Low-Code/No-Code: Supply Chain Platform for the New Normal

Spending on enterprise software is projected to grow by 10% in 2022, according to Gartner. And a sizeable chunk of it is likely to be on low-code/no-code application platforms that will be built and managed by non-technology professionals.

Why?

Because app development is a tedious, manual process that involves writing code and testing by skilled developers.

But with low-code platforms, business users with little technical knowledge, also called citizen developers, can develop enterprise-ready apps — quickly. They can work with point-and-click or pull-down menu interfaces to quickly design apps, according to a recent Harvard Business Review article.

Low code/no code for supply chain management

This emerging cloud-based technology is slowly transforming modern-day supply chain and procurement solutions and how these integrate with other systems.

As rule-based engines make it possible to evolve workflows, they can be designed to meet the specific requirements of supply chain and procurement teams. The ability to configure workflows and build new capabilities allows supply chain and business leaders to make quick adjustments, when needed.

As businesses look to become more agile and innovative, the low-code no-code approach can remove the barrier between ideas and solutions.

Additionally, these platforms curb the practice of shadow IT, thereby preventing business users from bypassing IT approvals needed for unsanctioned features and services.

Where can low-code no-code solutions best fit?

Low-code/no-code solutions can ease back-office administrative tasks with simple decision-making rules. They can streamline vendor management and enhance vendor communication. Automated workflows can help reduce invoice processing cycles.

Small-scale process automation is another application where these solutions can make a huge difference. They can automate small tasks that involve working on spreadsheets, word processing and electronic file folders.

Currently, in most organizations, the staff spends a considerable amount of time in these tasks. The objective here is to identify the key problem areas that are not addressed by current systems.

Data analytics is yet another application where low-code, no-code programs can make an impact. These programs can be used to generate insightful visual analytics, with some capable of delivering insights through text or a voice-based chat.

Do this before starting to develop a low-code no-code app

Here are a few things to consider before you develop a low-code no-code app:

Evaluate business value addition: Begin by assessing the suitability of a low-code/no-code application. Does it drive business value? Will it help accomplish strategic objectives? And will it address the key pain points?

Facilitate change management: Adopt an effective change management procedure to streamline the transition from traditional development processes. It is a good idea to conduct training sessions and educate the workforce about some best practices. Foster a culture of learning and close collaboration between business stakeholders and IT.

Leave some room for deviation: Initially, do not focus merely on organizational processes and standards. Too much focus on these can hamper the introduction of a low-code/no-code solution. Instead, allow business users to first become thoroughly familiar with these solutions.

Conclusion

Leading companies now offer low-code/no-code platforms as part of a unified and integrated supply chain solution.

Users can simply drag, drop and click to set up an app that can meet their specific requirements. More importantly, they do not have to rely on IT teams to bring about change.

This allows skilled developers to focus on strategic tasks and add more value to the business.

To learn more about low-code/no-code supply chain and procurement solutions, get this paper

8 Reasons Why Your Supply Chain Needs a Low-Code/No-Code Digital Platform.