Picture this, the application you've asked IT to build has been put at the end of their long backlog. The developers are maintaining existing applications that take up their full focus. Without this application, you can't test your idea and move the company forward. Each passing day, you're waiting for IT to get through their backlog, in order to innovate. This is where no-code comes in.As all outdated business processes are requiring change, no-code platforms are also changing the status quo. Contrary to popular belief, it is a misconception that no-code platforms are intended to wipe out IT. Let’s set this straight, once and for all: The real purpose of no-code is to enable faster application development with IT and better align the business and IT department. Ultimately, no-code lets you innovate quicker and better.
IT has always been a highly-capable driver of business, able to set up, deliver and maintain all technical facets. Simply the demand for software today exceeds the expectations of IT’s capability. Businesses need a constant flow of applications to stay competitive and innovate. Coding just doesn’t cut it anymore. Rapid application development is now even faster with a platform that replaces coding, but not IT. Not only can more employees outside of IT work on application development, the workforce enabled through this platform helps IT focus on their most important tasks for the company.
Organizations are seeking ways to build more effective solutions faster. Yet, while enabling a wider workforce of solution-builders, IT’s role is still imperative. The most important aspect of software development using no-code is the organizational shift it involves in the entire process. From creating a prototype to facilitating collaboration, a no-code platform transforms the application development process while also impacting the company structure.
No-Code Platforms Enable a Wider Workforce
Long backlogs are lingering challenges for companies. As one of the most persisting obstacles, IT is often held back on projects that help the company innovate. By enabling a workforce to build applications under the guidelines of IT, citizen developers can produce the technical solutions while IT provides oversight. When the application needs more specific attention, IT can take it over seamlessly. IT’s oversight is necessary to ensure portfolio management. Building applications is much faster with a no-code platform, but that doesn’t mean the quality is overlooked.
Developers can Focus on more Challenging Projects
With a new workforce enabled, several responsibilities of IT are delegated to citizen developers who think of the ideas for solutions, build prototypes, test and iterate their ideas. In turn, IT can focus on more challenging projects by accepting a no-code platform. When the application reaches the stage of requiring more robust infrastructure and maintenance, IT takes the project over. Many applications that businesses need are not mission-critical and can be built effectively and efficiently using a no-code platform.
Organizations Avoid Shadow IT
Not only is the backlog reduced with the power of citizen development, but the ungoverned methods that are used to develop more IT solutions and address the problem in the first place are also prevented. Shadow IT, is the use of technical solutions outside of IT’s governance and authorization. While misalignment is already an issue for companies that experience this, shadow IT further exacerbates the organization’s budget and resources. By encouraging citizen development, IT provides a regulated environment from the start. Therefore, IT is maintaining the structure of business by always overlooking the process of developing applications.
Better Alignment Between Business and IT
CIOs can become cooperative facilitators by creating a more collaborative environment. Working with IT to implement a citizen development strategy lowers the pressure of a growing backlog. It may sound like a paradox, giving citizen developers the freedom to think creatively and build on their own under IT’s governance. But there is a balance in finding the right collaboration. Starting out with a small introduction to this organizational change can help all involved teams assimilate. Citizen developer pods can be arranged within IT to test strategies until you know what works best for your organization.
3 Factors Lead to Faster Time-to-Market
A no-code platform such as the hpaPaaS Betty Blocks, citizen development and the collaboration between the business and IT combined lead to faster application development. Citizen developers focus on creating a minimum viable product and deploying it faster, to fail fast and forward. With faster deployment, IT gets more work done and companies can test the solutions and innovate faster. IT is also able to develop and deploy within a more predictable schedule and budget. With more flexibility and speed, IT can work more efficiently while also delivering in a no-risk environment. As applications can be built faster and deployed faster, the existing backlog gets reduced.
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