The application of No-code/ low-code solutions in the enterprise architecture world is one that makes a lot of sense. Enterprise architects are under constant pressure to scale up, increase flexibility and enable businesses to embrace the latest possible digital transformation at minimal costs. At the same time, low-code/no-code solutions are gaining immense popularity due to the growing demand for high-tech applications and the lack of skilled labor to develop them.
It is no secret that low-code solutions are taking the tech world by storm, with sources like Gartner predicting that low-code application development will make up to 65% of all application development by the end of 2024. At the rate that low-code/no-code is transforming the tech industry, it is imperative that enterprise architects, too, incorporate this technology into their procedures.
In this article, we’ll be discussing precisely how low-code/no-code solutions can help transform the enterprise architecture world for the better.
How Low-Code/ No-Code Can Revamp Enterprise Architecture
With the increasing obsession with digital transformation overtaking businesses of all sectors, enterprise architects have their hands full. This is especially true after the pandemic, which saw a substantial increase in companies turning to enterprise architects for digital solutions that complement their future strategies and goals. With the pressure on enterprise architects heightening, many have turned to low-code/no-code solutions to help them deliver top-notch digital architecture and drive digital transformation as a whole.
This phenomenon can be observed through the words of experts in the enterprise architect industry themselves. For example, Jeremy Bergsman, a Practice Manager at Gartner, noted in his blog post that Enterprise Architecture teams should “develop an easy-to-use, lightweight framework designed to be used by non-architects for technology experimentation.” That is precisely what low-code/no-code solutions aim to do.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the main ways low-code/no-code application platforms can aid enterprise architects with their transformation capabilities.
Streamlining Business Operations
Low-code/ no-code application platforms can help enterprise architects streamline their business operations and better align their technology strategies to meet both long-term and short-term business goals. They enable enterprise architects to scale up and perform better without hiring additional expertise or overburdening employees with complex and lengthy developing processes.
Supporting Citizen Developers
One of the most essential advantages of low-code/no-code application platforms is how they enable and encourage citizen developers, giving expert IT teams a much-needed break. Enabling citizen developers is an important step in the right direction, as current IT teams are often too burdened with achieving the full requirements of a large-scale business. A recent report by Gartner indicates that up to 61% of corporations have already begun taking steps to encourage citizen development, and there is no reason why enterprise architects must remain behind.
With the right tools and environment, anyone can use low-code platforms to become a developer, which is a welcome reprieve for IT teams. As these platforms allow individuals to develop top-notch, high functioning applications without writing heavy complex code, even non-technical teams without extensive IT backgrounds can hop on the developing bandwagon and deliver new applications successfully.
Increasing Time-To-Value
An added benefit of using low-code/no-code platforms is that citizen developers can deliver functioning applications much quicker. As there is little to no coding involved, testing and deployment also take up less time, which saves enterprise architects precious time, labor, and expenses in the long run. Instead of technical teams being burdened with complex tasks, having some citizen developers on board helps free up time for IT teams to apply their skills to more complicated and intensive projects that are of great value to the business.
How To Successfully Integrate Low-code/No-code Solutions
Integrating low-code solutions into the enterprise architect model is relatively easy, as the two are highly compatible. To ensure that architects yield the highest benefits from the low-code model, they can follow the guidelines and tips below.
- Experiment with multiple low-code development tools, and then determine which best aligns with your business needs.
- Categorize application use cases and carefully identify which are well-suited to the low-code development model.
- Use low-code solutions for applications that require less developer skill and faster deployment time.
- Conduct proper research and planning to decide which low-code application platform is the most appropriate for the application you are trying to build.
The Bottom Line
When integrating low-code/no-code application platforms into the enterprise architecture model, a significant challenge for enterprise architects is finding a solution that is ideal for both IT teams and citizen developers. However, with adequate research and the proper framework, enterprise architects can use low-code/no-code platforms to drive digital transformation and deliver intricate solutions quicker and more efficiently than ever before. These platforms allow enterprise architect teams to better align their business goals with technology even with a skills shortage, preventing IT teams from becoming overburdened and empowering citizen developers at the same time.
