TL;DR:
- Software Intelligence (SI) helps legacy enterprises navigate complex codebases quickly.
- CAST’s SI tools map entire application ecosystems in minutes using 3D visualizations.
- AI integration with SI enables legacy modernization at unprecedented speed.
- Companies like Marsh McLennan are reducing months-long projects to minutes.
- SI is now a CEO-level conversation, unlocking start-up agility for large enterprises.
Big Companies, Bigger Code Problems
For decades, legacy enterprises were bogged down by outdated code. Making changes or launching new features required months of discovery, often riddled with trial-and-error. As nimble start-ups claimed market share, the giants struggled with slow, manual code navigation.
That dynamic is shifting.
Software Intelligence (SI) is emerging as a transformational tool. Much like military intelligence on a battlefield, SI enables organizations to map, visualize, and manage their codebases—no matter how complex.
What Is Software Intelligence?
At its core, Software Intelligence uses advanced analysis to scan source code across single or multiple applications, creating 3D maps and dashboards of dependencies, technical debt, and potential flaws.
These maps allow developers to:
- Identify on-premise code that won’t scale in the cloud.
- Prioritize tech debt by remediation time and business impact.
- Pinpoint security risks in third-party or open-source code.
As CAST’s product manager Greg Rivera explains, “You’re no longer navigating blind. SI gives teams GPS-level clarity over their software ecosystems.”
CAST and the 100 Billion Line Edge
CAST, a leader in the SI space, has examined over 100 billion lines of code across industries. From this data, CAST has extracted 50,000+ recurring software patterns, building a deep library of how systems evolve and degrade over time.
This insight has powered CAST’s tools to guide CIOs, architects, and developers through even the most outdated or fragmented environments. These tools help streamline:
- Cloud migrations
- Application modernization
- Risk management and compliance
And now, with the integration of AI, things are accelerating even more.
AI + SI: A Match Made for Modernization
While AI excels at generating new code, it struggles with legacy modernization—until now. AI needs a clear understanding of an application’s structure to make accurate, safe changes. That’s where Software Intelligence comes in.
By feeding SI-generated data into AI models, organizations can now allow machines to handle:
- Code optimization
- Security patching
- Modularization and documentation
This synergy played out at Marsh McLennan, a global insurance and risk giant.
Case Study: Marsh McLennan’s Modernization in Minutes
In a proof of concept, Marsh McLennan used CAST’s platform to analyze legacy apps across multiple layers of their tech stack. The results were fed to AI, which:
- Understood code structure and interdependencies
- Suggested and implemented changes to reduce technical debt
- Completed work in minutes that would typically take months
“Hundreds of objects requiring coding changes were remediated,” said Paul Beswick, CIO at Marsh McLennan. “The process that could have taken a few months was cut to a few minutes.”
This example illustrates how SI + AI can convert time-intensive modernization into automated, scalable operations.
Why Start-Ups Should Care Too
Start-ups aren’t immune to the technical drag of fast coding. Often in the early stages, code is written to work fast—not scale. That results in fragile architectures as companies grow.
Greg Rivera notes:
“The codebase that gets you to ‘one’ usually has to be rewritten to get you to scale. That’s where SI can help—by identifying what’s salvageable, and what must be rebuilt.”
Even nimble companies can now adopt SI to refactor efficiently before scaling.
Software Intelligence Is Now Boardroom Intelligence
As companies compete on digital speed, Software Intelligence is gaining traction not just in IT departments, but at the C-suite and board levels. It’s becoming a strategic enabler—offering:
- Faster time-to-market
- Improved ROI on modernization efforts
- Reduced risk during tech transitions
Large or small, organizations that want to scale their software with confidence are now prioritizing SI-enabled ecosystems.
The Data
| Key Metric | Value | Source |
| Legacy codebase scanned by CAST | 100 billion+ lines | CAST Software |
| Repeated software patterns identified | 50,000+ | CAST Software |
| Time saved during modernization (Marsh McLennan) | Months → Minutes | Marsh McLennan |
| % of developer work spent on existing code | 80% | CAST Insights |
Final Thoughts
The age of software opacity is ending. With Software Intelligence, enterprises are no longer locked in slow, manual code rewrites. They can now see, understand, and optimize their entire digital landscape—and pair it with AI for exponential acceleration.
Whether you’re a billion-dollar corporation or a pre-Series A start-up, clarity is your new competitive edge.
