Among a raft of trends shaping the business process management (BPM) landscape, low-code/no-code technology is one gathering substantial pace. These solutions allow users to create and manage processes, workflows and applications without having to write code.
Their application within BPM is particularly significant. Demand for low-code and no-code solutions is growing, and the rise of such technology will play a key role in defining the future of BPM. It’s been predicted that, by 2024, 75 percent of firms will rely these technologies.
“Low-code/no-code technology will play a significant role in BPM by empowering businesses to build custom applications tailored specifically to their unique requirements,” Dan Coleby, director of client technology value at Advania, tells PEX Network. It will allow organizations to create innovative solutions quickly and at a lower cost than traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, he says. “As such, low-code/no-code technology is disrupting the BPM market by providing a more accessible and flexible solution for businesses of all sizes and industries as well as solutions that users prefer.”
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Low-code and no-code’s democratization of BPM
The qualities of these solutions mean they has notable potential to democratize BPM – i.e. make it easier and more accessible. “These user-friendly technologies are reshaping the landscape by placing the power of process optimization into the hands of business users,” according to PRME BPM. The traditional barriers that once required extensive coding knowledge are diminishing, enabling professionals across various domains to actively contribute to and drive BPM initiatives, reads a PRME BPM blog.
This democratization of process management not only expedites implementation but also fosters a culture of collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders as organizations seek agile and accessible solutions to navigate the complexities of their business processes, the firm adds.
“The fact is that low-code/no-code tech has made improving your company’s BPM process a much easier and straightforward task as it requires far less technical understanding to put in place,” says Lee Coates, founder and creative director at digital marketing agency Clickzilla. It helps businesses become more efficient and frees up resources that can be used on more strategic and developmental tasks, rather than on repetitive and low-value jobs, Coates adds. “It will also lower the barrier of entry in most business sectors due to technology being more human-focused or easier to deploy.”
Two of the main BPM functions that can benefit from the technology the most are monitoring and optimization, Coates says. “With 'out of the box' technology, this can now be done in relatively little time with automated tools and software.”
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Rapid BPM design or changes not possible via traditional coding
Rapid BPM design or changes cannot be achieved via traditional coding, Mohan Madhurakavi, digital transformation evangelist at Kissflow, tells PEX Network. “A low-code or no-code platform where the business user can create their own processes and get that executed immediately is fundamental.” It is not as important to get it right the first time, as the model can evolve with experimentation, but rather the ideal situation is when the low-code/no-code platform itself can be integrated with a generative AI tool like ChatGPT and the user can complete the entire design and deployment of BPM through that tool, he adds.
“This places the responsibility of handling data, indexes, front-end screens, voice and image inputs, language translations and omnichannel bots in the hands of the technology – not the business user, saving time and resources.”
Key considerations for low-code and no-code technology in BPM
When applied to BPM, businesses need to consider that these solutions are not necessarily a complete replacement for the backend systems used in the past, says Coleby. “The existing systems are an important system of record for data and their process automations are often built upon valuable insights gained through years of experience with many customers.”
While there may be difficulties with using these systems, they should not be ignored completely. “Replacing them entirely with low-code/no-code solutions could lead to unusable databases, fragmented data silos and complex integration of component processes when working with multiple low code/no code applications,” Coleby adds. Building low-code/no-code solutions on modern robust platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform can resolve some of these issues.
READ: 6 trends that will shape BPM in 2024
Another consideration is whether the technology is going to improve the efficiency of the business, Coates says. “As part of that, it’s important to include the time it takes to apply the low-code/no-code technology as this might make it less efficient in the long run.” Also important is whether clients or customers will receive the same or better service due to the low-code/no-code technology, Coates adds. “There’s no point in implementing new technology of any kind if it’s going to make your business offering less attractive to consumers.”
Knowledge of the entire process of how to use this technology in BPM is essential to ensuring success, Madhurakavi says. “What usually is missed is the soft factor that the business user must be extremely innovative and experimental with a clear focus on business goals in order to ensure the success of BPM.” They must be willing to experiment and have an understanding of the competitive landscape with the capabilities to drive change, he adds. “Building a team that complements one another with a leader that prioritizes innovation is a practical but essential way of transforming BPM.”