Low Code Platforms Enable Easier Automation for IT and Business Workflows

Process automation across both IT and business workflows are the next wave of digital transformation. Companies are looking for speed, agility and cost savings by identifying use cases to automate.

Low code platforms enable easier process automation through visual tools and abstraction of complex logic such as robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) built into bots, voice, mobile, internet of things (IoT), etc.

Almost half of the respondents in SAPInsider research on Application Strategies and Development for SAP S/4HANA and Cloud are planning or evaluating low-code platforms. There is an expectation of significant impact from these platforms such as ability to deliver applications rapidly, reduced IT costs, and enabling industry standards. Almost half of the respondents in the survey expect reduction in IT costs and 45% want to deliver rapid applications using low-code/no-code platforms.

Low Code Platforms Enable Easier Automation for IT and Business Workflows

Process automation across both IT and business workflows are the next wave of digital transformation. Companies are looking for speed, agility and cost savings by identifying use cases to automate.

Low code platforms enable easier process automation through visual tools and abstraction of complex logic such as robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) built into bots, voice, mobile, internet of things (IoT), etc.

Almost half of the respondents in SAPInsider research on Application Strategies and Development for SAP S/4HANA and Cloud are planning or evaluating low-code platforms. There is an expectation of significant impact from these platforms such as ability to deliver applications rapidly, reduced IT costs, and enabling industry standards. Almost half of the respondents in the survey expect reduction in IT costs and 45% want to deliver rapid applications using low-code/no-code platforms.

Use cases for Low code Automation

Low code platforms enable rapid delivery of applications by providing visual approaches such as drag-and-drop that involve minimal coding. A more user-friendly and packaged approach enables programmers to deliver applications faster. However, low code also promises to put the ability to create at least basic applications at the hands of even non-technical business users.

Companies are starting to use low-code automation for areas such as:

1. Legacy integration: low code objects can compensate for lack of programming knowledge in legacy languages or understanding of legacy application programming interfaces (APIs)
2. Data migration: low code programs can migrate data, check for exceptions and provide reports to tackle them, thus reducing time, costs and risks
3. Omni-channel experience: low code programs can be customized for different channels while ensuring a unified experience
4. Reporting processes: low code programs can generate reports and flag exceptions in both IT and business processes for proactive interventions

Components of Low Code Automation

A typical low-code development platform comprises the following components:

• Visual Integrated Development Environment to define application logic and data models
• Integrations to SAP and non-SAP applications or data sources to manage access, modifications or storage of data
• Application Life Cycle Manager to build, deploy, and manage applications for testing, staging and production environments

While low code holds promise, there are challenges cited by SAP customers in the above-mentioned survey such as security (45%), governance (34%), and migration satisfaction (34%). Read article “Governance for Low-code Platforms” on recommendations on governance for low code platforms.

SAP is investing in its own platform to provide strong low code capabilities to its customers. Several other vendors are innovating with special functionality, sometimes for specific industries.