect their investments while remaining agile in an ever-changing technological landscape. Whether it’s safeguarding against cyberattacks or ensuring compatibility with evolving tech, our solutions provide the resilience modern businesses need to thrive. Learn more about Rimini Connect interoperability solutions now 

Key Takeaways

Rimini Connect empowers organizations to extend the life and value of their ERP systems by ensuring compatibility with modern technologies without requiring frequent upgrades or reinvestment, providing cost-effective longevity. Watch its inventor explain how Rimini Connect for Browsers works.  

Schedule a Rimini Connect demo to see how our innovative technology enables seamless interoperability.

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FAQs

How does Rimini Connect help businesses extend the life of their ERP systems? 

Rimini Connect enables businesses to maintain their current ERP systems by ensuring compatibility with evolving technologies, such as new operating systems, browsers, and email platforms. This approach avoids costly upgrades, reduces downtime, and allows organizations to maximize the value of their software investments. 

What makes Rimini Connect products unique in addressing system fragility? 

Rimini Connect products allow more options for our clients. They can run combinations of systems that are not possible without these products. We do this by introducing layers of isolation between applications and underlying systems, such as operating systems or browsers. This ensures critical operations remain resilient, even when underlying systems change or fail. By protecting applications from disruptions, Rimini Connect enhances flexibility and reliability. 

Can Rimini Connect solutions eliminate the need for constant application upgrades while modernizing? 

Yes. Rimini Connect provides alternatives to traditional upgrade paths by implementing solutions that address compatibility challenges without requiring system overhauls. For example, when an operating system or browser becomes outdated and requires an update, Rimini Connect enables continued functionality of existing software without the downtime normally required for software upgrades or the need to learn a new interface. 

Desmond Whitt

Vice President & General Manager, Rimini Connect Solutions