How to adopt a low code digital transformation approach

Adopting a low code digital transformation approach

Digital transformation is critical to future commercial and organisational success. It updates and streamlines your processes and systems to make your organisation fully customer-driven, using technology to power better experiences for everyone who comes into contact with you. 

There’s no argument against the fact that every company should be looking at this – but should you also be looking at a low code digital transformation approach?

What is digital transformation?

IBM defines digital transformation as an approach that, “… uses AI, automation, hybrid cloud and other digital technologies to leverage data and drive intelligent workflows, faster and smarter decision-making, and real-time response to market disruptions. And ultimately, it changes customer expectations and creates new business opportunities.”

Many companies have already embraced digital transformation, or have even built their businesses in a digital-first environment. However, a large number of businesses are still considering the best approach, or have made a start, but are not sure where to go next.

Let’s face it, for anything except the simplest business, digital transformation can be complex and time-consuming. 

For digital transformation to fully succeed it requires::

• detailed analysis and mapping of existing processes and approaches 
• ensuring you are meeting the relevant regulatory or legislative requirements associated with your business, 
• adding protections against data theft and other cybersecurity issues
• researching, testing, assessing and choosing the digital solutions that will form your digital transformation
• onboarding the new technology, training staff, and managing a cultural process of change.

And that’s a lot to consider when your business is also trying to focus on generating new sales, and keeping existing customers happy. So how can you make all of this easier?

One area that is gaining popularity is the Low Code approach, so much so that it is already being described as a Revolution. Read our guide on the Low Code Revolution here.

What is a Low Code Digital Transformation approach?

Whilst Digital Transformation usually involves software and apps that have solutions “out of the box”, most companies will want or need to customise them in some way.

A low code development approach is a framework for customised software and app development that has been specifically designed to work without the need for specialist coding knowledge. Think of low code as providing the building blocks of various functions that can then be pieced together to perform a specific task. That way, staff across your business can create, edit and optimise solutions to make their day-to-day work more efficient, without the need for an IT / coding specialist to do it for them.

How Low code development enables digital transformation when working with limited resources

In many cases, digital transformation is being managed by internal teams – and most often, the IT department. Resources – from personnel to budget – are likely to be limited, and companies want to get the most for every pound, euro or dollar they spend. Add to that the demands of business units, partners, shareholders and customers, and it’s easy to see why companies going through a digital transformation are looking for ways to reduce time and budget while increasing useful output.

That’s where low-code digital transformation has a place. 

It requires fewer skilled developers and uses dedicated platforms to product technology solutions like web apps and wider software solutions. By using pre-built elements, easy-to-use interfaces and straightforward functionality, it makes building technology faster and easier. 

Using low code means you can build strong applications without the long and expensive development cycles often associated with traditional hand coding development. And you are working from pre-existing code libraries that have already been rigorously tested for stability and security.  All of this helps you to manage your digital transformation even with limited resources.

Learn more about the differences between low code vs traditional development.

Why turn to low-code development?

Let’s start with your digital transformation roadmap. This should focus on where you want to be at the end of the process, and the steps you need to take to get there. And it should take into account that there’s no real ‘end’ to this process – it’s all about continuing to give your customers the best possible experience, and making your organisation as efficient as it can be.

The reason that increasing numbers of organisations are turning to low code for digital transformation is because it offers the agile, effective solution that they need.

Faster development cycles – app development is faster with low code than with traditional hand coding. The nature of low code platforms removes the need for programming, allowing developers to concentrate on getting the user experience right. So not only is your development faster, it’s also more focused.

Involve the whole business – historically, development teams have been left alone by other parts of the business because it has been impossible to see what they do. This has hampered collaboration across organisations and meant that expensive technology hasn’t always hit the mark. The easy-to-understand visual nature of low code development means that the IT department can share progress and work with subject specialists, technical experts and business strategists to develop best-in-class applications that deliver to everyone.

Your budget goes further – Digital transformation is expensive. So it’s essential that you spend your budget wisely – and have measurable results to show for your spend. Using low code is significantly less expensive than outsourcing to expensive development consultants. You’ll be able to get more functionality, additional advice and better results for your money.

Future-proof your business – this kind of transformation is for life, not just for the next year. So any applications you build must be updatable, scalable and able to integrate with the other systems you have now – and anything you might use in the future. The best low code platforms allow integration across a range of other software and technologies, giving you the flexibility you need to ensure your transformation keeps pace with change.

Learn more about the benefits of low-code development.

Wherever you are in your digital transformation project – from initial design to troubleshooting existing solutions – we can help. We’re proud partners of OutSystems – one of the most powerful low-code platforms in use – and we can help you to bring cost-effective low-code digital transformation to life.