Ignite the digitalisation turbo with low-code

Author: Stefan Brotzler, Director Enterprise Sales DACH at Mendix

Whether developing industry-specific applications or automating internal processes, low-code can be used in a wide range of applications. Initial best practices generally show very quickly that low-code can be used not only to develop individual applications or create connectors and other building blocks for digital business transformation. Low-code can also be used to tackle the most complex business requirements, such as the modernisation of legacy systems or the creation of new digital business models. This is because the technology offers a wide range of benefits that companies can use to give their digitalisation efforts the overdue boost they need to remain competitive.

IT backlogs are a thing of the past

The digitalisation train is picking up speed year after year. To ensure that companies are not left behind, digital solutions need to be provided faster and on a larger scale. But with IT projects that sometimes take years to complete, this is a major challenge. With visual modelling using drag-and-drop, prefabricated components, automation options, one-click deployment and assistance bots, speed is the foundation of any low-code platform. This is because low-code allows intuitive application creation even without programming skills. In fact, low-code can reduce development time by up to 90 per cent. This can turn years into months or even weeks.

Collaboration to combat the shortage of IT specialists

The inherent value of low-code is that it brings professional developers and other non-technical teams together in a collaborative environment using a visual language. This is beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, IT resources can be utilised in a more targeted manner when working in so-called “fusion teams” made up of developers and technically minded people from the specialist departments. Secondly, the quality of the solutions developed increases. This is because close collaboration and direct coordination close communication gaps from the outset and applications are created precisely in line with specific requirements. If these change ad hoc, for example, it can be ensured that this is immediately taken into account in the development process and that the final version covers the current requirements. The participation of the various stakeholders, including the end users, contributes to significantly accelerated development. The IT department therefore has more time to devote to complex tasks that require their specific expertise. They are no longer the bottleneck for technological progress in the company because their capacities are expanded by experts from other departments.

To anticipate persistent prejudices against so-called “citizen developers”: Low-code development does not promote shadow IT or the amateurish creation of applications. For example, because IT remains responsible for business-critical modules and applications. It is therefore possible to define the provision, combination and reuse options in advance using rules so that the other team members only use certain components as a “black box”. The available modules and interfaces can then be used on a modular basis, whether for the creation of new applications or the customisation of existing ones. Role-based access rights and control mechanisms that give IT an insight into the entire development lifecycle at all times also ensure that governance is satisfied. Shadow IT tends to spread uncontrollably if IT is unable to fulfil requests promptly and specialist departments end up creating applications and implementing solutions on their own that are not compatible with the rest of the IT landscape or even harbour security risks.

Composability meets agility

Many companies are already familiar with the term “composable enterprise” or “composable business”. These terms were coined by the analyst firm Gartner. This refers to an organisation that has a modular structure in order to be better prepared for increasingly dynamic market conditions in the future and to be able to react to changing customer requirements with agility. “Composability” is therefore relevant for the entire organisation, not just IT. However, low-code can pave the way for this, as it is already characterised by the reusability of modular components. The modular principle not only simplifies and shortens development, but also enables the flexible adaptation and scaling of applications, processes or complete application landscapes. This lays the foundation for organisations that operate in volatile business environments and need to increase their resilience. Low-code acts as a catalyst for building a composable business.

Low-code platforms, such as those from Mendix, also offer tried-and-tested modules that are available in the Marketplace. The community of experienced partners and ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) provide a large selection of customisable out-of-the-box solutions.

Nothing works without artificial intelligence

Nobody can ignore artificial intelligence and generative AI (GenAI) anymore, that much is clear. However, many questions arise for interested companies: Which regulations need to be observed? What added value can AI create in which areas? How do employees need to be trained?

AI is already an important component of holistic low-code platforms, from which companies can benefit directly in order to develop intelligent applications. This is referred to as “AI-enabled” development. This means that the productivity of developers is improved, for example through the use of bots that act as co-developers. On the other hand, there is talk of “AI-enhanced” applications that use AI functionalities to optimise user productivity. These AI functions can be AI services from third-party providers such as AWS or OpenAI, but also self-trained ML models.

Driving innovation with low-code

Low-code is used in the most complex use cases as a key driver of digital transformation and has therefore developed into a core technology that is used in many industries – in manufacturing as well as in retail, the public sector and the financial world.

Low-code does not exclude development with high-code, but can go hand in hand with it – for future-proof applications with a high level of user-friendliness and optimised added value. The shortcomings of outdated core systems and monoliths can also be overcome – in order to realise a modern IT infrastructure that fulfils all business requirements and remains scalable for the requirements of tomorrow.

Low-code democratises and significantly accelerates development. This not only allows IT budgets to be deployed in a more targeted manner and costs to be saved, but also enables entire ecosystems to be digitalised and sustainably transformed. When IT teams no longer spend their resources solely on keeping up with day-to-day tasks and employees can work more efficiently thanks to automated workflows because repetitive tasks are eliminated, there is also time for innovation.