2025 Consulting Milestones: Modernising IT for Belgian Public Service

 As I reflect on 2025, I am struck by the momentum and depth of change that characterised my consulting experience with a Belgian public service organisation. Three major initiatives stood out, each building on the other to form a comprehensive modernisation journey. 

Addressing Technical Debt: Foundations for the Future 

The year began with a continued drive to refurbish the information system, focusing on resolving technical debt. In IT, technical debt refers to the accumulated consequences of shortcuts and outdated solutions from earlier development cycles. Left unchecked, it can slow innovation and increase the risk of system failure. Throughout the year, we made targeted improvements: refactoring legacy code, replacing aging components, and introducing best practices in system design. This foundational work was essential in preparing the ground for more ambitious changes ahead. 

Architectural Modernisation: Adopting the Power Platform 

Building on this, we initiated a major architectural transformation by selecting Microsoft Power Platform as our new technological backbone. The Power Platform, known for its low-code capabilities, offered powerful tools for automation, data analysis, and custom application development. This strategic choice was informed by our assessment of the organisation’s needs and a desire to future-proof our systems. The transition brought opportunities for the teams to upskill and adopt innovative ways of working—setting the stage for faster, more reliable digital services. 

Launching the Project: A Three-Year Roadmap 

With both the groundwork and vision in place, we kicked off the project with the creation of a detailed three-year decommissioning roadmap. This plan laid out the phased retirement of obsolete applications and technologies, ensuring that every critical function would be rebuilt or migrated to the new stack. The roadmap balanced immediate operational needs with long-term sustainability, providing a clear path for teams to follow and regular milestones to ensure progress. Throughout this phase, transparent communication and collaboration across stakeholders were crucial to keep everyone aligned and motivated. 

In summary, 2025 was a pivotal year. By tackling technical debt, embracing next-generation technologies, and mapping out a strategic transition, we laid the groundwork for ongoing innovation and reliable public service delivery. The lessons and structures built this year will undoubtedly shape the organisation’s digital future. 

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