ANSWER
Which legacy process should you retire first?
Reviewed .
The first legacy process to retire should be recurring, based on relatively stable rules, have comparable inputs and outputs, a reliable read path, an operational owner and executable rollback. It should create enough value to matter without being the most irreversible or critical flow in the company. The first wedge proves the method; it does not need to win the largest migration.
Step by step
- List recurring processes and remove ad hoc work or judgment-heavy flows without a baseline.
- Test read access, data quality and the ability to compare outputs.
- Confirm an owner, approver, operational window and rollback condition.
- Score value, risk, reversibility and integration effort separately.
- Choose the smallest process that creates reusable evidence for the next one.
How an agent does this
AgenticosCore Exit Score applies five gates: reliable read access, comparable outputs, stable rules, named owner and rollback. A blocker returns no-fit-for-now or reduces scope; volume alone never selects the first case.
Frequently asked questions
Should I start with the most expensive process?
Not necessarily. High cost does not compensate for an irreversible, ownerless or non-comparable process.
Is reconciliation a good first case?
It can be when inputs and outputs are tabular, rules are known and human review of exceptions remains available.
Primary sources
- Managing legacy technology — UK Government
- Guidance on the Legacy IT Risk Assessment Framework — UK Government