The rapid advancement of technology has placed immense pressure on large enterprises to innovate and adapt quickly. One of the significant developments in this realm is the advent of low-code development platforms, which fundamentally transform how businesses approach the creation of applications and workflows, offering a more streamlined and efficient process. These platforms simplify the development cycle through the provision of pre-built components that enable IT professionals to assemble functional applications without extensive hand-coding.
Introduction to Low-Code Development
Low-code development is revolutionizing the way applications are built by offering tools that significantly simplify the process. By utilizing pre-built components, platforms like Mendix and Microsoft Power Platform allow developers to create functional applications without extensive hand-coding, leading to quicker development and deployment. This approach not only speeds up the process but also opens application development to a broader range of individuals within the organization, beyond traditional IT roles. The result is a more agile and responsive development environment that meets the demands of the rapidly changing business landscape.
These platforms are particularly valuable in environments that require fast, iterative changes and where business needs evolve quickly. With low-code development, companies can adapt their applications and workflows in real-time, addressing changing requirements and market conditions promptly. The reduction in complexity and increased speed of delivery are transforming how large enterprises operate, enabling them to focus more on innovation and less on the intricate details of coding.
Gartner’s Prediction and Business Pressure
Gartner predicts that by the end of 2024, 75% of large enterprises will be using at least four low-code development tools. This prediction highlights the escalating importance of low-code platforms in the contemporary business landscape. The pressure on CIOs to drive digital transformation strategies and deliver real-time data access has never been higher. The need to innovate quickly and efficiently is paramount, and low-code development tools have become crucial assets in meeting these demands. They offer the speed, flexibility, and adaptability needed to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced market.
The business pressure to innovate rapidly stems from the ever-increasing expectations of customers and the need for continuous operational improvement. Enterprises must continuously evolve to not only meet these expectations but to stay ahead of industry disruptions. Low-code platforms enable enterprises to implement changes swiftly, ensuring that they can respond proactively to market shifts. This agility is essential for maintaining a competitive edge and achieving long-term success. By facilitating faster and more efficient development processes, low-code platforms help CIOs meet the demands placed upon them and drive their organizations toward successful digital transformation.
Importance of Low-Code Development
The importance of low-code development in modern enterprises cannot be overstated. One of the primary benefits is improved agility. Enterprises can rapidly develop applications, allowing for quicker pivots and adjustments in the face of changing business conditions. Traditional development processes, burdened by lengthy coding requirements and siloed expertise, simply cannot match the pace at which low-code development operates. Additionally, low-code development significantly reduces costs as it lessens the dependency on specialized coding skills. Organizations can develop solutions in less time and with fewer resources, allocating those saved funds to other strategic initiatives.
The increased productivity enabled by low-code platforms is another critical advantage. By streamlining the development process, these platforms free up developers to focus on higher-value tasks rather than getting bogged down in intricate coding details. Collaboration within teams also sees significant improvements. Visual development environments and intuitive interfaces make it easier for different team members, including non-technical stakeholders, to contribute to the development process. This collaborative approach ensures that the end product better aligns with business needs and expectations, enhancing overall satisfaction and effectiveness.
Traditional Development vs. Low-Code Development
Traditional development methods often involve multiple specialized roles, including business analysts, technical analysts, UX/UI developers, database administrators, and coders, all contributing incrementally to the final product. This fragmented approach leads to longer development cycles and often results in applications that do not entirely meet business requirements. Additionally, coordinating these various roles and ensuring clear communication throughout the development process can be challenging and resource-intensive, further delaying project completion.
In stark contrast, low-code platforms utilize visual editors and pre-built components, which streamline the entire development process. These tools allow for the rapid creation, testing, and deployment of applications without the need for deep technical expertise in every facet of development. This not only speeds up the process but also reduces the barriers to entry, enabling a wider range of individuals within an organization to participate in development. The result is a more cohesive and efficient development cycle, where applications can be iteratively improved and adjusted in response to real-time feedback, ensuring they better meet business needs from the outset.
Schwarz Group’s Journey with Low-Code
Schwarz Group, the parent company of Lidl and Kaufland, offers a compelling case study on low-code development’s impact. They selected Mendix as their primary low-code platform over OutSystems due to its superior scalability, cloud-native architecture, microservice-oriented approach, and seamless integration capabilities. Additionally, they leverage the Microsoft Power Platform for simpler workflow automation needs. This dual-platform strategy has enabled Schwarz Group to address both complex development needs and simpler automation tasks efficiently. By integrating these platforms, Schwarz Group has maximized the benefits of low-code development.
The comprehensive approach to adopting Mendix required several strategic steps. Integration with Identity Providers (IdP) and setting up Single Sign-On (SSO) were essential for ensuring secure and seamless user access. Automating DevOps processes further streamlined the development workflow, enabling faster iterations and releases. Establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) helped in standardizing practices and fostering expertise within the organization. Furthermore, developing a consistent UI template ensured that applications maintained a uniform look and feel, enhancing user experience. Schwarz Group’s focus on comprehensive training for developers ensured that they were well-equipped to leverage the platform to its full potential.
Impact of Mendix on Cost and Efficiency
The decision to adopt Mendix has had a profoundly positive impact on Schwarz Group’s cost structure and operational efficiency. Since implementing Mendix, the group has successfully built over 150 applications, achieving delivery speeds 75% faster compared to traditional high-code development methods. This accelerated development capability has allowed Schwarz Group to respond more swiftly to business needs and market changes, significantly enhancing overall operational efficiency. The ability to quickly develop and deploy applications ensures that the enterprise can keep pace with industry demands and maintain a competitive edge.
The financial benefits of adopting Mendix have been substantial. The group reported a €4.7 million reduction in costs, including €3 million saved from retiring OutSystems and an additional €0.5 million from phasing out Nintex. Furthermore, the effort required for high-code development was considerably reduced, exemplified by projects like Self.EDI and PRIA, which both showcased significant efficiency gains. This financial impact underscores the transformative power of low-code development platforms in not only enhancing operational efficiency but also delivering substantial cost savings.
Training and Development: A Key to Success
The successful implementation of Mendix at Schwarz Group can be largely attributed to their strong emphasis on training and development. Through the Mendix Academy and certification programs, the group ensured that their developers were well-equipped to build and maintain applications effectively. This investment in training allowed for a more sustainable operation of the Mendix platform, ensuring that developers remained up-to-date with the latest features and best practices. By continuously enhancing their skills, developers could maximize the platform’s potential, leading to more innovative and efficient solutions.
While citizen development was reserved for simpler tasks using the Microsoft Power Platform, professional development in Mendix was handled by dedicated software engineers. These engineers were responsible for managing the entire application lifecycle, from initial development through to maintenance and updates. This division of labor ensured that complex projects received the attention and expertise they required, while simpler tasks could be handled more quickly and easily by non-developers. This approach not only improved the overall efficiency of the development process but also empowered a broader range of individuals within the organization to contribute to digital innovation.
Prochazka’s Insights and International Implementation
Zdenek Prochazka, Head of Rapid Application Development at Schwarz IT, highlighted several key benefits of the Mendix platform in a recent interview. He noted that the platform’s intuitive design and powerful capabilities allowed new developers to be trained quickly, ensuring that the organization could maintain a sustainable and scalable operation. This rapid onboarding process was crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring that development efforts could keep pace with business demands. Prochazka also emphasized the importance of ongoing training and development, which helped to maintain a high level of expertise within the development team.
In addition to the benefits seen at the corporate level, the Mendix platform has also had a significant impact on a global scale. Development teams located in different countries were able to efficiently share and scale solutions, leveraging the platform’s collaborative capabilities to enhance productivity and innovation. This international implementation allowed Schwarz Group to benefit from shared knowledge and expertise, further enhancing the impact of low-code development on a global scale. The ability to rapidly deploy and adapt applications across different markets ensured that the organization could respond more effectively to local needs and opportunities.
Low-Code as the Future of Development
The swift progression of technology has exerted tremendous pressure on large enterprises to rapidly innovate and adapt. Among the most noteworthy advancements in this area is the rise of low-code development platforms. These platforms are revolutionizing how businesses approach the creation of applications and workflows, offering a significantly more streamlined and efficient process. With low-code platforms, the development cycle is simplified through the use of pre-built components, which allow IT professionals to assemble functional applications without the need for extensive hand-coding. This shift enables businesses to respond to market changes more swiftly, reduce development costs, and alleviate the burden on IT departments. Low-code solutions also empower non-developers to contribute to the development process, fostering greater collaboration between departments. As a result, large enterprises can innovate and adapt at a much faster pace, ensuring they stay competitive in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
