With the rise of no-code platforms, we are seeing a shift in how organisations develop and use technology. Gone are the days where all IT infrastructure sits within the IT departments – we’re all technologists now and all have access to tools to make our day jobs easier. But what impact does this have on the business if it is not managed correctly?
Platforms such as AUTTO puts power at the fingertips of knowledge workers to help develop business solutions. They give organisations a quick and easy start to becoming digital-first and put the user in control.
No-code brings a shift in how technology is delivered to the business – and that means there are a number of risks if left unchecked. With governance and security the primary areas to focus on, the role of the CIO has to change and adapt to prevent a free for all, where IT activity becomes siloed and ad hoc.
Get it right though, and no-code tools will be an enabler. Businesses don’t have to worry about having big teams of developers, they don’t have to worry about version control, because that is handled by the platforms themselves. The days are long past when almost any IT project required coding from scratch: slow, difficult to build and with painstaking testing and iteration.
Now, it’s possible to access a single tool with multiple functions and functionalities all from one central platform. Tools like AUTTO, help businesses automate repetitive tasks by digitising business processes through workflows – freeing up the one thing that is most important – time.
In short, through no-code, technology has become simple – it’s how you apply it that brings it to life.
Barriers of Adoption
While it solves many problems, no-code does raise other challenges – like how you fit it all together. A big part of the task is how you integrate these platforms with your existing legacy systems. You need to ringfence legacy so that you don’t break it. So finding a tool which allows you to connect to existing technology is key.
What all of this means is that the skills needed have changed. It used to be about having lots of coders and developers. Now, it’s about how you fit everything together – so there’s a much higher need for enterprise and business solutions architects. It’s given rise to a new term as well – Citizen Developers.
It also opens a new doorway into technology careers for people who may have been put off by the highly technical nature of many tech roles. Apprenticeships and boot camp-style skills programmes, such as the PMI’s dedicated Citizen Developer certification program, can equip talented individuals with the tools they need to implement no-code solutions quickly, without compromising on responsible design and governance methods.
Where does No-code sit within an Organisation?
In the past, the CIO or IT director would have focussed on overseeing complex multi-year projects. Now, the role is about overseeing more rapid iterative changes and governance – ensuring there is a clear framework for activity, that activity is coordinated, and that there is connectivity between applications.
A lack of control also introduces security risks. Given today’s alarmingly prevalent cyber threats, it has become simply imperative that strong and consistent security protocols, resilient infrastructure, and robust data protection and privacy processes are in place.
Meanwhile, it is Citizen Developers who are driving the business forward in terms of new capabilities, functionality and solutions. It is the role of the IT department to safeguard the way that business owners adopt new tooling, providing oversight and ensuring no-code development is safe and responsible.
The Future of No-code Solutions
The covid-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for change. This acceleration of digital transformation through no-code, the move to cloud and other major trends mean there is still much to do for IT teams in building a robust and safe digital enterprise.
