Automation, through low-code development, helps reduce manual tasks, boost accuracy, and speed up workflows. However, traditional automation comes with its own challenges, often requiring "high-coding" or significant development expertise along with lengthy implementation times—often, companies simply don’t have the resources to manage this. That’s why low-code automation can be the answer for many companies and, at worst, a handy tool to free up the minds of developers who can spend costly hours on more strategic or creatively challenging development.
Low code offers a faster, more flexible solution that lets teams of non-technical professionals take control of their own processes without relying heavily on developers. This shift lets businesses quickly automate tasks and, therefore, react relatively quickly to changing customer needs, product requirements, or other supply chain challenges.
What is low-code automation?
Low-code automation allows businesses to automate tasks with low-code development, using platforms like Mendix to create workflows and applications with minimal hand-coding. These platforms come with drag-and-drop automation tools, pre-built templates, and components that let non-developers set up process models—the visual representation of the steps and processes that an application will automate, along with the business processes it can support. Instead of waiting weeks or months for IT, your teams can handle automation projects themselves.
Why choose low code for automation?
For many businesses, it’s about speed. With traditional automation approaches, you’re often waiting for developers to build everything from scratch, which could take months. Low-code platforms let your teams create automated workflows in days or weeks, giving your business a competitive advantage when rolling out shop floor applications or customer-facing apps that have a direct impact on sales and brand image.
Another key benefit is accessibility. Low-code platforms are designed for all business users, not just developers. With easy-to-use tools, team members from HR, operations, finance, and beyond can build the automations they need. This reduces the strain on your developers and allows the people who understand the processes (i.e., literal logic) best to play an active role in creating them. Of course, if an application needs to be customized beyond the general knowledge of non-technical professionals, low-code platforms often allow for custom code integrations that can be implemented by developers.
Then there’s collaboration. With low-code automation, different departments can work together to streamline their workflows. It’s no longer just about IT; the people on the ground who experience problems first-hand can now contribute to building solutions. This type of cross-functional collaboration results in automations that are not only faster but also more effective and tailored to real business needs. Getting input from sales, customer support, and even partners is vital for creating workflows that actually benefit a business and its products or services. The easier it is for all personnel to work in the company, the easier it is for them to continue developing, selling, and improving.
How does low-code automation work?
Low-code platforms make the automation process intuitive and visual. Users can design workflows by selecting pre-built template code components and configuring them with simple logic to create a process model. For instance, you might use components that handle approvals, send notifications, or automatically update data in your systems. It’s all about combining these building blocks to create a workflow that fits your business needs. It’s also good to know that these applications can link outdated legacy systems to your new workflows, resulting in fewer data silos and duplicate information.
Imagine automating an employee onboarding process. With a low-code platform, your HR team could create an automated workflow that sends forms to new hires, reminds them of deadlines, and notifies other departments when the onboarding process is complete. This removes the need for manual follow-ups and reduces the chances of anything falling through the cracks.
What’s more, low-code platforms are built to seamlessly integrate with the tools you already use, from outdated legacy CRM systems to newerr cloud services. They also offer hyperautomation capabilities in some cases. Hyperautomation is the concept of automating as many processes as possible using a combination of technologies like AI, machine learning, and low-code tools. This helps you create intelligent automations that make decisions based on data.
The benefits of low-code automation
Rapid Application Development
Low-code platforms drastically reduce the time it takes to get an automation project off the ground. You can create and launch low-code applications in days rather than months, allowing your business to respond to changes quickly.
Cost savings
Since you’re not relying on an entire team of developers, low-code automation saves both time and money. Plus, it frees up your developers to focus on more complex projects, contributing to a positive low-code ROI.
Flexibility
Business needs evolve, and so should your workflows. Low-code platforms make it easy to update your automation whenever things change without requiring a full rebuild.
Greater productivity
Low-code automation takes routine tasks off your employees’ plates so they can focus on more meaningful work. This boosts productivity and job satisfaction across the board.
Fewer errors
Human error is one of the biggest risks in manual processes. Automating repetitive tasks significantly reduces the chances of mistakes, ensuring more accurate outcomes through intelligent business automation.
Smoother collaboration
Low-code platforms enable teams from across the business to contribute to automation projects. This leads to more effective solutions, as the people closest to the problem are involved in the process.
CLEVR and low code
Are you looking into using low code for your company, or do you just want to learn more about the technology? Why not get in touch or take a look at our handy low code guide.
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