From a Low-Code platform standpoint, such as Microsoft's Power Platform, more and more organizations are providing users with the ability to directly develop the application features they need within their mission scope. Ahmad Sammour, Business Apps Strategy Advisor at Ainos, discusses the advantages of such an approach and the challenges inherent in its implementation.

Traditionally, professional developers have been entrusted with the task of developing the applications and software functionalities needed by business units. Development cycles can often be long and laborious, although Agile or DevOps approaches help accelerate them by involving business units more. Taking it a step further, the concept of No-Code/Low-Code is now emerging at the heart of organizations.

Through dedicated development platforms, the aim is to provide business stakeholders with a set of tools enabling them to implement new functionalities themselves, without having to write a single line of code, explains Ahmad Sammour, Business Apps Strategy Advisor at Ainos. This enables the company to evolve more efficiently, innovate, and adapt to user expectations. The goal is to empower citizen developers to emerge, in other words, employees capable of directly implementing applications that meet their short or long-term needs."

Accelerate innovation, gain performance

The benefits of such an approach are manifold. "Such platforms enable companies to gain agility, to respond ever more quickly to the needs of the business and the market, to accelerate innovation," summarizes the expert from Ainos. The approach indeed allows many ideas to materialize. It is no longer necessarily required to go through developers to address an identified need.

"Users do indeed have the ability to act directly, starting from ready-made components provided to them, which they can intuitively assemble," continues Ahmad Sammour. "With development possibilities thus democratized, the organization can achieve savings and benefit from performance gains much more rapidly."

Pro-Code/No-Code, complementary challenges

"The other major advantage of the approach, especially as development skills are highly sought after, is that it allows for more to be done with smaller teams," adds the expert.

Because Pro-Code developers, with the implementation of a Low-Code/No-Code approach, are no less indispensable. However, their role is evolving. "Enabling users to develop features with greater autonomy allows professional developers to focus on more complex aspects inherent in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and automation needs," comments Ahmad Sammour. "On the other hand, to support the organization's needs, their mission focuses more on setting up the elements from which teams can build new features and integrate them. At this level, they explore levers to accelerate development. This involves ensuring efficient deployment management or automating testing of developments proposed by users."

Security and governance

The implementation of a Low-Code/No-Code approach, in particular, requires establishing appropriate governance. "This is a crucial issue," Ahmad Sammour asserts. "If we allow teams more autonomy, we must address security concerns and ensure the maintenance of deployed elements over time. It is necessary to establish a robust framework that guarantees compliance with security policies, procedures, and organizational standards. This governance sets roles and responsibilities, as well as approval processes for applications. It also defines the best practices to be implemented."

A technological and organizational transformation

Implementing a Low-Code/No-Code approach at an enterprise scale involves a major organizational transformation. "We assist organizations interested in undertaking such an initiative," Ahmad Sammour explains. "First and foremost, we help the company position itself by gaining a clear understanding of its challenges and establishing clear objectives. From there, we can define a transformation journey, including the deployment of technology solutions tailored to identified needs." In this regard, Ainos is a trusted partner of Microsoft, able to leverage its Power Platform to provide clients with the full potential of combining Pro-Code and Low-Code approaches to drive organizational growth. "Beyond the technological solutions that can be deployed, our support also extends to team training and change management, enabling everyone to reposition themselves and generate value in the new environment," concludes the expert.