Low-code in enterprises: Finding the appropriate platform

In an era in which companies have to react more and more quickly and flexibly to changes, an innovative technology is coming into focus: low-code development. It accelerates the development of software applications and does not require any special programming knowledge. This means that even non-experts can contribute to rapid market launches, even when qualified IT specialists are in short supply. There is a wide range of platforms to choose from, and organizations need to make the right choice for their specific needs.

Low-code makes it happen: in contrast to conventional software development, low-code applications also enable less technically skilled people to actively participate in the development process. The platforms are based on a modular system with pre-built function blocks that can be combined using a simple, visual language to implement more complex requirements. These modular building blocks can be created, combined and shared within the company (“recomposable modules”).

The time saved on development for basic functionalities that are already included and the ability to create prototypes more quickly enable efficient collaboration between IT and business departments. The visual approach of low-code facilitates communication, saves time and avoids misunderstandings in the development process. In addition, the necessary know-how is much easier to learn for employees in the specialist departments than traditional programming languages. Citizen development programmes can therefore significantly lower the threshold for implementing digitalization projects and – if implemented correctly – increase the throughput of IT projects enormously without overloading the IT organization or turning it into a bottleneck. Citizen development programs are targeted initiatives that enable employees from specialist departments to create applications independently. They include training and best practice guidelines as well as modular building blocks that are developed in advance by the IT department. These programs also include governance and compliance regulations to ensure adherence to internal company and legal requirements.

Companies are faced with the challenge of identifying the appropriate platform for their individual requirements and integrating it seamlessly into the existing IT landscape. The variety of low-code offerings ranges from user-centric solutions that allow business users to arrange components via drag-and-drop in a flowchart-like environment to more complex platforms that target developers and offer deep customization options, but at the expense of intuitive usability.

The appropriate platform

No-code platforms rely entirely on the visual configuration of data and logic, but are usually limited to specific application areas or rudimentary functionalities. On the other end of the spectrum, conventional programming (high-code) offers full flexibility, but also comes with the disadvantages of traditional software development.

Low-code platforms are located somewhere in between. They have different advantages and disadvantages depending on their specialization. Basically, one can say that with increasing generalization of the individual platform, its flexibility in terms of application area, expandability and customizability increases, but at the same time the training effort, the need for a good design of the software architecture and thus also the project time increase.

Power Platform: the starter-allrounder

Microsoft’s Power Platform is an attractive entry into the world of low-code development for many companies. A decisive advantage is its integration into Microsoft Office products, which are already used in many companies and thus facilitate the introduction of the platform. Especially in the legal sector, it offers extensive possibilities for the automation of complex business processes with modules such as Power Apps, Power Automate Desktop/Cloud, SharePoint, Dataverse and Power BI. Two exemplary use cases:

1. SharePoint site for client-intake:
   A common application of the Power Platform is the development of a SharePoint site for the client intake process. In this scenario, attorneys or corporate legal departments can create a custom SharePoint site to systematically collect and organize client information. This process includes the collection of personal data, case information and other relevant documents necessary to handle a legal case. By using Power Apps within the SharePoint environment, specialized forms and interfaces can be developed to simplify and automate the intake process.
2. Simple contract management with Power Platform:
   Another important use case is the use of Power Platform for contract management. Automated workflows can be created to simplify the process of contract creation, review, approval and document storage. For example, workflows can be configured to automatically send a notification to the relevant employees as soon as a contract is ready for review or approval.

Despite these advantages, the Power Platform also has limitations. These include performance with more sophisticated formulas and sequences of conditions as well as limited integration with third-party applications. Furthermore, the cost structure is complex. Flexibility offered by monthly subscription models and the pay-per-use model can be opaque and difficult to understand without a technical background. Various factors apply as consumption units, including the number of flows, user requests, applications and the volume of data processed. Additional costs can arise through the use of premium connectors. User-friendliness can also pose a challenge for more complex applications.

ServiceNow: Workflow and data-pipelines

ServiceNow, originally designed as an IT service management tool, has evolved into a comprehensive platform that focuses on the automation of workflows and data pipelines. It offers extremely extensive integration options with other applications and strategically aims to play the role of an ERP-like “highlander” system that includes the most common software functionalities.

In the legal sector, the ServiceNow platform is also primarily used as an intake system and legal front-door application to automatically schedule tasks and approvals to the right experts and visualize the associated data for legal spends and KPI tracking. ServiceNow is progressively expanding its offering to include various service catalogs supported by workflow-linked forms and request management. Legal departments can quickly get started with the “Legal Service Delivery” plugin provided by ServiceNow. This enables the management of employees’ legal questions and provisioning of self-service tools that help with the selection and completion of templates with existing data. ServiceNow also supports knowledge management through regular notifications and the transmission of specific knowledge articles for certain requests, offers clear responsibilities through predefined assignment rules and enables simple tracking and evaluation of the workload.

The platform has also evolved significantly in contract management and offers efficient management and monitoring of contracts with the “Contract Management Pro” module. This module integrates seamlessly with external storage providers, supports electronic signatures and using a Word add-in enables the simple creation of contract templates and a clause library.

The ServiceNow platform offers a high degree of configurability due to its diverse modules for different business units and use cases, but this entails a complex cost structure. Furthermore, the maintenance of the platform, especially due to its extensive customizability and regular updates, can lead to additional risks and overhead, especially if features outside the standard capabilities are used. In order to utilize its full functionality cost-effectively, thorough planning and detailed knowledge of the platform is required.

Beyond workflow or data-oriented processes, ServiceNow is reaching its limits, even if the first steps towards more complex and individualized application developments are being taken with the “App Engine”.

OutSystems: The Generalist

OutSystems as a low code platform has been one of the top performers in the Gartner quadrant for years and offers a complete development and runtime environment from the cloud as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution. Unlike the two solutions mentioned above, OutSystems is not targeted at applications in a specific environment such as office or case and service management, but is a generalist aimed at any use cases for individual software. As a result, the platform covers everything from data modeling, definition of logic and processes all the way to user interfaces for web or mobile applications. OutSystems enables the simple integration of external systems via web service and SAP interfaces (REST, SOAP & BAPI). In contrast to other providers, OutSystems enables a seamless transition to classic high code with custom code extensions if necessary. The platform is complemented by an expandable case management framework, several AI-supported assistants and generators as well as a global developer community that provides a large number of components and integrations as open source in the manufacturer’s own forge, a kind of app store.

The pricing model is based on the number of users and application objects created and is therefore comparatively simple and transparent. Although OutSystems is also technically suitable for the implementation of a single smaller app, its strengths are particularly evident in cases where a zoo of software in the company’s IT system landscape is to be avoided and where a uniform, standardized platform is intended to add value.

Artificial intelligence in low-code

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into low-code platforms enables people without specialized knowledge in data science or AI to incorporate advanced technologies into their applications and use the possibilities of machine learning and automated data analysis.

AI modules in low-code environments offer predefined, customizable building blocks that allow intelligent functions to be integrated into business applications, such as image recognition, speech processing, data extraction, document classification or predictive analytics. Legal departments can thus efficiently search through large amounts of data, automate contract analyses or identify compliance risks with greater accuracy.

Part of digitalization strategy

In the overall package, low-code can also be used to leverage potential in the organization that previously had to remain untapped due to a lack of developer and IT resources.

However, IT strategic and architectural consultancy is essential in order to understand the possibilities and pitfalls of the respective platform and to develop sustainable solutions. For citizen development programs in particular, accompanying governance and development standards are essential.

A low-code development center of excellence (CoE) is an essential component of any digitalization strategy. As a central hub for best practices, governance, tools, standards, and expertise, it helps organizations effectively and sustainably leverage low-code technologies by ensuring that the applications developed not only meet business needs, but are also maintainable, secure, and scalable over time. Experts from a variety of backgrounds – from IT security, software development and architecture to project management – support citizen developers, promote knowledge sharing, initiate sample modules, and help establish a culture of continuous improvement.