Alternative to ‘Buy versus Build’: Low-code/No-code Platforms
As business leaders forge ahead with digital transformation, they are faced with the conundrum of ‘buy versus build’. Whether to purchase off-the-shelf solutions or build something from scratch, they must consider time and budget constraints, and the availability of IT resources. Buying a ready-made solution could save an organisation plenty of resources up-front while building a solution from the ground up could provide more long-term benefits.
However, what they both have in common is that traditional ‘buy or build’ approaches often lead to improper use of technologies, ineffective utilisation of technical resources, and ultimately, failed projects. In fact, statistics from Kissflow show that only 30 percent of digital transformation projects achieve their intended value.
Another consideration is IT skills, or the lack thereof. In most of the countries in Asia-Pacific, organisations are assigning developer-related tasks to non-IT team members, according to IDC’s Low Code/No Code: Asia/Pacific Market Trends Report showing that only 30% of digital transformation projects achieve their target.
It was found within Kissflow’s research that 90% of tech leaders in Southeast Asia view improving app development as a key step towards successful digital transformation. 33% mentioned that app development takes over 6 months due to inadequate platforms.
The arrival of low-code/no-code platforms
These days, however, there is a third option: low-code or no-code platforms. Promising to empower businesses in building their own tailored solutions without the need of extensive coding skills, these platforms are reshaping the digital transformation landscape.
The core of low-code/no-code platforms is the idea of building intricate structures using prefabricated building blocks. This removes the complexities of traditional construction of applications. Users are presented with a simple drag-and-drop interface, allowing anyone with any level of technical skill to assemble a custom application using pre-built functionalities.
This allows more effective distribution of IT resources, optimisation of time and budget, and a solution to the ongoing IT skills gaps. Kissflow found that 83% of global respondents have active citizen development programs, with 56% prioritising and funding these initiatives. While 92% of tech leaders see citizen development as a crucial strategy for achieving digital transformation goals, 62% believe this strategy accelerates digital transformation by empowering more employees and fostering innovation.
Low-code/no-code platforms can revolutionise an organisation’s digital transformation journey in these ways:
- Quicker to market
Where traditional software development is resource-intensive and time-consuming, low-code/no-code platforms minimise the time needed for development. Integration is made easy and there is no need for extensive coding skills. Companies can deploy new applications and features quickly, giving them a competitive advantage in a dynamic market.
- Better flexibility and agility
Unfortunately, traditional software solutions struggle to keep up with development in the digital era of constant evolution. Low-code/no-code platforms shine as a better alternative as they offer better flexibility in adapting existing applications to business needs. Companies are empowered to be more responsive to marketing demands and stay agile in the face of unexpected disruptions.
- Fosters collaborations between IT and business
Traditionally, IT professionals have been the sole guardians of software development. Now, low-code/no-code platforms allow everyone to contribute their domain expertise into the application development process. With coding experience no longer being a prerequisite for participating in development, IT and business users can work more closely together to build better, more impactful solutions.
- Lowers Costs and Dependence on IT
Low-code/no-code platforms are a cost-effective alternative to the build-from-scratch approach. It eliminates the need for specialised IT or coding skills. This reduces organisation-wide dependency on IT teams, freeing up valuable talent that can be redirected towards more critical activities.
Sectors where low-code/no-code shines:
Decarbonising via digital transformation
A leading Filipino conglomerate was bogged down by manual approval workflows that relied on email and physical forms, making tracking a nightmare. This led to delayed approvals and requests getting lost in the chaos.
Enlisting the help of Kissflow to unify their existing processes, the company managed to automate over a hundred office processes, allowing them to process over 1,000 paper-less approvals per month and significantly reduce their carbon footprint. The organisation’s next goal is to create visibility into their vendor operations.
Securing the market via automation
With over 40 million users in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, one of the largest education company in Southeast Asia needed to accelerate its business growth. They required a comprehensive procurement process with a system that was intuitive and easy for their employees to use. They also needed a centralised system to improve end-to-end visibility.
The learning institution easily made the jump from manual procurement to a fully digital workflow using Kissflow’s platform, enabling end-to-end visibility and a streamlined purchasing approval process via customised workflows.
Powering customer satisfaction with No-code/Low-code
One of India’s largest jewellery retailers sought to retain customer loyalty and trust by improving communications between teams across the country in various offices and warehouses. Their post-order system was tedious for both customers and employees, and there was a lack of accountability built into the manual workflow housed on spreadsheets.
With an IT team that was already stretched thin and a lack of developers to create a custom solution, they turned to Kissflow. The jeweller managed to build custom applications that fit their specific needs within just a few days. This resulted in increased customer satisfaction and improved accountability with no additional dependency on their IT team.
AI Future Trends and Predictions
Looking ahead, the intersection of low-code/no-code platforms with growing AI capabilities will result in a rise of a “Builder Class”. The next generation of AI assistants and co-pilots will be deeply personalised to individual users and their unique needs and behaviours. As each new iteration of AI assistants is driven by a shift towards bespoke, user-centric AI, the next generation of “builders” will have higher expectations of their tools to be intuitive and customisable – all of which are enabled via AI.
