Digital transformation has been a popular topic in recent years. Many businesses have adopted low-code technology to empower citizen developers and give business users the ability to create custom applications and automate processes without needing IT support. Low-code technology is a powerful tool that can help companies reduce manual processes, increase efficiency, and ultimately, improve the customer experience.
What is Low-Code & Citizen Development?
Low-code technology is a type of software platform that allows users to create custom applications, automate processes, and integrate existing systems without needing to write code. It is designed to be easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical users such as business users, citizen developers, and other stakeholders.
TrackVia, for example, is a low-code platform that allows users to quickly create and customize forms, workflows, and dashboards with a drag and drop interface. With TrackVia, users can create databases, automate processes, and integrate with existing systems without needing to write code.
Citizen development is the process of allowing non-technical users to create their own applications and automate processes. Low-code technology empowers non-technical, business people to use low-code technology to create applications quickly and easily, without needing to write code or rely on IT support.
Citizen development is as much of a culture as it is a technology. It requires businesses to have the right mindset, provide training and resources, and create a governance framework.
Getting Started with Low-Code
If you’re new to low-code technology, it’s important that you understand the basics of how it works. For example, many low-code platforms like TrackVia offer drag-and-drop tools to quickly create customizable forms, workflows, and reports. It’s also important to understand how users can gain access to the platform, and how to set up the necessary access and permissions.
Many low-code tools offer free training options. TrackVia offers a free learning portal, TrackVia University, to help get you started with their low-code platform. TrackVia University features courses and videos that can help you understand the basics of low-code technology, as well as how to use the TrackVia to create applications quickly and easily.
Once you have a better understanding of how low-code technology works, it’s time to start building applications. You should start with simple applications and processes that have a clear goal and objective, for example, a simple task management app. This allows you to get a hands-on understanding of the platform, while gaining valuable experience as a citizen developer.
If you’re a business leader, encourage your team to contribute their ideas on how to improve the organization’s processes or efficiency. Low code technology can be ideal for implementing those ideas.
Setting Up Access and Permissions
Once you’ve decided to use low-code technology, and have an app in place, you will likely need to set up access and permissions for your users. Many low-code platforms offer various levels of access and permissions, so you can control who has the ability to create, edit, delete, and view applications.
It’s important to ensure that you set up the necessary access and permissions for users on the platform to ensure that the applications are secure and protected from unauthorized access. Citizen developers should have just enough access to create the applications they need, collaborate with colleagues, and implement changes as needed.
One of the benefits of TrackVia is that permissions can be changed on the fly, so if a user’s responsibilities change, you can quickly adjust their access and permissions. This makes it easy to encourage visionary employees to become citizen developers by giving them the access to create their own applications.
Providing Training & Resources
Once you’ve set up access and permissions, it’s important to provide training and resources to citizen developers. Citizen developers should be familiar with the low-code platform and understand how to use the various drag-and-drop tools to create forms, workflows, and reports.
Having access to the right training materials and resources is essential for citizen developers to get the most out of low-code technology. Citizen developers in your business should be encouraged to experiment without fear of failure. Some of the most successful business applications are iterative in nature, and the more experience a citizen developer has, the more successful their applications will be.
Creating a Governance Framework
Creating a governance framework is essential for any organization that is using low-code technology. A governance framework should define the roles and responsibilities of citizen developers and other stakeholders, as well as establish guidelines for how applications should be created and maintained. This will help ensure that applications are secure and compliant with any internal or external requirements.
Establishing governance early on in the digital transformation process can also ensure that IT is aligned with the goals of the organization. By understanding the value of low-code technology and working with citizen developers, IT departments can ensure that applications are secure and reliable.
Additionally, setting up a governance framework can help to ensure that applications are of high quality and meet the needs of the business. Citizen developers should have visibility into any changes to applications and be able to easily track progress. Tracking progress allows citizens to adjust their applications as needed, ensure that applications are up-to-date, and address any issues that arise.
Making Citizen Development and Low-Code Work
Low-code technology is a powerful tool that can help businesses reduce manual processes and increase efficiency. To get the most out of low-code technology and empower citizen developers, it’s important to set up the necessary access and permissions, provide training and resources, and create a governance framework. Continuous improvement rounds out the process, and you’re on your way to making a great Citizen Development program.
TrackVia offers a variety of resources for citizen developers, including webinars, sample applications, tutorials, and a free support forum. These resources can be invaluable for citizen developers in helping them to become successful with low-code technology.
By carefully following these steps, businesses can ensure that citizen developers are successful and applications are secure, compliant, and productive. If your organization is undergoing a digital transformation, and you are interested in learning more about Citizen Development, consider signing up for a free trial or request a demo and get started on your journey today!
