Empower Staff with Low-Code/No-Code Apps
Nobody knows the internal workflows and processes of your business better than your own staff who live and breathe them every day. They know what works, where the glitches are, and what improvements can be made.
They are the ones whose daily lives improve with greater efficiency, who understand the real effects of process problems.
So, who better to design the software applications that bring improvements to your business than the ones most familiar with them?
This is where the Low-Code /No-Code movement comes in and the Microsoft Power Platform can be a game-changer in how software is developed for you.
"Lost in translation"
No more "lost in translation" moments, as requirements are fed through a development team and the application delivered doesn't quite do what the business user wanted.
Now non-technical staff, without any knowledge of coding, can create their own apps, fixing problems for the business, bringing efficiencies in with their own hands-on experience.
The Low-Code/No-Code movement has been gaining ground for some time now but has definitely had a strong acceleration with the pandemic as people who are remote working needed to figure out new ways of working efficiently.
Microsoft's Power Platform has also come to maturity, providing a set of tools and templates that make it simpler for non-developers to build apps. We are seeing a huge surge in such apps being built in areas such as Accountancy, HR, Manufacturing and MedTech.
Crucial Difference
I am often asked what the difference between Low-Code and No-Code is and for some people, they seem interchangeable. But the crucial difference is that No-Code apps can be built with simple point-click-configure modules with literally zero coding to be done, while Low-Code apps require some high level but not too complex coding.
The Power Platform brings both technologies together so that programmers or developers are not required to build the apps, greatly reducing costs and helping people in your business do their day jobs more effectively.
One of the key aspects that is so exciting for many companies is that there is greater opportunity for information sharing with a Common Data Model, In Microsoft's case the Dataverse, which pulls in data from all aspects of a business - suppliers, customers, staff, logistics - into one place, breaking down the silos.
Many Power BI Apps take advantage of this to create new opportunities, such as self-service portals that can provide a window for customers into business systems, automating and simplifying previously manual processes.
Digitally Savvy Champions
The drive of a lot of the use of Low-Code/No-Code is coming from non-technical champions within the organisation, often Millenials who are digitally savvy and keen to see improvements in how they work.
Our advice to companies is to embrace the Microsoft Power Platform but be strategic about it. Storm can help you get started and build apps in the right way with the right security.
There are constant updates from Microsoft, and it is hard to keep up with all the new developments so we can support you in keeping on top of it. Our hands-on consultancy provides the right technical support for those non-technical teams building the apps without being a drain on your IT department.
It is a very exciting time for companies who are investing in cloud technology with incredible opportunities for staff to make a real difference.
To find out how to kick start or accelerate your journey to Low-Code/No-Code design, click here to request a call with a member of our Power Platform team.