The point being that low-code is one way to boost inclusiveness in digital transformation.
Line-of-business managers are increasingly in search of functionality that helps them do their job more efficiently, such as reducing workloads and improving efficiency.
To achieve these results, business line managers are looking for specific characteristics in an intelligent automation platform, according to a recent study on enterprise automation based on a January 2020 survey of 450 automation and AI decision makers, and 450 individual contributors in North America, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Sweden and the UK.
The report examines the specific requirements for an intelligent automation platform from the perspectives of IT and ‘citizen developers’—business users that are increasingly driving and implementing automation strategies. The figures show an increasing demand (at the time of survey) for:
- Reduced workloads (67%) and improved efficiency (74%)
- Strong integrations with current technology (74%)
- An easy-to-learn platform (73%)
- An easy-to-use platform (71%)
Survey respondents expected additional benefits by selecting a more intuitive automation platform capable of accommodating IT and business line managers as well as citizen developers, including:
- Increased employee productivity (52%)
- Improved customer experience (49%)
- Improved operational efficiency (45%)
Organizations using low-code intelligent automation platforms in the study cited the greatest success in digitally-transforming their most valuable, information intensive business workflows, according to Kofax, a supplier of Intelligent Automation software for digital workflow transformation that commissioned the study.
Digital first, low-code second?
An earlier study by Kofax had pointed to the progress organizations had realized in automating key workflows, as well as their strong preference for a single-vendor platform delivering end-to-end automation. Said Chris Huff, the firm’s Chief Strategy Officer: “Organizations are rapidly shifting to a digital-first culture… and are increasingly investing in digital-first strategies to drive growth, efficiency and resiliency by upskilling the digital savviness of employees. They’re also investing in integrated intelligent automation platforms built for professional and citizen developers. Integrated low-code platforms enable and accelerate collaboration between line-of-business and IT leaders as they work together to digitally-transform complex high-value business workflows, ultimately connecting the enterprise for increased agility.”
Huff said the current report highlights a need for organizations selecting and implementing an intelligent automation platform to incorporate the needs of IT professional developers and business user citizen developers.
