Still Waiting? Or LOW CODE!

Prolifics’ Craig Breakspear and Low Code Modernization 

When your IT department developers are modernizing old applications or creating a new application for you, they’re generally writing code from scratch or linking together pieces of already written complex code. Low-code platforms take this to the next level – they are made up of reusable, connectable components that already have the complex code built in. Low code uses a flowchart or storyboard methodology with “drag-and-drop” components to create apps. Low code can build and deliver portable, scalable, and resilient apps faster and cheaper than traditional development. We discussed the use of low code in modernization with Craig Breakspear, Prolifics Consulting Architect and line-of-business Lead in our Digital Experience practice.  

Q: When you talk to a customer about modernizing, how does low code come up? 

CB: The whole goal to low code is to take an application, in many cases an existing, important application that is outdated, within a customer and say, “We need to get this to market really quick. How do we do that?” And do it in a fashion that is comparable to a traditional web application or traditional desktop application, going across the different platforms like phone, tablet, desktop, whatever it might be. The key to low code is not just that you can build an application, it’s that you can build it faster and cheaper with no degradation in quality. 

Q: What applications are the best candidates for low code? 

CB: So, think of your phone. You have maybe 20, 30, even 50 or more apps on your phone right now? And each little app does a specific thing – you have a banking app, email app, weather app, whatever it might be. These are specific things, as opposed to one monolithic application that has a menu of the bank, the weather, and so on. In terms of low code, it’s these segmented apps, not the monolithic application. They’re quicker to develop, easier to deploy, easier to control security, easier and quicker to maintain, all those kinds of things. 

Q: Will a typical client looking to modernize have these app candidates?  

CB: I’d say 80 percent of applications can be modernized with low code. I’m going to say that because most of them are simple. There are some applications that are very complex backend pieces that may not scale well with a low-code platform, that kind of thing. But I’d say 80 percent of them could roll the route of low code. But again, the way to look at that is small pieces. Even a big application does small little tasks. There might be 15 menu items, right. Of those 15 menu items, maybe we’ll pull three or four of those menu items from the big application, and build apps around them in a low code environment. You can come in and modernize segments and do it fairly quickly, getting immediate results. 

Q: Can a client use low code by themselves? Why do they need Prolifics? 

CB: Low-code platform providers will discuss business users – non-IT people – developing apps themselves. I wouldn’t necessarily say that. That’s why it’s called low code. You have to have a little knowledge of application development. Now, I don’t mean you have to be a professional developer, but you definitely have to have a little bit of an aptitude for application development and a little bit of understanding how a workflow might transpire. And so, you’re going to write something and this happens, or this turns off, you need to know a little bit about security and access, those kinds of thing.  

We add value to a client’s low code transition in several ways. We currently partner with three of the top low-code platform providers: Mendix, Microsoft Power Platform, and the NOW Platform from ServiceNow. We know low code and how it all works. Through our Innovation Center, we deploy the low-code platform with you and jumpstart your app development with solution workshops on where to begin and with prototype assistance. We integrate the low-code platform with your other systems – so your apps work with everything from day one. We can also provide data analytics so you can truly understand what’s going on with any app. 

Next steps 

If you’d like to learn more about low-code platforms and how Prolifics can help launch you successfully, email us at solutions@prolifics.com. 

About Prolifics 

Prolifics is a global digital engineering and consulting firm helping clients navigate and accelerate their digital transformation journeys. We deliver relevant outcomes using our systematic approach to rapid, enterprise-grade continuous innovation. We treat our digital deliverables like a customized product – using agile practices to deliver immediate and ongoing increases in value. 

We provide consulting, engineering and managed services for all our practice areas — Data & AI, Integration & Applications, Business Automation, DevXOps, Test Automation, and Cybersecurity across multiple industries — at any point our clients need them.