Getting the most out of low-code: how to approach a new way of thinking?

Opportunities and a few storm clouds on the horizon 

The wild west scenario described is unlikely to be a daily reality for most companies or public sector organizations. However, as we discussed in our latest article, even individual low-code applications have already provided significant benefits to daily digitalization. 

Many of our clients have also recognized that, if left unchecked, the mass of low-code applications and automations — which otherwise simplify daily tasks — can lead to problems. Here are a few examples: 

• Overlapping development work in different parts of the organization 
• Security and data privacy risks caused by careless access permissions 
• Wasted resources due to inefficient use of licenses 
• Loss of knowledge when developers leave 
• Time wasted due to unreliable, faulty applications 

These challenges can, however, be tamed by harnessing the full potential of low-code, particularly the Microsoft Power Platform, through two complementary perspectives that sit between business and IT: an organizational and process-focused governance model, and a Center of Excellence (CoE) that provides technical support and backing for developers and business units. 

Governance model: security, compliance, and budget control 

A well-designed low-code governance model helps optimize the development and use of applications and automations. It ensures that all solutions produced adhere to the company’s standards and regulations, clarifies operating models and responsibilities, reduces risks, and improves overall security. 

The low-code governance model also reduces overlapping development efforts by defining clear processes and approval procedures for new tools, preventing resources from being wasted on developing a dozen nearly identical applications. If someone, somewhere, develops something ingenious, it can be easily replicated elsewhere. The governance model promotes collaboration between different business units and ensures that everyone is aware of new solutions and established best practices. 

The governance model defines clear ownership for components, access rights and roles, eliminating the need to grant all possible permissions to everyone “just in case.” This way, an eager user can no longer accidentally open a public interface that allows anyone to access confidential information, such as customer or patient data. 

Although low-code platform licenses are often cheaper than ready-made solutions, they are by no means free. With a governance model in place, license costs can be kept under control by allocating the right number of permissions based on actual needs. 

A well-managed environment strategy includes distinct environments for development, testing, and production. Unverified features no longer appear unexpectedly in the daily lives of end users, as development work is carried out in distinct development and testing environments. 

Center of Excellence (CoE): catalyst for innovation

The Center of Excellence (CoE) is the powerhouse of an organization utilizing the Power Platform — a group of designated experts aimed at supporting developers and business units in making the most effective use of low-code. Microsoft has developed the CoE Starter Kit for Power Platform which is a collection of components and tools. By leveraging its templates and best practices, processes for managing and monitoring applications and automations are established, user training for utilizing the Power Platform is supported, efficient use of platform resources and licenses is tracked, and reports on application usage, performance, and compliance are generated. 

In the wild west, no one monitors whether applications and automations actually work, and instead of saving time, they may become time sinks for the organization. The CoE provides developers and business units with guidelines and tools that ensure applications and automations function correctly and as intended. 

An often underestimated but essential part of application development is documenting the implemented solutions. Even the most ingenious application loses its edge if no one understands how it works or how to maintain and update it after the developer has left. The CoE can help define practices that ensure that implemented solutions are properly documented. This way, the functionality, maintenance, and development of applications can continue even after the developer has moved on to new challenges.

Strategic harnessing of low-code benefits

Low-code tools offer a great opportunity to tackle the chaos of legacy systems that has developed over time in the public sector or to automate repetitive routines in any customer-facing work. However, based on our experience, the useful guidelines established for traditional software development may be overlooked in the excitement of low-code. Uncontrolled use of the tools can lead to security risks, overlapping development efforts, or wasted resources. 

A well-designed governance model and the Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence toolkit facilitate the risk-free realization of business value and time savings. It is advisable to start building a low-code governance model well in advance — not only when the wild west is already in full swing. When the practices are clear, citizen developers do not have to worry about what they can or cannot do, allowing innovations to flow freely. The governance model and CoE guide citizen developers in selecting the right tools and methods, support the widespread deployment of the most useful applications, and provide visibility into existing implementations to reduce overlapping work. 

Cowboys ride freely, but the horses are in harness.