As low-code and no-code approaches rise, developers brace for new challenges
‘People rapidly create things, rapidly deploy things and rapidly regret things. Each subsequent generation of technology makes it easier to build bad solutions fast.’…
The Covid crisis accelerated many things digital, and among them, the drive to open up relatively simple interfaces that enable non-technical users to build their own applications, as well as speed up the work of professional developers — known as low-code or no-code solutions. At the same time, some industry observers point out that citizen developers aren’t going to be taking the reins of IT anytime soon.
There’s no question that the Covid situation accelerated the low-code/no-code movement, out of necessity. And with it, came the platforms. While “use of prepackaged software components and frameworks to accelerate custom development is not new… the quick response of development platform vendors as solutions providers during the early Covid-19 crisis will be seen as a signal event in emergence of prescriptive low-code platforms,” according to an analysis issued by Forrester analysts John Bratincevic and John Rymer. (Available as a free download from Ultimus.)
The emphasis is on prescriptive, as these platforms aren’t just tools, as they offer, through highly visual components, “Lego-like blocks of business functionality” to configure and compose enterprise applications. “They abstract business functions through business components that manage invoice processing, ledgers, timesheets and schedules, onboarding, and other business functions.”
Still, as Bratincevic and his co-authors caution, low- and no-code progress is dependent on how far vendors are willing to go. “Most advocates of prescriptive low-code are small vendors requiring deep customer commitments. And vendors must deliver both business-domain and development-platform expertise.”
In many ways. “low-code” and “no-code” are forever a promise that are just a couple of years away. As Steve Jones, CTO of Capgemini, pointed out in a recent post, “the number of developers in IT only continues to increase, and is forecast to keep increasing… how come if ‘no-code’ is going to be the future?”
Jones recalls how certain Windows environments in the 1990s served as “low-code” platforms, later to be followed by Java platforms — “I remember using a tool such as VisaJ which enabled you to visually model your Swing GUI and have the Java code generated, no-code,” he relates. “Roll forwards to BPEL and BPMN and vendors talked about it being a no-code as everything was meta-data, then we had ‘Mashups’ that enabled people to quickly create data driven applications and combine them together.”
Jones has a simple, one-question test to determine the viability of low-code or no-code applications: “Do you have an ‘if’ statement or equivalent?” If so, those conditions need to be tested, he adds, noting that low- and no-code environments should be referred to as “no-test” environments. “People rapidly create things, rapidly deploy things and rapidly regret things, if there is one thing for certain it’s that each subsequent generation of technology makes it easier to build bad solutions fast.”
Ideally, what low-code and no-code environments need is a way to automatically manage the mistakes users will make, he adds.
At the same time, while low-code and no-code platforms are on the rise, professional developers aren’t going to see their employment prospects anytime in the near or distant future. “These tools are getting better, but they won’t replace developers any time soon,” relates Tatum Hunter in a recent post at the Built In community. For starters, “low-code and no-code won’t siphon jobs from developers because those platforms don’t facilitate the work devs do in the first place,” she writes. “Large companies already have developers on staff for custom software needs, while the small and medium companies would probably never consider hiring developers for internal tooling.”
The roles of developers are elevated, as they are less mired in low-level coding and integration tasks. “No-code and low-code platforms have the potential to boost the business value of programmers and non-programmers alike. Thanks to abstraction, non-technical employees can quickly spin up common types of applications and mold them to their immediate needs,” Hunter says. “Thanks to automation, devs save time on repetitive tasks like data entry or reporting.”
But “there are still plenty of ways for no-code and low-code to go awry,’ she adds. “Both programmers and non-programmers can quickly lose track of the architecture of what they’re building, which makes for jumbled, poorly performing software.” She quotes Alex Hudson, a CTO advisor, who notes that while low-code and no-code systems “work very well on the small scale — that functional-level process where you’re looking at small pieces of logic — but when you’re trying to piece it all together and see how all these things interact, it just becomes really, really difficult.”
For their part, Forrester’s Bratincevic and his team observe that no matter how advanced low- and no-code solutions get, It professionals will still need to do plenty of hand-holding. “Don’t confuse ‘no code’ with ‘no work,'” they advise. “Prescriptive low-code vendors promising solution delivery without any coding are promoting quicker solution delivery and evolution as well as potentially reduced technical debt. They’re not promising that business experts can deliver substantial projects without attention to good development and delivery practices. Discipline still matters.”
Ultimately, software development is a high expression of creativity that can’t be automated. As Mary Rose Cook, an engineer with Airtable, also quoted in Hunter’s article, put it: “If programs are just a means to get things done, then sure, developers should be worried about automation’s growing capabilities. But if programs are a means for humans to creatively tackle new problems, explore new philosophies and even make art, the need for programmers will never go away.”
Do you spend too long in front of your desk, and not enough time moving? I know I do, and 2020, with all the COVID, lockdowns, and closed gyms and such, hasn’t helped.
At some point during the pandemic, I decided to take control back, and put my health and fitness at the top of the list once again.
The Apple Watch continues to be lynchpin of my fitness goals. It keeps me motivated, logs my exercise and activity, and keeps an eye on aspects of my health that might otherwise go neglected.
I’ve tried dozens of other smartwatches, and while many were good, none came close to the breadth of offerings that the Apple Watch brought to the table (or, more accurately, my wrist!).
I sure love swinging kettlebells, maces, and clubs around, but they’re very unforgiving. Knock yourself in the head or your leg with a lump of steel and you’re going to know about it. A bag — a tough one — filled with water is a lot more forgiving, but no less challenging.
Also, if you’re exercising indoors, it’s a heck of a lot less damaging if you drop it on the floor.
I also love the fact that I can empty the Hydrocore, pack it down, and take it with me when traveling.
The TRX is not cheap, but I’ve had a couple of sets, and after years of use, abuse, and neglect, they’re still going strong. And TRX has made the leap into the 21st century by developing a very comprehensive app that offers workouts and challenges, as well as logging your workouts.
What I love about the TRX system is the versatility: I can use it at home, in a hotel room, or even outdoors. That way, there are no excuses not to train!
All the benefits of owning a bike and going to a riding club, but in a workout device that you can fit into an apartment.
The peloton isn’t for me, but I’ve spoken to a number of owners who absolutely love their bike, and feel that even after months of ownership that it continues to deliver masses of value and fun.
Not sure if it’s for you? Take advantage of the 30-day home trial.
As much as I like my AirPods Pro, they’re just not suited to hard exercise because they pop out of my ears a lot (and since I exercise a lot outdoors, it can sometimes take some time to find them again!). This is why I’ve made the switch to the Sennheiser CX Sport.
They’re light, comfortable, sound good, have a decent microphone, and are good at resisting sweat and other moisture.
I also love the color — it makes them easy to spot!
The Apple Watch continues to be lynchpin of my fitness goals. It keeps me motivated, logs my exercise and activity, and keeps an eye on aspects of my health that might otherwise go neglected.
The New South Wales Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello has lauded the state’s QR code venue check-in system, prior to it becoming mandatory for hospitality businesses and hairdressers when 2021 arrives.
If businesses do not use the Service NSW QR code check-in system, they face AU$5,000 fines, closure of the business for a week, and should the venue further fail to comply, potentially a month’s closure.
“The consequences of non-compliance and complacency when it comes to electronic record keeping are serious — it puts people’s health at risk and destroys jobs,” Dominello said.
“The feedback we’ve received from contact tracers is that the Service NSW QR code is the most effective system in assisting NSW Health to protect the community.
“Our QR code also prevents the use of fake names as a customer’s personal details are automatically captured via the Service NSW app when they scan their smartphone over the QR code.”
Government advice on the check-in arrangements says customers who do not have the app, can still register at a venue via an online form.
The mandatory use of the Service NSW QR code was first announced last week, with Dominello adding on Wednesday over 50,000 businesses were already on board, and 2 million people have used it.
NSW is looking at whether to extend the mandatory requirements to other industries later in the year.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday where 18 new positive cases were identified in the state in the past 24 hours, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the usage of the app would allow for increased accuracy should the need to contact trace occur, would allow for people to quickly move in and out venues, and lessen the chances of congregation around business entrances, particularly on New Year’s Eve.
Sydneysiders are being encouraged to “limit non-essential gatherings over the New Year period where possible”.
Meanwhile at the federal level, the Commonwealth government has continued to push its expensive and problematic COVIDSafe app.
A recent Victorian report into the state’s contact tracing system said the effectiveness of the app was insignificant. Despite analysis of the COVIDSafe app being outside the scope of the inquiry, it noted that no evidence has been given to suggest that the app has been effective or contributed to supporting Victoria’s public health response.
“Our QR code also prevents the use of fake names as a customer’s personal details are automatically captured via the Service NSW app when they scan their smartphone over the QR code.”
How to design your business to deliver better customer outcomes
To successfully compete in the next normal, companies must develop a new strategic playbook for improving the stakeholder experience and business growth opportunities.
In the next normal, businesses must develop a new customer engagement model that places a strong emphasis on measuring progress based on outcomes.
COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated digital business transformation. The pandemic led to breakneck speed shift to digital-first customer engagement and remote work, prompting service and support organizations to reconsider the future of their people, process, and technology. According to recent research from Salesforce, teams are navigate new standards of engagement. As customer expectations shift, a new digital-first playbook is emerging. Eighty-one percent of decision makers say they’re accelerating digital initiatives.
As the pandemic panic gives way to post-pandemic planning, how well-positioned is your organization to deliver growth? A series of intimate conversations with Customer Experience and Customer Success executives reveals a new playbook for growth in the next normal and beyond.
Research shows that in order for businesses to connect with their customers, they must focus on outcomes, a new set of customer health metrics, improved service agility and opportunities to co-create value.
Here are eight strategic questions your organization can ask right now to look in the direction of growth, inspired by groundbreaking new research from Karen Mangia and Mathew Sweezey of Salesforce:
Instead of trying to be all things to all people, who can you serve best? Go narrow and deep.
Who is your customer now? Invest in new buyers and influencers.
How many Voice of the Customer (VOC) repositories does your organization maintain? Simplify and centralize customer insights.
Which more strongly correlates with results for your organization: Customer Outcomes or Customer Experiences? Redefine Customer Success.
Once you create alignment with your key stakeholders about the answers to these questions, the next four plays with a question prompt to consider are:
Which organizational silos could you break down using customer outcomes as a catalyst? Correlate Customer Experiences with Customer Outcomes.
What is the best measure of your customer relationship health? As you evolve your definition of who your customer is and how you define customer success, evolve your metrics as well. This may mean a shift away from Net Promoter Score (NPS) toward Time To Value (TTV).
How can you move at the speed of customer relevance? Innovating a new future requires organizational agility. What’s one process step you can remove to enable your customer facing teams to become more agile?
Are you co-creating with your customers? What would it mean to your organization if you could collaborate with your customers to design the outcomes you aspire to achieve together?
What is the customer experience of the future?
Delivering the customer experience of the future begins with leveraging the current shift in customer expectations and operating context as an opportunity to reset priorities and develop a new CX playbook. https://t.co/u12dtrBhtNpic.twitter.com/tTd8zywxjQ
Once you set your strategic direction, consider the organizational structure that sets you up for success. Experience Executives reveal that organizational hierarchies of the past are no longer effective to deliver the outcomes of the future. While the executives represented organizations of varying sizes and industries, four common core principles influenced their structural redesigns beyond what we’ve detailed above:
The most effective employee loyalty program ever launched is leadership trust.
Executive Support is the mission-critical first step. Visible, vocal executive support is required to launch the transformation and to sustain the transformation. Leaders responsible for delivering new results in new ways must go beyond having a seat at the table to have decision making influence and authority. Access to budget – particularly for change management, reskilling and retooling – is also critical. Resource investment signals this portfolio is a priority.
Correlate employee effort with employee success. Create a clear between employee effort, employee results, and employee rewards and recognition. Do your employees see themselves in your mission as well as your metrics? Ask your employees for feedback to confirm or deny your hypothesis.
Create a ‘customer outcomes’ council. Create an internal council to help drive these changes across the organization. The council should be constructed of senior leaders from various departments and broken into working groups focused on the key experiences and moments of truth along the customer journey.
Create and celebrate mini-milestones. Break your long-term journey down into a series of mini-milestones and micro-moments. Make sure to measure what matters to your customers and their definition of successful outcomes. Share the results and progress made. Celebrate progress. Celebrate behavior change. Celebrate new results.
Strategy: 6 Keys to Align Teams Around Customer Outcomes
Businesses must continue to measure effort and progress and the journey towards earning your customer’s future business starts with measuring and reporting outcomes to all stakeholders. Cultivating a culture of responsibility and accountability starts with trust and radical transparency. Growing companies measure their progress based on their customer’s ability to achieve their desired business goals. The two most important core values of successful companies will be trust and customer success. In the next normal, business leaders must adopt an outside-in approach of ensuring that they are consistently able to deliver outcomes that matters to their customers, partners, and communities.
Discover additional insights, strategies and actions you can take using the slide deck here.
What are you discovering about how to transform your customers’ experience? We invite you to join us on Twitter @valaafshar, @karenmangia and @msweezey.
This article was co-authored by Karen Mangia, vice president, Customer and Market Insights, at Salesforce and Mathew Sweezey, director of Market Strategy, at Salesforce.
Karen Mangia is vice president, Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce. Her work focuses on strategies for personal and professional success, and she regularly works with executives, managers, and future leaders at companies of all sizes globally. She launched two new books in 2020: Listen Up! How to Tune In To Customers, And Turn Down the Noise and Working From Home: Making the New Normal Work For You – both from Wiley. She has been featured in Forbes and regularly writes for Thrive Global and ZDNet. Committed to diversity and inclusion, she serves on her company’s Racial Equality and Justice Task Force. She is a TEDx speaker and the author of Success With Less, a book that chronicles her own personal journey through a life-threatening health crisis. Her high-impact keynotes help organizations to access the future of work via innovative insights around the voice of the customer.
Mathew Sweezey is Director of Market Strategy at Salesforce. His work focuses on the future of marketing, and what brands must do to stay relevant with consumers amidst the continuously shifting landscape. His latest book The Context Marketing Revolution was published by Harvard Business Press in 2020 and has become an Amazon Best Seller. His work is often featured in leading publications such as The Economist, Forbes, AdAge, The Observer, and Brand Quarterly.