Custom Faster and Cheaper Than off the Shelf

Digital Transformation has been accepted as one of the most critical imperatives of the modern organisation. This widespread adoption has resulted in the eruption of Software-as-a-Service and off–the-shelf offerings, to fast track transformation and lower costs.

But what’s really impacting this market are low-code platforms. This new wave of technology is fundamentally changing the way organisations approach digital transformation and turning previous conceptions about how software is delivered on their head.

The combination of the right low-code platform and the right partner can enable a truly unique-to-you solution at a much lower cost and faster delivery time than customised off-the-shelf. And that’s the game changer.

Explosion of low-code

At Kiandra, we saw this first-hand. The explosion of low-code onto the market highlighted a significant problem, we faced, as a software provider. Our history of offering premium solutions required a higher price point and was becoming much more difficult to sell.

After a string of lost bids, we lost a large project for a long-term existing client we expected to win as the incumbent. We were shocked to find the winning bid was more affordable, more feature-rich and able to be delivered much faster. And it was all built on the world-leading low-code platform, OutSystems.

It became clear, Kiandra had to change. We wanted to stay true to a premium offering, but at a much lower price point and time to market.

How did we do this? Next week, we’ll be presenting at our free breakfast event how Kiandra pivoted its business and were able to keep our offering premium at a much lower price point.

We’ll discuss how we, using OutSystems, were able to go back to our lost client bid with a solution so compelling that it convinced a client to abandon an off-the-shelf and go custom with us to produce a unique solution that now makes them stand out from their competitors like they couldn’t otherwise.

As proof, we’ll show you just how fast it is to build a solution from scratch and in under 30 minutes, we’ll start with nothing and build a working CRM solution, not using an existing CRM product.  

Low-Code Platforms: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges in Digital Transformation

Digital transformation initiatives have become a necessity for companies today. In this fast-paced digital world, businesses need to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. Digital transformation is the key driver to achieve this goal. However, implementing digital transformation initiatives can be a tough challenge. For most companies, the process involves a steep learning curve, a substantial investment of time, and valuable resources. This is where low-code platforms come into play. Low-code platforms help simplify the process by allowing business users to develop applications with minimal programming language knowledge. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits and challenges of using low-code platforms in digital transformation initiatives.

1. Increased Business Agility

Low-code platforms enable businesses to develop and deploy applications fast. With drag-and-drop functionalities and pre-built templates, business users can create applications with ease. This helps accelerate the development process, reducing the time required to bring new applications to the market. This increased business agility enables companies to quickly adapt to changing market needs, reducing the risk of being left behind.

2. Reduced Development Costs

Low-code platforms require minimal programming knowledge to use. This means that companies do not need to spend money on hiring developers. Business users can develop applications themselves without relying on IT departments. This can lead to significant cost savings in the long run, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership.

3. Greater Collaboration

Low-code platforms encourage greater collaboration between different departments in a company. With the ability to build applications quickly, business users can work closely with IT departments to develop applications that meet their specific needs. This collaboration can lead to better outcomes, as developers gain a better understanding of business requirements while business users get to see their ideas come to life.

4. Data Security Concerns

While low-code platforms offer many benefits, data security concerns remain a challenge. With a reduced need for programming expertise, the risk of errors that can lead to data breaches increases. Companies need to be vigilant in ensuring that their low-code platforms offer sufficient data protection mechanisms. This can come in the form of secure login systems, stringent audit trails or automated testing, etc.

5. Upkeep and Maintenance

Low-code platforms require ongoing maintenance and upkeep, just like any other software. Companies need to allocate resources to maintain the platform and ensure that updates and upgrades are installed regularly. Failure to do so can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and potential security risks.

Low-code platforms offer companies significant benefits when executing digital transformation initiatives. From increased business agility to enhanced collaboration and reduced development costs, these platforms can help accelerate the digital transformation journey. As with any technology, there exist some challenges, specifically those related to data security concerns and platform maintenance costs. But with ongoing vigilance, companies can continue to leverage the benefits of low-code platforms and stay at the forefront of the digital world.

Kiandra IT and OutSystems will bring together collective expertise to explain what exactly low-code is and how it works. We’ll also demonstrate how quickly low-code can help your business pivot, by building a CRM system live, in real time. Register today.