Low-code development platforms have done a lot to level the playing field and democratize development. In the age of the citizen developer, organizations are no longer held back by a lack of in-house coding expertise and prohibitively lengthy and expensive solution implementation periods.
As well as unlocking a wider world of possibilities and opportunities for businesses everywhere, low-code development has also opened a Pandora’s box, dramatically altering the technology landscape. Now there’s new territory to be navigated, new approaches to be taken, and new considerations for success. Let’s explore.
A new challenge appears
With the advent of low-code, today’s organizations suddenly find themselves in a new arena of competition, surrounded by rivals now arming themselves with new mobile apps, digitally-transformed business operations, and custom software for line-of-business staff: all perfectly designed to give them the (cutting) edge. They’re all eyeing up their competitors and hoping to be the last company standing.
And this new software development paradigm isn’t going back in the box. This new tech arms race will only escalate, as organizations compete to outdo each other’s technological development, building evermore advanced solutions tailored perfectly to their needs thanks to close involvement in development from users and other non-tech-specialists.
Those who don’t keep up risk being fed to the highly unforgiving twin lions of irrelevance and obsolescence. But for the victors, the spoils are potentially immense. Exciting times. Are you ready to enter the fray?
Agility is key to claiming first place
Microsoft’s Power Apps is one such low-code development platform that’s quickly transforming the relationship between businesses and their bespoke software. One massive game-changer is the speed it brings to development, due to its simple drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and built-in advanced logic and rules.
Microsoft says that going down the Power Apps route can reduce the time it takes to create an app by a hefty 70% – and in our extensive experience with the platform, we’d say that was correct. Furthermore, according to a Forrester study released in March 2020, choosing Power Apps can cut development costs by as much as 74%.
What does this turbo-boost to development speed mean for your business? Well, in essence, your technology can now more effectively keep pace with the market, the trends, customer demands, and your competitors. Faster development enables the ability for constant evolution – and that allows you to stay ahead in today’s tech arms race.
Taking control of development and your future
As well as drastically reducing development times, another key benefit of low-code development is that it has allowed businesses to play a far more meaningful role in creating their technology solutions, thanks to a greater level of transparency and involvement in the process.
When you have more insight into the creation process, and can collaborate more with the creators, you can rest assured that the end result does exactly what you need it to. Line-of-business workers, who will be using your new tools every day, can now be there on the development journey, contribute, and make sure all their functionality requirements are fulfilled.
And, once your brand–new custom software is up and running, citizen development means you can still maintain this kind of control on an ongoing basis. With Power Apps, people within your organization are able to add or tweak functionality without always needing to bring in the devs.
Low-code development puts much of the power of creating and updating your solutions into your hands. But rather than trying to do it all unaided, it’s still better for many organizations to enlist a trusted guide.
Partnering with experts who know the way
Software development is uncharted terrain for most businesses, and it’s a little like climbing Mount Everest. Nowadays, you don’t have to be a professional mountaineer to reach the summit, and countless people achieve that feat all the time. But it’s risky not to bring some sherpas (expert mountain guides of the Himalayas) to help you get there.
And that’s where we come in. Bauen Solutions helps all kinds of organizations achieve their ambitions with low-code development platforms like Power Apps. We’ve guided businesses on this journey many times, and we know the places where it’s easy to trip up, or where you can pick up speed or make the climb easier. We want to help you get to the top.
Want to discuss how the Bauen Group can help you unlock the possibilities of the low-code development revolution and empower citizen developers in your own organization? Let’s talk.
