Across health and human services (HHS), leaders understand the urgency of system modernization. Legacy technology creates inefficiencies, limits innovation, and increases risk. Yet the traditional approach—the “big bang” replacement of core systems—has proven risky, costly, and disruptive. Agencies need solutions that address today’s realities: constrained budgets, workforce shortages, and evolving program requirements. Instead of pursuing massive, one-time overhauls, many are finding that incremental modernization powered by emerging technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), offers a smarter, more sustainable path forward.