DM Sep-Oct 2022

Dm STRATEGY: LOW-CODE
"IF YOU DON'T PURSUE THE LOW- AND NO-CODE PATH, YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DELIVERY IS LIKELY TO
CONTINUE DEGRADING UNTIL YOU DO. AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS AND IMPROVE
YOUR EFFICIENCY - AND WHAT BUSINESS ISN'T? - THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS IN TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES
WILL ULTIMATELY FORCE YOU DOWN THIS ROUTE, EVEN IF NOTHING ELSE DOES."
automation provides the ability to create
applications that are specifically targeted
at solving the real pain points of a
particular department.
Imagine how such autonomy is going to
become increasingly important. Gartner
predicts that by 2024, nearly a third of
corporate teams won't be centrally led and
will have shifted to peer-to-peer networkbased
decision-making to save time and
reduce bottlenecks in an increasingly hybrid
working environment.
Under a traditional IT model, these small,
continuous improvements would simply
never happen because even minor changes
would require custom coding from timepoor
software engineers - a low-priority
task that would never get done.
Low- and no-code platforms also take us
into the realm of business process
automation. So, if a department sees an
opportunity to streamline a repetitive,
manual and time-consuming task, its
members can take the initiative to do
something about it. This allows you to
automate even more processes throughout
the business, increasing its efficiency and
long-term resilience.
It's this continuous improvement approach
that in some ways is low-code's 'secret
sauce', since it allows companies to
embrace a start-up mindset that continually
pushes the boundaries of what their
technology can do.
When you have an environment in which
employees have the means to carry out
continuous fine-tuning, this feeds into the
creation of a corporate culture where
excellence in outcomes become the new
focus - and a powerful motivator.
It is also measurably beneficial to IT
teams who can re-prioritise more
complex development projects and
innovative custom solutions that deliver
maximum ROI.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Of course, adopting a low-code approach is
not without its challenges.
Businesses across most sectors have yet to
fully grasp what a transformational impact
low-code software could have on their
operations. Some are naturally wary as to
whether low-code automation platforms
can deliver the quality software that's
needed. Such trust issues will resolve as this
approach increasingly gains traction.
After all, what other way is there when a
traditional approach to building and
enhancing applications can't keep pace
with demand? If you don't pursue the lowand
no-code path, your customer service
delivery is likely to continue degrading until
you do. And if you are looking to
streamline operations and improve your
efficiency - and what business isn't? - the
potential savings in time, money and
resources will ultimately force you down
this route, even if nothing else does.
While low-code does away with the need
to write code, some technical
understanding is required. You will still
need enough skilled low-code automation
practitioners to sustain any initiative. It
would certainly be a skill worth acquiring
for employees looking to broaden their
own expertise.
Low-code is an opportunity for
organisations to reshape their IT functions
completely so that they become more
worker- and customer-centric. But, for it to
fulfil its potential, teams must be
empowered to develop the applications
they need and not feel their efforts are
being choked by bureaucracy.
Not all business leaders are comfortable
giving their workforce the freedom and
scope for this kind of organic software
growth. Some will be hesitant because of
concerns about potential security breaches
when app development becomes
distributed in this way. Others may fear a
loss of control over what is being done,
which is why appropriate reporting
protocols must be instituted alongside any
low-code initiative to give senior managers
a transparent overview of all that is
happening, its effectiveness and its security.
LOW-CODE IS THE FUTURE
Using low- and no-code platforms allows
organisations to tap into an exceptionally
powerful development tool that enables
them to drive technology into the fabric of
the business. Suddenly, IT can be deployed
rapidly to where it's needed, continually
adding to an organisation's technology
richness in a way not possible with a
traditional model where the specialist team
takes the lead on all things software.
Are low- and no-code platforms a magic
bullet? Not always. For instance, if you are
looking to overhaul your legacy systems,
you may find integration with existing
software solutions difficult. But, if your
requirements are more focused in scope, a
low-code platform that lets users build
whatever application they require - with
minimal coding - is an excellent way to
accelerate your automation journey and
inject new momentum into your digital
transformation.
More info: www.hyland.com
24 September/October 2022 www.document-manager.com
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