What is low-code workflow automation?
Low-code workflow automation is a development approach that enables users to create custom applications with minimal coding knowledge. Instead of writing lines of code from scratch, users can rely on pre-built components and drag-and-drop elements to build workflow automation tools. This results in faster development times, fewer errors, and more collaboration between developers and non-technical users.
Low-code lets businesses automate various processes, such as claims processing, policy issuance, and underwriting. It allows for easy integration of existing systems and eliminates the need for expensive IT experts. Because of this, low-code workflow automation tool is used across many industries, including insurance, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Common features of low-code workflow automation platform
- A Drag-And-Drop Interface, design templates, pre-built elements, and code blocks
- Integrations: A good low-code automation tool should provide easy integration with the company’s current suite of productivity products.
- Collaboration: Access control should be fine-grained so teams can collaborate effectively.
- Scalability and Security: It must be flexible enough to meet the company’s needs as it expands. And since low-code contains lots of internal data, security is a must.
- Recognizing the Arrays of Features: Determining which departments will benefit most from a certain toolset is necessary.
- Rapid portability: The low-code workflow automation solution should provide instant mobility built in one location with deployment everywhere.
- Support from vendor: It’s not enough for a product to have a simple interface; users also need access to support and training from the vendor.
Low-code automation vs RPA: Which is better?
Before low-code workflow automation, companies mostly used RPA (Robotic Process Automation) to build service workers to mimic human behavior for a particular task.
Because of this, RPA is a great solution for automating tedious departmental tasks and working with the legacy system in a specific part.
Meanwhile, low-code is better for creating cross-department and cross-functional processes requiring multiple tasks and human input simultaneously. Therefore, you should use low-code for a comprehensive management system and complex tasks or processes.
But the best part is that most Low-code workflow automation platforms support building bots and service workers using RPA. For example, you can build service workers to scan your documents, combining it with AI from low-code to analyze data and use low-code workflow automation to classify them into the database.
Learn about the distinctions between Low-code and RPA and discover how to effectively combine them in the linked article. Gain insights into harnessing the power of both automation approaches now!
Why should you use low-code for process automation?
1. High performance
Low-code platforms allow faster and simpler development of business applications, enabling companies to implement new digital services more quickly. In low-code environments, the quickness is made possible via:
- Interaction styles based on dragging and dropping
- Pre-built code blocks and API
- The simple, low-code approach returns control of automation of end-to-end processes to LOB users, allowing them to adapt to changing business requirements
- Real-time version control and autosaves
- Allow multiple people to work on a project at the same time.
2. Drives value
Low-code is a game-changer in software development by reducing the complexity and costs of development. Now let’s break it down:
By lowering the cost of digital transformation, you free up the budget for other strategic initiatives, which in return, drives more results for your business performance.
On the other hand, low-code allows rapid development, which means the delivery time is shortened, and your end user can start adopting the automation application immediately. Digital transformation is pushed faster and, thus, leads to more value.
3. Agility
According to Harvard Business Review, companies must rethink, reinvigorate, react, and reinvent to succeed in the modern business world. With low-code workflow automation, you can do just that. Previously, even small changes to workflows required custom coding, but low-code tools enabled LOB leaders to make changes themselves, avoiding the need for IT involvement and facilitating instant updates.
Most automation tools on the market today are made as one-size-fits-all. But with low-code workflow platforms, you can create your own processes following your businesses strategy, operations and goals.
4. Optimize and scale
The scalability of an application may be looked at from two different angles:
- Runtime scalability means improving the service quality you provide to your customers by increasing your application’s deployed capacity during runtime.
- Scalability in developer time means you can manage several applications in your portfolio with a small amount of code that works across all contexts.
When it comes to low-code automation, optimization, and scalability are crucial. It entails minor automated procedure adjustments to increase productivity and decrease the time and effort needed to complete each one. This can benefit it shorter time to market for new goods and improved efficiency in existing ones.
Use cases of low-code workflow automation platform
A LC platform for automation are transforming business operations, and there are numerous use cases that demonstrate their effectiveness. Here are some low-code automation examples:
1. No more manual and tedious tasks
Organizations can handle even the most complex processes with high-performance low-code workflow automation solutions, including employee portals, project management, cross-department workflows, and operational dashboards. They also seamlessly connect with current infrastructure and have engaging user interfaces that encourage adoption among staff.
Manual and repetitive tasks can take up significant time for employees, reducing productivity and impacting the company’s bottom line. These platforms allow these manual tasks to be automated, freeing employees’ time for more critical work. Using low-code workflow automation can reduce errors by up to 90%, all while saving time and increasing efficiency.
2. Dealing with process rigidly
Some business processes can be rigid and difficult to change. Due to the flexibility provided by low-code workflow, firms can easily make changes to their internal system following their business strategy.
As a bonus, it allows non-technical groups to improve workflows and tailor their platforms using familiar tools like the “drag and drop” visual manner. They also provide a responsive design that automatically adapts to the display size of the user’s mobile device, tablet, or any other screen-based gadget. That is to say, the need to manage several code bases for various target devices is rendered moot by the write-once-run-anywhere (WORA) methodology.
3. Standardize your process
Standardizing your processes across an organization ensures consistency and reduces errors with low-code. The idea is to establish a connection process between the customer service, sales, back office, and technical departments to support each other better.
When a sale is made to a customer, useful data and information will be automatically transferred to the customer service team to provide care. If a customer faces a technical problem and reports it to the services team, the technical team will receive a notification immediately with just one click from the customer service team.
Paperwork is inefficient and error prone. Authorized users may enhance the storing and exchange of critical data using a low-code business process management (BPM) platform that includes a document management feature. Business users may then execute simple automation to distribute papers to the appropriate people in a minute.
4. Other use cases
There are many other use cases for low-code workflow automation platforms, such as:
- The onboarding process for new employees, thus reducing the time and effort required to get new hires up to speed,
- The hiring process, including resume screening and interview scheduling,
- The procurement process, including vendor selection and purchase order creation,
- The inventory management process, including stock tracking and reordering,
- The billing process, including invoice creation and payment processing,
- Project managers that can streamline project workflows, track progress, and manage resources effectively,
- Marketing processes, from lead generation to campaign management.
These use cases demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of low-code automation platform. By automating routine tasks and standardizing processes, businesses can save time, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency. Additionally, companies can become more agile and better equipped to respond to changing market conditions by making it easier to modify and adapt strategies.
About how low-code can go together with agile, you can learn more at our article: Low-code And Agile Development: A Match Made In Heaven
Best to use low-code workflow automation tools
Most low-code platforms nowadays can support process automation development, but some excel more than others. Here are our top choices and also, read this blog if you want to deep dive reviews on these low-code platforms and others.
- Microsoft Power Apps: This development platform enables users to create custom enterprise-level applications and business process automation seamlessly without extensive coding. Coca Cola, Campari Group, and Toyota are among the companies that have used this platform. Learn how this manufacturer changed from paperwork to robotic automation with PowerApps.
- Kissflow: This platform allows users to automate business processes, from procurement to finance to HR, by creating workflows, setting up approvals, and generating reports with ease. Pepsi, HubSpot, and Saint-Gobain have used Kissflow.
- UI Bakery: This low-code workflow automation platform is the perfect choice for small and medium-sized businesses. Marshall Securities and Bandwidth are among its users.
- QuickBase: With QuickBase, users can automate workflows, manage projects, and generate reports without extensive coding. P&G and Mondelez International are among their users.
- TrackVia: This platform empowers users to automate business processes by creating custom applications, setting up workflows, and generating reports without extensive coding. Downer, Utility Constructions, and Northside Hospital are among their users.
- Airtable: This platform allows users to create custom databases, organize their data, automate workflows, and collaborate with team members in real time. Shopify, Time, Autodesk, and Medium are among their users.
- Huginn: This is an open source low-code automation tool that build service workers and bots that mimic human behavior when completing a task. You can learn more about Huginn and other open source low-code tools ( both free & paid) in our article.
As one of the first gold partners of Microsoft PowerApps in APAC, Synodus provides deep-in-tech consultation and top-notch coding support in Custom Low-code Development Service.
We have teams of Low-code experts to help you carry out optimized process automation and robust business applications. View our portfolio!
Challenges in using low-code workflow automation
Low-code workflow automation platforms have certainly gained popularity in recent years. Their ability to automate complex tasks with minimal coding experience has made them a favorite among businesses. However, like any technology, low-code workflow also has its share of challenges that companies must consider.
- Integration Issues: One of the biggest challenges of low-code automation is integrating it with existing systems. Many businesses already have a wide range of legacy systems, and incorporating a new automation platform can be daunting. Low-code process automation often requires integrating existing databases, APIs, and third-party services. The automation platform may not function properly without proper integration, leading to inefficiencies and errors.
- Training and Support: Low-code workflow automation platforms are designed to be user-friendly, but they still require training and support. Employees need to be trained in how to use the platform, which can be time-consuming. Additionally, businesses need to ensure that they have access to adequate support when issues arise.
- Security Concerns: These platforms require access to sensitive data, which raises security concerns. Businesses need to ensure that the chosen automation platform is secure and that there are no vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Additionally, companies must ensure employees are trained to handle sensitive data to prevent data breaches.
- Governance: The development of apps on these low-code platforms may provide specific governance challenges. Considering both the user’s identification and the technology at their disposal is crucial for effective governance.
- Scalability Issues: Some low-code workflow automation tools may have scalability issues. As businesses grow, they may need to automate more tasks and workflows, and the automation platform may need help to handle the increased workload. This can lead to delays, errors, and inefficiencies, affecting the business’s overall performance.
While low-code automation software offer many benefits, businesses must also consider the challenges that come with them. Integration issues, training and support, security concerns, and scalability issues are some challenges companies must address to ensure efficiency, security, and scalability.
Get ready to tackle low-code challenges and discover effective solutions. Explore tips to overcome common hurdles in low-code workflow automation now!
Wrapping up
Low-code workflow automation has emerged as a game-changer for businesses looking to improve efficiency and productivity. Companies can easily automate processes and workflows without extensive technical knowledge or custom coding with such platforms. However, low-code process automation has its caveats. To overcome these limitations, businesses must collaborate clearly between IT and citizen developers to ensure seamless adoption.
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