Introduction

Low-code development is a software development approach that enables businesses to rapidly develop and deploy custom applications with minimal coding required. Enterprise low-code application platforms (LCAPs) are software development environments that support low-code development.

LCAPs offer a variety of features and functionality, including:

ü  A visual drag-and-drop interface for building user interfaces and workflows

ü  Pre-built components and templates for common tasks

ü  Support for a variety of data sources and integrations

ü  Tools for testing, debugging, and deploying applications

LCAPs can be used to develop a wide variety of applications, including:

ü  Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

ü  Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

ü  Human resources (HR) systems

ü  Supply chain management (SCM) systems

ü  Content management systems (CMS)

ü  Business process management (BPM) systems

ü  Custom applications for specific industries or business needs

Benefits and Challenges

There are many benefits to using enterprise LCAPs, including:

ü  Increased speed of application development and deployment

ü  Reduced costs of application development and maintenance

ü  Improved agility and responsiveness to business needs

ü  Increased citizen development and innovation

However, there are also some challenges to consider when using enterprise LCAPs, such as:

ü  The need to select the right platform for your specific needs

ü  The need to train users on how to use the platform

ü  The need to ensure that applications developed using the platform meet security and compliance requirements

Types of Platforms

There are two main types of enterprise LCAPs:

Ø  General-purpose LCAPs: These platforms can be used to develop a wide variety of applications, regardless of industry or business function. Examples of general-purpose LCAPs include Salesforce App Cloud, Mendix, and Pega PRPC.

Ø  Industry-specific LCAPs: These platforms are designed to meet the specific needs of a particular industry or business function. Examples of industry-specific LCAPs include Veeva CRM (for life sciences), FinancialForce ERP (for financial services), and ServiceNow (for IT service management).

Selection Criteria

When selecting an enterprise LCAP, there are a number of factors to consider, including:

ü  The types of applications you need to develop

ü  The specific features and functionality you require

ü  Your budget

ü  Your security and compliance requirements

It is also important to consider the following factors:

ü  Ease of use: The platform should be easy to use for both technical and non-technical users.

ü  Scalability: The platform should be able to scale to meet the needs of your business as it grows.

ü  Security: The platform should offer robust security features to protect your data.

ü  Support: The vendor should offer good support for the platform.

Case Studies

Unilever and JPMorgan are two global companies that are using enterprise LCAPs to achieve significant benefits. Unilever uses Pega PRPC to digitize a wide range of business processes, reducing development time by 50%. JPMorgan uses Pega, Salesforce, and other low-code platforms to develop and deploy a wide range of applications, reducing development costs by 30%. Other companies using LCAPs to achieve concrete results include Salesforce, GE, and Walmart. For example, Salesforce has used its own low-code platform to develop over 130,000 custom applications for its customers, GE has used low-code platforms to develop over 5,000 custom applications for its internal operations, and Walmart has used low-code platforms to develop over 100 custom applications for its stores and supply chain.

Future Trends and Developments

The future of enterprise LCAPs is bright. As businesses continue to look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs, enterprise LCAPs will become increasingly popular. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is opening up new possibilities for enterprise LCAPs. For example, AI and ML can be used to automate tasks, improve decision-making, and personalize experiences.

Conclusion

Enterprise LCAPs offer a number of benefits for businesses, including increased speed of application development and deployment, reduced costs of application development and maintenance, improved agility and responsiveness to business needs, and increased citizen development and innovation. However, it is important to select the right platform for your specific needs and to train users on how to use the platform effectively.

If you are considering using an enterprise LCAP, I encourage you to do your research and compare different platforms before making a decision. You should also consider your budget, your security and compliance requirements, and your specific needs.