When it comes to building and maintaining apps for your business, you have two primary options: outsourcing app development to a third-party vendor or using a lowcode platform. While both approaches have their advantages, many CIOs are now opting for the latter due to its ability to accelerate digital transformation and enhance agility.
The Challenges of Outsourcing
In recent years, I've had the opportunity to speak with numerous CIOs and IT Heads who have expressed concerns about outsourcing app development to vendors. These concerns include the time-consuming nature of managing outsourced projects, the reliance on a third-party vendor for implementation, and the limitations imposed by using ready-made SaaS products. As one CIO from the food and beverage industry astutely pointed out, outsourcing can be like trying to change the course of a giant ship – a slow and cumbersome process.
The Benefits of Lowcode Platforms
In contrast, lowcode platforms offer a more agile and efficient approach to app development. With these platforms, you can cut down on development time by leveraging ready components that facilitate a drag-and-drop approach for building UI models. Many lowcode platforms also provide prebuilt connectors to various data sources, making it easier to implement business logic and processes.
One of the key benefits of lowcode platforms is their ability to streamline change management. With traditional technologies like .Net or Angular, changes can be time-consuming to implement. However, with a lowcode platform, you can simply click a button to publish an app update, eliminating the need for lengthy deployment cycles.
Addressing Shadow IT Concerns
Another significant advantage of lowcode platforms is their ability to address concerns around shadow IT. By providing capabilities such as multi-factor authentication, data leakage prevention, and single sign-on, lowcode platforms enable CIOs to enforce security policies and control data access – giving them complete control over the environment.
Empowering Business Leaders
Lowcode platforms also empower business leaders by enabling them to build apps and workflows on their own. This democratization of app development frees up IT resources, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives and meet digital transformation KPIs with a leaner team.
Implementing a Lowcode Strategy
To get the most out of a lowcode platform, CIOs should implement a multi-step strategy that begins by identifying candidate use cases. Start by tackling non-critical apps and workflows, leaving critical applications untouched in the initial period. Prioritize app development based on feasibility, team skills, business contribution, and more.
In conclusion, when it comes to building and maintaining apps for your business, lowcode platforms offer a more agile and efficient approach than traditional outsourcing strategies. By leveraging the benefits of lowcode platforms, you can accelerate digital transformation, enhance agility, and empower business leaders – all while reducing the risk associated with shadow IT.