The power of automation is essential in today’s ever-changing corporate landscape. Automation has become a critical tool in nearly every industry because it enables organizations to streamline complex operations, enhance productivity, and cut costs. The rise of no-code platforms, which allow non-technical people to create and change automated workflows with minimum IT support, is a significant advancement in automation.

This article uses realistic examples from real-world circumstances to examine how integrating no-code automation can alleviate employee pain points.

What is No-Code Automation?

No-code automation, also known as No-Code Development Platforms (NCDPs), represents a paradigm shift in the world of software development and process automation. They offer a unique platform that empowers users to automate processes without any coding requirements. According to Gartner, by 2024, no-code and low-code app development will assume responsibility for over 65% of application development processes, underscoring the rising importance of these platforms in the IT landscape.

The no-code automation philosophy is based on a user-friendly visual interface allowing users to design complicated workflows by dragging and dropping components. These platforms use prebuilt templates and modules configurable to the needs of a business, allowing users to construct a wide range of applications and automation.

According to a report by McKinsey, adopting no-code platforms could potentially speed up application development by as much as 90%.

No-Code Development is the Future

Organizations are breaking down the boundaries that have historically limited automation to the realm of the IT department using no-code automation solutions. The platforms are simple enough for employees with little to no technical knowledge to use, putting the power of automation in the hands of business users and enabling the rapid implementation of digital solutions. As reported by Forrester, about 84% of enterprises have seen some level of improvement in business process efficiency and effectiveness due to adopting low-code and no-code tools.

No-code automation holds the potential for agility and rapid development. No-code platforms have the potential to dramatically reduce application development expenses while also shortening development time from months to days or weeks. This can potentially be transformative for businesses in highly competitive marketplaces, allowing them to innovate and respond to market changes faster than they could previously.

While no-code automation has many advantages, it does not entirely eliminate the need for traditional coding or IT personnel. Complex applications and integrations may still necessitate the participation of software developers. On the other hand, these platforms can augment IT departments’ capabilities, relieving them from regular activities and allowing them to focus more on strategic objectives.

Enhancing Productivity Through Task Automation

One of the most visible advantages of technological progress is the ability to streamline procedures, particularly repetitive and tedious procedures. Such duties, while vital, frequently require an excessive amount of time and money. According to Gartner, “Automation can reduce the time required to complete a task by up to 20 times.” Furthermore, the monotony of these duties can harm employee morale, leading to decreased productivity and job satisfaction. According to McKinsey, “Employees who are satisfied with their work tasks are 12% more productive than those who are dissatisfied.”

Real-world example

Consider the situation of a large organization’s Human Resources (HR) department. They are responsible for various tasks, one of which is onboarding new staff. This procedure includes setting up email accounts, allowing access to relevant software tools, arranging payroll, and other tasks. It’s a time-consuming and tiresome operation with the potential for human error.

In this situation, consider the transformational possibilities of a no-code automation platform. When a new employee is introduced to the HR system, HR could set up a procedure that automatically initiates the aforementioned duties. This type of automation saves time and resources on these operations and improves accuracy by lowering the possibility of human error.

Moreover, no-code automation platforms ensure a uniform process is followed every time, enhancing consistency across the board. A study from Gartner stated that “with more than $1 trillion in IT spending projected to be affected by the shift to cloud by 2025, a predictable and consistent automated process becomes a key factor in business success”.

In conclusion, reducing mundane tasks through technological advancements such as no-code automation platforms saves valuable time and resources and significantly improves employee productivity, consistency, and job satisfaction. The ripple effects of this transition are immense, with substantial gains in overall business efficiency and success.

Streamlining Communication

Efficient, clear, and timely communication remains a key difficulty for many employees, especially in large organizations where essential information frequently passes through several departments. According to Gartner, the old procedure is time-consuming and prone to bottlenecks and miscommunications. In this context, introducing no-code automation platforms is a wonderful solution for improving internal communications’ speed, clarity, and efficiency.

No-code automation platforms are digital solutions that allow non-technical individuals to create and deploy automated workflows to improve business processes. Employees do not need considerable coding skills to use these platforms, which allows for faster adoption and more widespread use within the organization. According to McKinsey, these platforms can increase the speed of workflow execution by up to 90% and reduce the conditions associated with human errors by as much as 50%.

Real-world example

Suppose a marketing department is preparing to launch a new campaign, which requires collaboration and approvals from multiple teams, including design, legal, and finance. This procedure traditionally involves sending numerous emails back and forth, increasing the likelihood of essential messages getting lost in crowded inboxes and possibly delaying the campaign launch.

With no-code automation, the marketing department can construct a workflow that automatically circulates the relevant documents to each team when required, keeps track of the approval process, and notifies all stakeholders once the process is finalized. This automated system ensures a timely and efficient operation, reducing the typical clutter associated with email communications.

Forrester’s data corroborate this automation’s benefits, indicating that organizations that use no-code automation can reduce the time spent on manual, repetitive tasks by 25-40%. The saved time can then be reallocated to more strategic, value-adding activities, boosting overall productivity.

In addition, no-code automation enhances transparency in the workflow. The system provides a visible audit trail, indicating who has approved the documents and when. Such transparency can be invaluable in fostering accountability and ensuring smoother, conflict-free operations.

Enhancing Accuracy and Compliance Through Automation

Accuracy and compliance are critical characteristics that can substantially impact a company’s profitability and reputation across all industries. However, these two factors are significant in industries where minor errors can have serious consequences, such as wasted resources, non-compliance fees, or legal ramifications. Many organizations are turning to automation as a strategy to mitigate these risks.

Automation, instead of manual operations, is intrinsically more precise and faster, reducing the risk of human error. According to a 2020 Gartner analysis, robotic process automation (RPA) can cut mistakes by up to 60%, improving overall operational efficiency. The paper also emphasizes that automated solutions offer a clear audit trail, making it easier to ensure and demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

Real-world example

Let’s take the example of the healthcare sector, where safeguarding the integrity of patient data is critical. Data entry or tracking mistakes might have disastrous consequences, including inaccurate diagnoses, unsuitable treatment plans, or billing problems. According to McKinsey research from 2021, the healthcare industry may save up to $300 billion annually by automating administrative processes, owing to reduced errors.

Consider a hospital that deploys a no-code automation platform for its data entry processes. Such a system could be programmed to cross-verify all patient data against pre-set criteria, effectively flagging any anomalies for immediate review. By implementing this automated process, the healthcare facility could ensure high accuracy and compliance, essential for maintaining patient trust and institutional reputation.

Moreover, this automation will also alleviate the staff of tedious paperwork, enabling them to concentrate more on their primary responsibility: patient care. By 2025, automation could free up to 20% of a nurse’s time that is currently spent on administrative work, according to a study by McKinsey. This improves efficiency and enhances the quality of care & assistance provided to patients, a win-win situation for the healthcare industry.

Encouraging Employee Empowerment and Innovation

Finally, by allowing non-technical employees to contribute to process automation, no-code platforms can empower them and foster a culture of innovation. When employees can solve their problems and improve their workflows, they will likely feel more engaged, motivated, and invested in their work.

Real-world example

At a software company, a product manager noticed that collating user feedback from different sources was time-consuming and inefficient. Using a no-code automation platform, she created a workflow that automatically aggregates feedback from various channels (e.g., customer emails, social media, and user forums) into a single, easily digestible format. This allowed her to respond more quickly and effectively to user needs, improving the product and saving her weekly teamwork hours.

Improving Business Scalability

Another substantial benefit of no-code automation lies in its contribution to business scalability. In the traditional scenario, scaling up often involves extensive manual effort or recruiting more resources. No-code automation can easily adjust to the increased workload, ensuring businesses can grow smoothly without disproportionately increasing their labor costs.

Real-world example

A booming e-commerce startup quickly found that its customer service team could not keep up with the growing volume of orders and related queries. Using a no-code platform, they automated various aspects of customer service, like order confirmations, shipping notifications, and responses to common questions. This allowed them to maintain a high level of customer service without constantly expanding the team, contributing to their ability to scale effectively.

Final Thoughts

The rise of no-code automation represents a seismic shift in how businesses approach process optimization. By reducing reliance on IT specialists and enabling non-technical users to automate tasks, no-code platforms can alleviate a host of employee pain points, improving efficiency, accuracy, job satisfaction, and scalability.

From mundane tasks to complex workflows, no-code automation offers a robust and versatile solution that can adapt to the needs of virtually any business. As companies continue to digitalize and the pace of business continues to accelerate, those that embrace no-code automation are likely to be the ones that stay ahead of the curve.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Michelangelo Buonarroti; Pexels; Thank you!

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In recent years, the technology landscape has been revolutionized by three powerful concepts: no-code platforms, citizen development, and conversational AI like Chat GPT. According to Gartner, by the year 2024, 60% of app development will be done by Rapid application development tools i.e., no-code low-code. As these technologies evolve and converge, they empower individuals to create innovative solutions and drive digital transformation. This article dives into the significance of this convergence, exploring use cases that illustrate the potential for creativity and productivity when these technologies are combined.

See also: ChatGPT: Everything You Need to Know and Timeline of Events

1. Democratizing application development 

The emergence of no-code platforms and citizen development has radically transformed the software development landscape. These innovations empower non-technical users to create their software applications, thus democratizing the application development process. By harnessing the power of no-code tools and Chat GPT’s AI capabilities, businesses can enable their workforce to tackle challenges, streamline processes, and improve efficiency.

The Role of Chat GPT’s AI Capabilities

By integrating Chat GPT’s AI capabilities with no-code platforms, businesses can create intelligent and automated solutions for various tasks. This not only streamlines processes but also improves efficiency across the organization.

Chat GPT’s AI can also assist employees, offering relevant and accurate responses based on natural language understanding. This enables companies to improve their employees’ overall experience and satisfaction.

Use Case: Self-Service Employee Portal for HR Management

An HR manager with no coding background wants to create a self-service employee portal that allows employees to access important information and handle everyday tasks without constant HR intervention.

The HR manager can use a no-code platform to build the self-service employee portal, selecting and customizing features such as payroll information, leave requests, and benefits enrollment. The visual interface and drag-and-drop functionality allow the HR manager to create an intuitive and user-friendly application.

By integrating Chat GPT AI into the employee portal, the HR manager can create a virtual assistant that answers common employee queries and guides them through various processes. This reduces the workload for the HR department and provides employees with immediate and personalized assistance.

2. Enhancing Customer Engagement 

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and ensure their offerings remain relevant to their target audience. A powerful synergy of no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT can enable companies to create unique and interactive customer experiences that not only meet but anticipate the needs of their users. This article will explore how this combination can be used to build a no-code chatbot for a marketing team, showcasing the advantages of integrating these technologies into a company’s customer engagement strategy.

Integrating Chat GPT for Real-Time Customer Engagement

Chat GPT, a state-of-the-art natural language processing model, offers powerful capabilities for understanding and generating human-like responses to text inputs. By integrating Chat GPT into a no-code chatbot, companies can provide users with real-time, personalized interactions that mimic human conversation. This enhanced level of engagement enriches the user experience and leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Creating a No-Code Chatbot: A Marketing Team Use Case

To illustrate the potential of combining no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT, let’s consider a marketing team that wants to create a chatbot for their website. The team can leverage a no-code platform to design and deploy the chatbot, customizing the interface to align with its brand identity and desired user experience. Next, by integrating Chat GPT’s natural language processing capabilities, the chatbot can understand and engage with visitors in real-time, answering questions, providing product information, and offering personalized recommendations.

The combination of these technologies allows the marketing team to develop a chatbot that provides immediate support to website visitors and gathers valuable insights into customer preferences and behavior. This information can be used to refine marketing strategies, improve product offerings, and tailor future customer interactions.

3. Streamlining internal communication and collaboration

These converging technologies can facilitate better organizational internal communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. By integrating no-code tools with Chat GPT, employees can efficiently access information and share insights.

Integrating No-Code Tools with Chat GPT for Enhanced Collaboration

By integrating no-code tools with Chat GPT, employees can create custom solutions that help streamline internal communication and collaboration. This can be achieved through the following steps:

• Identify key communication and collaboration challenges within the organization.
• Select a no-code platform that aligns with the organization’s needs.
• Design and build a custom application incorporating Chat GPT for instant query resolution and knowledge sharing.
• Deploy the solution across the organization and train employees on its usage.
• Continuously refine and optimize the solution based on employee feedback and evolving requirements.

Use Case: No-Code Project Management Tool with Chat GPT Integration

Imagine a team working on a complex project with multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and deliverables. Managing such projects can be challenging, with team members often needing help to access critical information or share insights in a timely manner

To address these challenges, the team can create a no-code project management tool that integrates Chat GPT. This solution would provide the following benefits:

• Instant query resolution: By integrating Chat GPT, team members can get real-time answers to project-related questions. This can significantly minimize delays and help maintain project momentum.
• Improved collaboration: The no-code project management tool can facilitate seamless communication among team members, allowing them to share updates, discuss issues, and collaborate on solutions.
• Enhanced decision-making: With easy access to information and insights, team members can make better-informed decisions, resulting in improved project outcomes.
• Customizability: The no-code nature of the tool allows for continuous refinement and adaptation to the team’s evolving needs, ensuring long-term effectiveness.

4. Accelerating innovation

The convergence of no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT empowers individuals to experiment with new ideas and innovate rapidly. Businesses can harness this creative potential to solve complex problems and stay competitive.

Harnessing the Power of Convergence for Rapid Innovation

A startup looking to build a new product can greatly benefit from this convergence of no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT. The startup can begin by building a no-code prototype of its product using a suitable no-code platform. This allows the team to quickly create a functional product version without spending time and resources on traditional software development processes. The result is a faster time-to-market and reduced development costs.

Incorporating Chat GPT for User Interactions

Once the prototype is built, the team can integrate Chat GPT to simulate user interactions and automate specific tasks. For example, Chat GPT can generate content, answer user queries, or guide users through the application’s features. This provides a more interactive and engaging user experience.

• Gathering Feedback and Iterating

With the no-code prototype and Chat GPT integration in place, the team can now gather user feedback to identify improvement areas and further refine their concept. This iterative approach, made possible by the agility of no-code platforms, ensures the final product aligns with user needs.

• Accelerating Time-to-Market

By leveraging the power of no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT, startups can significantly reduce product-to-market time. This competitive advantage allows businesses to stay ahead of rivals and quickly adapt to the ever-evolving market landscape.

5. Enhancing data analytics and visualization

Data analytics and visualization play a crucial role in modern businesses, allowing decision-makers to identify trends, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and make informed choices. However, navigating complex datasets and deriving insights can be challenging, especially for those who have a technical background. Combining no-code tools with Chat GPT offers a powerful solution to simplify data analysis and visualization processes while providing valuable insights.

No-Code Tools and Chat GPT for Data Analytics and Visualization

No-code tools allow users to create applications, dashboards, and data visualizations without coding expertise. These tools have democratized access to data analysis and visualization, enabling even non-technical stakeholders to derive insights from data. Popular no-code data analytics and visualization tools include Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, and Google Data Studio.

Chat GPT,a large language model developed by OpenAI that can provide contextual explanations and predictions based on the provided data. By integrating Chat GPT into data analytics and visualization workflows, businesses can benefit by analyzing complex datasets and generating human-like responses. This feature enables decision-makers to better understand the data and make better-informed choices.

Use Case: No-Code Dashboards and Chat GPT Integration

Company can leverage no-code dashboard to display KPIs other essential data while integrating Chat GPT for contextual explanations and predictions. This combination offers multiple benefits for decision-makers:

a). Simplified Data Analysis: No-code tools allow users to create interactive dashboards that enable them to visualize and explore data without the need for coding expertise. A user-friendly interface will enable decision-makers to navigate the data and identify trends and patterns easily.

b). Contextual Explanations: Chat GPT can analyze the displayed data and generate human-like explanations, helping decision-makers understand the context behind the numbers. This feature ensures that even non-technical stakeholders can comprehend the significance of the data and make informed decisions.

c). AI-powered Predictions: Chat GPT can leverage historical data to predict future trends, enabling decision-makers to plan and adapt their strategies accordingly. By integrating these predictions into no-code dashboard, users can visualize future scenarios and assess the potential impact on the business.

Conclusion

As no-code platforms, citizen development, and Chat GPT converge, the potential for innovation and digital transformation is vast. By empowering individuals to create solutions without coding expertise, these technologies democratize application development and break down barriers to entry. As businesses recognize the value of this convergence, productivity, creativity, and problem-solving across industries can surge.

The post The Convergence of Chat GPT, No-Code and Citizen Development appeared first on ReadWrite.

In today’s digital age, technology is advancing at a lightning-fast pace, and software developers are the wizards behind the scenes making it all happen. However, with the increasing demand for tech talent, companies face a significant challenge: Developer Shortage Crisis. This scarcity has led to fierce competition for top talent, making it difficult for companies to hire and retain skilled developers.

Although in 2016, it just took around two months for hiring companies to fill a developer role. But this has increased post-pandemic owning to the developer shortage in the world right now. By 2026, it is anticipated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that the United States will face a deficit of 1.2 million developers.

This is not good news — especially for companies who are looking to invest more in digital transformation. With the world moving towards artificial intelligence, big data, and other emerging technologies, there is more demand for developers than ever!

Companies need to explore how they can address the developer shortage and build a strong, sustainable tech team that can keep up with the ever-changing landscape of technology. So, let’s see how it will affect firms before diving in and learning how to close the gap between supply and demand and thrive in the age of technology.

How will Software Developer shortage affect your company?

Because of all these new initiatives, there is more pressure on the existing teams to take up more of this load. They must work on the company’s technology expansion plans apart from the legacy systems they are already working on. This will undoubtedly stretch your team too thin, causing you to lose out on productivity, not to mention the influence such a scenario has on employee morale.

When it’s hard to hire new developers because of developer shortage, the last thing we need is for existing developers to quit! Fortunately, there are some ways to drive innovation despite the developer shortage.

What can you do about the shortage of developers?

In the current digital landscape, software developers are in high demand, but there’s a shortage of skilled professionals to meet the growing needs of companies. So, what can businesses do to address this challenge? Let’s explore some actionable steps companies can take to mitigate the shortage of developers and build a strong tech team:

1. Harness the power of low-code and no-code tools.

With the latest no-code and low-code tools in the market, developers are not the only ones who can build apps. No-code tools like Quixy open the doors for citizen developers to step in and take control of the innovation. Citizen developers have a better idea of their requirements, and the no-code and low-code tools empower them to wear the hat of developers. This way, you can ensure that your current development team has the time and human resources they need to work on complex projects.

2. Incorporate low-code and no-code tools as part of extensive design systems.

It will inevitably make the process easier and more efficient if design, development, product management, and delivery managers are on the same page and speak the same language. It will make the collaboration so much better! This is where incorporating low-code tools come in. Low-code and no-code tools can be made part of design systems. As citizen developers, everyone can help in managing the whole process efficiently. Repetitive tasks can be automated, and efficiency can be improved seamlessly.

3. Don’t let HTML and CSS slow you down.

It is known that hand-coding HTML and CSS will slow you down, especially when working on things like screen design and layout. Several low-code and no-code tools out there let you visualize better and save a huge chunk of time in the process! The low-code tools also come in handy when simplifying writing databinding and data-access code.

4. Remove the designer-developer distance.

Designers and developers generally do not work together. Often, they work separately, so we need to streamline them so that the design can be coded. This is a huge challenge for both the design and development teams. It has a direct negative effect on productivity and wastes the time of both teams. Having no-code tools can help alleviate this problem by ensuring that the design team gives the development team a code that is easier to handle, update and build on.

5. Invest in your employees.

We already spoke about the importance of keeping your employees happy. This can be done by giving them more opportunities to learn new skills and take up new responsibilities. This will help them advance in their careers and benefit your company simultaneously. Thus, investing in employee training and development programs is the way to go when you are looking to stay ahead in the current scenario.

6. Be THE place to work.

Employees look for fair compensation. You must keep this in mind and offer competitive compensation and benefits packages! Employees know their worth and are looking for places that recognize their value. Being competitive in the market would mean offering a competitive salary, bonus, and benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc. This will help in both hiring and retaining talent!

7. Be Flexible in hiring.

As we saw, there is a massive developer shortage crisis; you can still develop developers in your own company. Instead of being rigid in the qualifications you look for while hiring, it will help if these requirements are relaxed.

It is okay if the employee comes with only some of the skills built-in; if they are willing to learn and develop new skills, they can be turned into an asset for the company. We have already seen what citizen developers are capable of. Thus, looking for candidates with transferable skills is the key. Hiring junior developers is also an effective way to tackle the problem.

8. Expand the talent pool

In the current world, there is no need for companies to limit themselves to a particular geographical location when they are looking to hire new talent. With work from home being the new normal, you can tap into the global talent pool, giving you a much bigger market to choose from.

9. Build your company Culture

A great workplace is just as important as any other factor, like compensation, when looking for a job. A strong company culture will give you a good chance of attracting top talent in the field. This will keep your employees happy and help in acquiring the best talent out there.

10. Start from Basics

Build strong relationships with educational institutions. This is where your future employees are studying and figuring out what career path to take. Working with colleges and universities to promote software development as a career choice will go a long way in tackling the developer shortage problem. As a company, you will also be able to offer internships and co-op programs, which will ultimately help the company in the long run!

Thus, incorporating the measures mentioned above, your company will be well equipped to move forward in the current scenario despite the developer shortage crisis the world is facing now.

Conclusion

The developer shortage crisis is a challenge that companies cannot afford to ignore in today’s tech-driven world. However, with the right strategies and mindset, it’s possible to build a strong, sustainable tech team that can keep up with the demands of the industry.

From investing in training and development to fostering a culture of innovation, the ways we’ve explored in this blog can help bridge the gap between supply and demand and set your company up for long-term success.

Don’t let the developer shortage hold your company back. Take action today and start building the tech team you need to thrive in the age of technology.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Christina Morillo; Pexels; Thank you!

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As the demand for software development continues to grow, the use of no-code, low-code platforms has become increasingly popular. These platforms help in no-code citizen development & citizen developers. Who may have little to no programming experience to create applications and automate workflows without writing a single line of code. While this democratization of technology is undoubtedly a positive development, Forrester Research predicts that it could also lead to a headline security breach in 2023.

What does this mean for those who are or who would want to be part of this no-code revolution? First, it’s essential to understand that no-code platforms are not inherently less secure than traditional coding methods. However, the ease of use and accessibility of these platforms could lead to a false sense of security among citizen developers, leading to potential security risks.

The risk of a security breach is not limited to citizen developers alone. While Forrester Research’s prediction of a security breach in 2023 may have been specifically focused on no-code/low-code platforms and citizen developers, it’s important to recognize that the risk of a security breach is not limited to this group alone.

Evolving Security-Threats

In today’s digital landscape, security threats are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Even traditional software development teams can unintentionally introduce vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. In fact, research shows that human errors cause the majority of data breaches! Such as misconfigurations or weak passwords, rather than deliberate malicious intent.

Therefore, it’s important for all members of an organization, whether they are citizen developers or professional software developers, to have a thorough understanding of potential security risks and how to mitigate them. By taking a proactive approach to security, organizations can reduce the risk of a costly and damaging data breach.

Organizations must prioritize security throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC), not just for no-code development.

One of the benefits of no-code development is that it enables rapid prototyping and iteration. Which can help teams identify and address shadow IT issues early on in the development process. However, it’s important to remember that no-code development is not a silver bullet for security. While no-code platforms may simplify the development process, they do not eliminate the need for rigorous security testing and review.

Organizations must prioritize security from the very beginning of the development process, whether they’re using no-code platforms or traditional coding methods. This means implementing security controls and testing throughout the SDLC.

From design to deployment and beyond. In addition, organizations must also ensure that they have the proper security training and resources in place for their no-code development teams. This includes educating developers on security best practices and providing access to tools and resources to help identify and mitigate security risks.

No-code development offers many benefits for organizations, including increased efficiency and faster time-to-market. However, it’s important to keep security concerns at the forefront of all software development efforts, regardless of the method used. By prioritizing security throughout the SDLC, organizations can ensure that their software solutions are secure, reliable, and effective.

The Importance of Choosing a Trustworthy No-Code Development Platform

When it comes to no-code development, not all platforms are created equal. Choosing a trustworthy no-code development platform is crucial for mitigating security risks and ensuring that your software solutions are reliable and secure.

One of the major reasons to consider when choosing a no-code development platform is the level of security built into the platform itself. Look for a platform with robust security features, such as encryption, access controls, and regular security updates.

In addition, it’s important to consider the reputation of the platform provider. Look for a provider with a strong track record of security and reliability check to see if they have any certifications or third-party audits to verify their security practices.

Finally, consider the level of support and resources provided by the platform provider. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive documentation, training, and support to help you mitigate security risks and ensure that your applications are secure.

Mitigating Security Risks in No-Code Development

Even with a trustworthy drag-and-drop no-code development platform, it’s important to take steps to mitigate security risks throughout the software development life cycle. This includes implementing security controls and testing at every stage of the development process.

One of the key benefits of no-code development is the ability to prototype & iterate on software solutions rapidly. This can help teams identify and address security issues early on in the development process before they become more costly and difficult to fix.

Another important step is to conduct regular security testing and review. This can include penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and code review to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities.

Finally, it’s important to ensure that all development team members are educated on security best practices and have access to resources that can help them identify and mitigate security risks. This includes training on secure coding practices, access controls, and other security-related topics.

Best Practices for Prioritizing Security in No-Code Development

To prioritize security in no-code development, following best practices throughout the software development life cycle is important. This includes:

1. Incorporating security into the design phase

By considering security from the very beginning of the development process, teams can identify potential security risks and design solutions that mitigate those risks.

2. Conducting regular security testing and review

Regular testing and review can help identify and address potential security vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.

3. Prioritizing access controls

Access controls are crucial for to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data and functionality within the application.

4. Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements

Depending on the industry and application, there may be specific regulatory requirements that are needed to be considered in the development process. It’s important to ensure that your application is compliant with these requirements.

5. Educating team members on security best practices

Finally, it’s important to ensure that all members of the development team are educated on security best practices. And have access to resources to help them identify and mitigate security risks.

By following these best practices, organizations can prioritize security in their no-code development efforts and ensure that their software solutions are secure, reliable, and effective.

Conclusion

While one cannot be ignorant of Forrester Research’s prediction of a security breach by citizen developers on no-code/low-code platforms. It is important to recognize that the risk of a security breach is not a constraint to this group alone.

Organizations need to take a comprehensive approach to security and risk management that includes all aspects of their technology stack, including third-party integrations, legacy systems, and even their own IT teams.

By understanding potential security risks and taking proactive measures to mitigate them, organizations can minimize the risk of a breach and protect their valuable data and assets. While no security strategy can guarantee 100% protection, taking a proactive and holistic approach can go a long way in reducing the likelihood and impact of a security breach.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about no-code/low-code platforms and their potential security risks are common among readers. Here are some questions that readers may have after reading the blog:

Q: Are LCNC platforms still worth using despite the potential security risks?

Yes, no-code/low-code platforms are still worth using despite the potential security risks. These platforms offer significant benefits, including faster time-to-market, reduced development costs, and increased agility. However, it is crucial to implement proper security measures to minimize the risks associated with these platforms.

Q: What can I do to minimize the risk of a security breach if I use a no-code, low-code platform?

To minimize security breach risk when using a no-code citizen development website builder, you should implement security best practices! Such as secure coding practices, data encryption, access control, and regular security audits. Additionally, you should ensure that your platform provider has robust security measures in place.

Q: Is it better to hire a professional developer instead of using a no-code/low-code platform to avoid security risks?

Not necessarily. While hiring a professional developer can reduce security risks, it can also be more expensive and time-consuming. No-code/low-code platforms offer faster development times, lower costs, and increased agility. However, it is crucial to ensure the proper implementation of security measures when using these platforms.

Q: How can I ensure that my no-code/low-code platform is secure?

To ensure that your no-code citizen development platform is secure, you should choose a platform provider with robust security measures, including access controls, data encryption, and regular security audits. You should also implement best security practices, such as secure coding, data encryption, and access control.

Q: Can small businesses benefit from using no-code/low-code platforms, or are they too risky?

Yes, small businesses can benefit from using no-code citizen development platforms. These platforms offer faster development times, lower costs, and increased agility, which makes them an excellent option for small businesses with limited resources. However, it is crucial to implement proper security measures to minimize the risks associated with these platforms.

Q: What steps can no-code/low-code platform providers take to improve security for their users?

No-code citizen development platform providers can take several steps to improve security for their users, including implementing access controls, data encryption, & regular security audits.

They can also provide user education on security best practices, offer secure coding templates, and conduct regular security assessments to identify vulnerabilities. Additionally, they can partner with security experts to provide additional security services to their users.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Nicholas Githiri; Pexels; Thank you!

The post Forrester’s No-Code Citizen Development Security Breach Prediction Misses the Mark appeared first on ReadWrite.

Entrepreneurship is synonymous with innovation and risk-taking, but it can be a challenging journey filled with obstacles and challenges. However, the rise of no-code technology has opened up new doors for entrepreneurs to take their ideas from concept to reality without spending countless hours coding.

No-code is a powerful software development approach that allows entrepreneurs to create, customize, and deploy software applications without the need to write any code. This approach is becoming increasingly popular among entrepreneurs, allowing them to create software solutions quickly and efficiently without needing expensive development teams or specialized coding skills.

According to Gartner, LC/NC tools will power more than 70% of new apps by 2025. Compared to 2020, fewer than 25% of apps used LC/NC platforms; that’s a 45% increase.

If you’re an entrepreneur considering no code for your business, this roadmap will guide you through determining if it is the right fit for your needs.

12-Step Roadmap to Mastering No-Code High-Income Skills

This 12-Step Roadmap to Mastering No-Code High-Income Skills is designed specifically for entrepreneurs who are looking to streamline their processes and increase their income potential through no-code technology. Get ready to take your entrepreneurship game to the next level and learn how to become a no-code master.

Step 1: Research the benefits and future of no-code

The first step in learning no-code is to research the benefits of this approach. No-code has many advantages, such as:

• • It’s accessible to anyone with a basic understanding of software development
  • It’s faster and more efficient than traditional software development

• It’s more cost-effective than traditional software development
• It’s more scalable than traditional software development

Step 2: Research different no-code platforms

The first step in learning about no-code is to research different no-code platforms. Many different no-code platforms are available, each with its own features and capabilities. Some of the most popular no-code platforms include:

• Wix
• Quixy
• Shopify
• Webflow
• Airtable

Research each platform and determine which one best fits your business needs.

Step 3: Identify your business needs 

Before determining if no-code is right for your business, you need to identify your business needs. This involves understanding the necessary software solutions and the features and capabilities needed to support them.”

Step 4: Evaluate the capabilities of different no-code platforms

Once you’ve identified your business needs, evaluate the capabilities of different no-code platforms. Compare the features and capabilities of each platform to your business needs to determine which one is the best fit. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What software solutions do I need to create?
• How complex are these solutions?
• How frequently do these solutions need updates and maintenance?
• How much budget do I have for software development?

Step 5: Decide if no-code is the right fit for your business. 

Based on your research, assessment, and testing results, decide whether no-code fits your business. It’s essential to research different no-code platforms and test them out with a free trial to see if they meet your business needs. By considering all these factors and assessing the results, you’ll be able to determine whether no-code is the right fit for your business.

Step 6: Consider the cost 

No-code platforms typically offer a range of pricing plans, so consider the cost of each platform and how it fits into your budget.

Step 7: Test the platform 

Most no-code platforms offer a free trial, so take advantage of this opportunity to test the platform and see if it fits your business.

Step 8: Evaluate the ease of use 

No-code platforms are designed & created to be easy to use, but some are easier to use than others. Evaluate each platform’s ease of use to determine which fits your business needs best.

Step 9: Consider the scalability

Consider the scalability of each platform and how it will support your business as it grows. Ensure that your chosen platform can handle large amounts of traffic and data.

Step 10: Evaluate the customer support & look for integration 

Consider the customer support offered by each platform and determine if it is adequate for your business. Also, check out each platform’s integrations and determine if it can integrate with your existing tools and platforms.

Step 11: Create a simple software solution & assess the results 

Once you’ve learned the platform basics, create a simple software solution. It can be something as basic as a landing page or a basic website. And will allow you to practice using the platform and see if it’s a good fit for your business needs.

Once you’ve created a simple software solution, assess the results. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How long it took to design the software solution?
• How easy was it to create the software solution?
• How customizable was the software solution?
• How satisfied are you with the results?

Step 12: Make a decision & start minting dollars. 

After considering all of the above factors, make a decision about which no-code platform is the best fit for your business.

No-code products can help entrepreneurs make money by providing a fast and efficient way to create software solutions that address customer pain points.

With no code, you can create customized software solutions that address specific customer needs and pain points, such as streamlined workflow, automation of repetitive tasks or easy access to data.

Additionally, to make money from their software solutions, entrepreneurs can use no-code products to sell them as a service or product to customers. They have a couple of options here: they can offer the product as a subscription-based model, where customers pay a recurring charge to access and use the product — or they can use a one-time purchase model, where customers pay a single fee to access and use the product.

Entrepreneurs can create a successful and profitable business using no-code by addressing customer pain points and finding creative ways to monetize their software solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, No-code is a powerful software development approach that allows entrepreneurs to create, customize, and deploy software applications without the need to write any code. However, before diving into no-code — it is crucial to research different no-code platforms, identify business needs, and evaluate the capabilities of different no-code platforms.

You will want to consider the cost, test the platform, and evaluate the ease of use, scalability, and customer support. Begin to look for integrations and make a decision that fits the business needs.

No-code can save entrepreneurs significant money and give them more control over the development process. Before using no-code products entrepreneurs should ensure that it’s the right fit for their business. Entrepreneurs must evaluate their options carefully and determine if this approach aligns with their goals and strategy.

By following this roadmap, entrepreneurs can ensure that they make an informed decision about using no-code for their business.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev; Pexels; Thank you!

The post No-Code for Entrepreneurs: A 12-Step Roadmap to High-Income Skills appeared first on ReadWrite.

Personalized, reliable content continues to be the king according to the fundamental B2B marketing principles of recent years. Still, there are now more ways than ever to achieve that objective in the eyes of your audience. Here are the B2B marketing trends that we believe will endure through 2023.

B2B Marketing Landscape for 2023

1. Bolster your marketing plan for the recession

It won’t be prudent to ignore the economic issue as we anticipate 2023.

Yes, a recession is in the discussion.

It’s crucial for marketing (and sales) organizations to concentrate on budgets and plans for weathering the storm when downturns are imminent. Of course, there is no magic solution.

But our marketing specialists do have some knowledge that could be useful. Look at them down below!

Understand buyer’s behavior.

Alice de Courcy, CMO of Cognism, offers some sound advice on incorporating the most recent B2B marketing trends into your strategy for the coming year when it comes to addressing customer behavior in uncertain times:

You must embrace the following fundamentals:

• The purchasing process is not linear.
• A buyer cannot be moved in the market by one person or organization; they must move independently.
• Most of your buyers aren’t actively looking.
• As purchasers attempt to consolidate, budgets will become more restricted.

This implies that CMOs who haven’t yet switched from lead generation to demand generation will find things growing more complex. The focus should be on consistently providing value to our customers frictionlessly at the locations where they choose to consume it.

In times of economic uncertainty, consumers will be more likely to turn to indirect sources when purchasing. As a result, the buyer journey will continue to be impacted. Customers appreciate professional networks more than direct marketing.

To adjust to this trend, B2B marketers must prioritize establishing and keeping solid relationships with these indirect sources. This can entail starting referral programs or collaborating with influential people and organizations.

Reaching out to current customers and generating meaningful material from their experiences using your product can help businesses increase their credibility.

2. Content diversification

It should be no surprise that demand creation is a favorite topic at Cognism. The dispute between lead generation and demand generation may appear old news, but our team begs to differ.

Two crucial areas, content diversification and the development of best practices, are where early adopters will continue to advance this marketing trend.

The lead generation vs. demand generation argument may be over, which is regrettably not the case. Many companies still need to start using outdated lead-generation strategies.

The idea of a demand-gen playbook is still in its infancy. There are many unknowns and no strict operating rules, which is a big reason why it hasn’t been more widely adopted. The demand generation playbook is still in its infancy, though. There are numerous unknowns and no set procedures. This, in my opinion, is a significant factor in why it hasn’t yet gained broader acceptance.

Keep making continuous process iterations.

We’ve learned from the events of 2022 that we don’t have to do things the same way we always have.

For instance, you can establish specific procedures for your demand gen campaigns. When you conduct a live webinar, you can separate it into six segments and share it on social media. As a result, you can have several procedures to feed your content engine and be value-led. You need to revisit such strategies frequently and revise them.

Moving beyond just developing repeatable and scalable procedures is necessary to build best practices for a demand-gen marketing organization. To stack growth, you should instead rely on iterating those processes.

You may be good at making processes repeatable and scalable. But stacking growth is the component that you should emphasize for 2023. How can you strengthen the existing procedures and make them better? Is there a way to gain access to new channels? How can you develop new procedures and projects to support your continued expansion?

Remember – the most important lesson is that the benefits will wane no matter how well you do something.

3. Building long-lasting relationships with Subject Matter Experts

Throughout 2022, subject matter experts (SMEs) were a key B2B marketing trend. Some marketing executives have already invested their funds in this area.

However, not all SMEs are created equal, and 2023 is the year to forge lasting strategic alliances with your sector experts.

It will become more difficult to separate from the crowd as more marketers engage in SMEs. As a result, you must invest in your SMEs to help you create a longer-term plan that will enable you to accomplish those three crucial goals: raising brand awareness, establishing credibility, and educating your audience.

A demand generation engine’s success depends on its capacity to let your audience read, enjoy, and benefit from your content.

You will never succeed here if the content isn’t from a real subject matter expert. In 2023, we’ll see more organizations hiring SMEs or developing systems that allow organizations to work with SMEs consistently.

4. Not compromising human connection for human data

Many businesses will balance their budgets as they become more constrained and teams concentrate on what’s most crucial—driving revenue. Weighing the need to preserve that vital personal connection against when to utilize statistics to guide decision-making.

Marketing teams should focus on data to make wise judgments as organizations aim to save costs.

This is where data from AI-driven analytics is useful. It will help with more effective client targeting, needs analysis, and behavior predictions. The creation of a B2B marketing landscape strategy will require consideration of these essential findings.

Before examining the data, marketers should engage with consumers and prospects more frequently.

Many marketers have distanced themselves and were only interested in attribution tools. And that was because so much technology was available, and everyone felt it was wonderful.

Similarly, if you solely talk to customers, you might make bad choices because your CRM data on customer purchase motivations will always provide you with the appropriate response. But it’s kind of like a mixture of both.

But does your team already have the necessary tech stack and solid digital literacy?

According to the Marketing Profs study, 61% of respondents lacked the necessary technology or weren’t using it best to manage content. This implies that many businesses are creating IT stacks without a clear plan, which makes things much more difficult in unstable economic times.

5. Growing reliance on No-Code Martech tools

Imagine a world where everyone could construct websites, analyze complex data, handle vast amounts of material, develop automation logic, combine many apps to function together, and more. Because “no code” is changing marketing technology, you don’t need to imagine.

Even though the name is self-explanatory, let’s first define “no code.” The recent trend of “no code” capabilities in apps and software allows users with little to no coding experience to access functions that would often require some technical knowledge. Building websites, designing, blogging, and analyzing data from many sources—things that were formerly challenging — have all become as simple as signing up for software and connecting it all.

With the proliferation of no-code apps, it is now simpler than ever for marketers to delve into uncharted waters. People who have never even touched a website, for instance, may use it to post blogs, construct stunning landing pages, and even complete SEO plans.

Website design and development, data analysis, and automation are three essential marketing areas where no coding has been applied. These components of the business, which are typically among the most complex, have been made simple enough for most individuals to use them efficiently without having significant back-end coding skills.

Nothing appears more complex than building up internal workflows and automated marketing campaigns. Applications that require “no code” have made it simple to create automated marketing and sales actions. To set up a fluid workflow creation process, these apps will help you link and integrate a variety of products that you use.

6. Enhancing the quality of SEO

The most considerable upgrade, the Spam update, which Google tested in October 2022, was one of several new ones related to content and linkages. Algorithm engineers are actively addressing the problem of AI-generated content.

B2B marketers must produce original content that benefits their target audience. SEO Over the past six months, Twitter has been highly vocal about losing all of its SEO traffic. Deprioritizing websites that provide mediocre content and low-quality links is a skill at which Google’s machine-learning algorithm constantly improves.

Voice Search is another B2B marketing trend that grew in popularity in 2022 and will continue to grow.

SEO needs to be optimized for various mediums to be relevant in 2023. It’s important to address text, voice, and image searches.

For instance, voice search improves your site’s usability and functionality, making it accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

It’s not just about adhering to the ADA, ethical web design, and CSR goals; it’s also beneficial to the business’s cash line by reaching a larger audience. Enhancing SEO doesn’t have to be expensive.

7. The growing significance of user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) is becoming increasingly prevalent among B2B marketers as they continue to draw ideas from the B2C playbook.

It is logical. In a cutthroat industry, peer-to-peer recommendations are essential for fostering transparency and authenticity.

User-generated content for B2B is becoming more reputable and well-liked, much like influencer marketing. More and more companies are incorporating it into their strategy, and so far, it appears they are doing the right thing.

User-generated content” refers to legitimate and pertinent information from users, i.e., users whom the target audience may trust since they have similar traits.

Working actively on user-generated content improves brand recognition, enhances the brand’s image, aids in customer loyalty, and fosters consumer advocacy. For B2B, 2023 will be the year of user-generated content.

Cognism uses user-generated content in several ways, including customer case studies, social proof reviews, video testimonials, and G2 reviews.

Additionally, you must urge marketers in your team to develop their online personas. By becoming SMEs, you can reach more consumers outside of the owned media format.

8. Making B2B PR sales-enabled

B2B PR in 2023 can be anything from a New York Times story to a Product Hunt campaign.

Any PR campaign’s main objective is to increase awareness of your brand and develop a solid, sincere reputation. Your brand, your PR team or B2B PR agency, and your immediate aims will influence how you do this.

Like other recent trends, the increasing relevance of PR may be traced back to trust. Your potential customers seek the main quality of trust, and they’re more inclined to purchase from a company they dislike than one they like.

One of the best ways to establish trust is through an intelligent PR effort, enabling prospective customers to relate to your leadership, become familiar with your service, and develop a sound understanding of your brand.

Think leadership is your brand’s tremendous long-term PR investment, so don’t undervalue its influence.

Earned media aren’t cheap. For many, it’s the price; for others, it does not understand how PR is connected to sales and money. Others have suffered the consequences of PR teams with a communications foundation that doesn’t link their PR initiatives to marketing and sales objectives.

The answer to this is sales-supportive PR

Working with PR experts that understand how to link media coverage to sales targets will show you that PR is unquestionably a significant element of:

• Accelerating the sales process
• Increasing sales

9. The rise of virtual marketing partners

The number of fractional executives, virtual CMOs, and even virtual marketing practitioners at lower levels of an organization has increased over the last few years. The year of the virtual marketing partner, however, is this one.

A virtual CMO oversees your marketing division; a virtual marketing practitioner is often any non-executive member of the marketing division. However, a virtual marketing partner is an organization like Zen that takes a different approach to working with clients. Compared to a standard marketing firm, which is more “set it and forget it,” this collaboration is far more involved and collaborative.

A company may hire a virtual CMO connected to a virtual marketing partner. By doing so, you have access to additional marketing experts.

Hiring a partner entails a team of marketing professionals assisting your company with various tasks, such as researching your target market, analyzing the insights, identifying key strategies and messaging, and ultimately putting marketing tactics into practice to help you achieve your business objectives.

10. Dark social

Dark social is hard to follow. It’s the personal interactions people have on social media that the general public cannot see or follow, such as when coworkers chat about a potential new vendor over instant messaging or an HR representative inquires about a communications platform on a private Discord server. Fortunately, businesses may still impact the environment by being visible and going into the shadows themselves.

People will discuss your brand on dark social if it is visible—on social media, in the media, or as part of the important discussions in your sector. By joining shady social sites and communities, brands can forge close bonds with their customers (like Discord, Reddit, Facebook Groups, etc.)

Then, rather than just dispensing material for consumption, brands can interact with their target market—ask questions, pay attention to customer comments, and gather knowledge through social listening. People will pay attention if you hear their problems and thoughts, and your impact on dark social will increase.

Buyers today are pickier than ever. They conduct the study, consult with colleagues about the advantages and disadvantages, and only occasionally, typically after they have made up their minds, do they turn to salespeople. In the current sales funnel, the marketer’s close deals before the customer contacts a salesperson.

Because of this, businesses must be there and provide the details that customers want right where they are (hint: Social media).

You can influence the debates on dark social by participating in social media discussions and reaching out to your audience through paid advertisements. Your audience will trust you more if you interact with them frequently and sincerely handle their worries and inquiries.

Reduce the sales talk and instead provide clear, understandable information. Because they don’t trust salespeople or slick marketing materials, marketers must integrate themselves into the daily discussions that their customers are already having.

Conclusion

Some marketing trends are never-ending. The above list showcases the evolution of these over-time.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Kindel Media; Pexels; Thank you!

The post Navigating the B2B Marketing Landscape: Expert Predictions for 2023 appeared first on ReadWrite.

The importance of digital transformation continues to be one of the most important priorities in organizations, especially so after the pandemic. The benefits of implementing digital leadership styles have become apparent.

Only the organizations that fully embraced and committed to digital transformation could survive the disruption caused by the pandemic. Others had to struggle and are working on getting their organizations to digital transformation as quickly as possible.

What is Digital Leadership

How are transformation initiatives implemented in organizations? How is a digital-first focus introduced and sustained? How are digital practices integrated with an organization’s various departments and projects?

The answer is quite simple — a digital leader ensures that digitization continues setting up businesses for success and maintaining a competitive advantage. Effective digital leadership styles often differentiate a successful digital (and cultural) transformation from an unsuccessful one.

The importance of digital leaders has been rising like never before in organizations.

An Aon index study found that 64% of organizations have placed digital leaders in critical roles to ensure a successful digital transformation. But what exactly is leadership, and what does it entail? Let’s dive in.

Management Style of the Digital Leader

A brand new management style, digital leadership, refers to driving dexterity, agility, and responsiveness in an organization for all things digital.

Digital leadership is about taking the reigns for successfully driving all large and small-scale digital transformation in an organization, which in today’s world can easily be compared to taking the onus of driving the organization towards sustained success.

A digital leader need not necessarily be tied to a department, a degree, a role, or a hierarchy. More than anything, these are the three must-haves in any agile leader:

Courage:

Carrying out organization-wide digital transformation and leading it to a path of sustained agility is not for everyone. Digital leaders are required to dream big, communicate their vision and then display the courage to stick to the vision despite facing resistance and obstacles along the way.

Digital transformations require taking employees out of their comfort zones and preparing them to face and adapt to disruptions with as much agility as possible. Therefore, the right digital champion needs to lead through example and display endless courage to make this happen.

Capability:

Digital leaders need to have the right mix of soft and technical skills, which falls in the latter category. Digital leaders, more than an educational degree or certification, need to have a track record of showcasing a digital-first approach and having the experience of leading the charge.

This is less to do with their hierarchy and their mindset and priorities. Mastery of design thinking, agility, and innovation set digital leaders apart.

Character:

A digital leader can command the organization to follow its direction and inspire others. Therefore, they need high credibility and charisma that commands attention and respect.

They would also need to maintain cordial relationships with everyone around them, requiring them to have a strong character and a certain level of likeability.

What are Must-Haves in Digital Leadership Styles?

These are sure the must-haves in any digital leader, but what are the various leadership styles available to a digital leader? Are there particular contexts or phases where these styles work better? Let’s find out.

Commanding Leadership

A style that seems to contradict the concept of agility itself, this leadership style limits autonomy and demands adherence to instructions with little to no leeway. People are expected to do what is asked of them without any interpretation of their own. Such a digital leadership style should be saved only for crises and emergencies.

In a digital context, such a situation can be regarding data safety and security, mandatory compliance with digital protocols, or the quick adoption of some technology due to a crisis. Such a style is incompatible with agile and innovative business culture. It should only be reserved for emergencies.

Democratic Leadership

In stark contrast to commanding leadership, autonomy, collaboration, and innovation are tolerated and encouraged here. Instead of a top-down approach, team inputs and a bottom-up approach drive this culture.

This style works best for finding solutions to identified problems, ensuring buy-in from multiple stakeholders, and making decisions. A democratic digital leader has an open mind, facilitates healthy discussion, and converges ideas to reach an effective solution.

Pacesetting Leadership

This type of leadership works in high-performance-driven environments, where results are everything. Environments like these are often found in startups that promote the “hustle” culture, where employees are only retained if they perform impressively on their targets.

This type of digital leadership style, which might work when delivering a crucial project or preparing an organization for a funding round, is not sustainable in the long run. The digital leader and those under his purview would eventually face burnout which would be detrimental to the digital transformation process.

Coaching Leadership

Not everyone in an organization has an equal level of comfort with technology. Some might even face insecurities because of a change in how they work or the reduced importance of their role due to digital disruptions.

It is a digital leader’s responsibility to communicate to people how digital adoption helps not only the organizations but also helps them in enhancing their skill set and makes them ready for the modern workplace. In such a scenario, coaching leadership is of utmost importance.

Such a digital leader would convey how people can align their personal development with the organization’s digital transformation and empower and train them to go through with the change.

Visionary Leadership

As mentioned earlier, digital leaders must have the courage to dream big and envision a future that those comfortable with the status quo can’t. This requires a true visionary who can stick to their vision despite facing challenges and criticism from skeptics. This type of leadership ensures that everyone can see the vision and make themselves a part of the effort to fulfill it.

As we can see, digital transformation is as much about the people leading it as it is about the technology itself. Since it is an ongoing activity, strong digital leaders are required by organizations to keep people motivated and to keep employees on their toes to face any digital disruption that comes their way.

Digital leaders must be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and understand the leadership style they need to implement, given the situation.

Conclusion

A strong mark for any effective digital leader is to keep an eye out for technology and platforms that enable and support the process of digital transformation.

Efforts must be made to ensure that technology trends are followed and adopted in the organization.

For the adoption, digital leaders shall create a protective net of training, learning, and experimentation for employees and their adoption of new technology.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Sora Shimazaki; Pexels; Thank you!

The post The Must-Know Digital Leadership Styles appeared first on ReadWrite.

Gone are the days when “innovation” or “disruptions” were just fancy jargon thrown around without any purpose. Yesterday was the time when innovation was good and not a must-have. Gone are the days when you could overlook enterprise innovation initiatives and functions without allocating dedicated resources.

Constant Digital Disruption, Innovation, and Advancement

In the era of constant digital disruption and advancement, innovation is the most critical thing organizations can do to thrive. Pick any successful organization, from Apple to Toyota or from Walmart to Microsoft; their performance can be credited to having practices that ensure continuous innovation and stay relevant.

According to an Accenture study, companies are increasingly becoming invested in creation, with 62% of high-growth companies planning to invest in technologies that lead to higher rates of innovation study.

While employees are often inspired by success stories and case studies of triumphant innovation tales of large companies, the cost of not innovating is often overlooked.

Sharing the stories of organizational failure due to a lack of enterprise innovation can create a sense of urgency in employees and make them understand the stakes. Let’s dive into these stories.

Nokia

Don’t get us wrong, Nokia was one of the first innovators in the cellular world, being the first to create a cellular network. There was a time when Nokia enjoyed almost a monopoly-like status and seemed like a company that was here to stay.

However, the overestimation of their brand value led them into trouble. When the industry faced the introduction of smartphones, Nokia did not pay much attention to this disruption. Nokia took its own sweet time arriving at the smartphone race, assuming that its brand would be enough for them to get ahead of the competition. But it was too late — and both Apple and Android had already dug Nokia’s grave.

Lessons for Organizations: Take pride in your brand, but don’t get so enamored by your success that you fail to catch on to industry trends and become obsolete.

Always remember that the success of today will not translate into tomorrow’s success unless proactive steps are taken to ensure innovation.

Blockbuster

Blockbuster is a classic example of how complacent management can lead to a business’s downfall. There was a time when Blockbuster rolled in enormous profits from its massive chain of stores. Rental subscriptions and late fees were the main drivers of revenue for the organization.

Blockbuster missed multiple opportunities to innovate. They ignored the rising potential for DVDs and chose to stick with the bulky old VHS. Blockbuster needed to recognize the importance of providing content to their customers from the comfort of their homes. They had a model such that customers had to make two trips (to purchase and return) for any VHS.

Ironically, the founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings, made an offer to Blockbuster to buy out Netflix for $50 million in 2000. The deal could not materialize — and now the situation is such that the success of Netflix was one of the primary reasons behind the bankruptcy of Blockbuster.

Lessons for Organizations:  While it is difficult to act upon and leverage every innovative trend in the industry, it is essential not to miss out on all of them. Listen to your customers, keep an eye on the competition, embrace all the new innovations you can — and act before it is too late.

Yahoo

There was a time when Yahoo was the “it” thing, an absolute online giant. It was a leader in the online advertising market, and then it did not face any competition from Google or Facebook. However, Yahoo’s folly lay in thinking it would be the leader forever without innovation.

Blinded by its advertising revenue, Yahoo let customer experience take a backseat. It kept changing its interface frequently, up to the point that its users struggled to get used to it. In 1998, Google founders were ready to sell it to Yahoo for USD one million — but Yahoo refused the opportunity.

The consequences of this are well known to us today. To learn more about Yahoo, we search on Google. Yahoo had the opportunity to acquire Google — but didn’t take that critical chance. As well, Yahoo didn’t care to build a robust search engine feature on its platform.

Lessons for Organizations: Customers need to be at the center of all enterprise innovation, and their satisfaction should be the Number One Priority. Also, organizations should be aware that some opportunities, when not capitalized, may end up bankrupting the organization someday.

Xerox

Xerox realized that its copier business was decreasing in profitability and started facing competition from Canon and Ricoh — it recognized the importance of innovation.

Xerox came up with the vision of “Office of the Future” and invented the “Xerox Star,” the first-ever personal computer. However, the product was ahead of its time. Its price point and features were way above the requirements of the time, leading to the invention’s failure.

In some ways, Xerox valued innovation and created something futuristic. However, they pursued the wrong market leading to short-term failures, then failed to recognize the long-term potential of the innovation they had.

A decade later, hardware prices declined, making the PC business extremely lucrative. Xerox had invested in Apple, which led to Steve Jobs having access to Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center.

In PARC, Jobs developed Mac using available technology and went on to realize the potential of his invention.

Lessons for Organizations: Just innovating is not enough; companies also need to believe in the process and support the outcomes of innovation to realize its full potential.

What should be your next step in Enterprise Innovation?

Leaders need to ensure that they do not make these mistakes and that an innovation mindset drives their organization. Such a mindset allows for continuous innovation, keeping updated with customer trends, and being aware of the various disruptions in the industry.

Adopting digital platforms and practices that bring about digital transformation in organizations is essential for innovation. Multiple tools and technology available can enable innovation in organizations, no-code software development being a pioneer in them.

Application Development Activity

According to Gartner, 65% of application development activity will be carried out through low-code no-code platforms. There are over 7000 mobile app development companies building mobile apps at present.

No-code allows for application development in record time without writing a single line of code. It provides for process automation and business users to make custom solutions for their problems.

No-code helps to increase employee bandwidth as employees spend less time doing redundant work and focus on meaningful pursuits, and enterprise innovation flourishes.

What is your next innovation?

The post Organization That Failed to Innovate – Avoid Their Fate appeared first on ReadWrite.

Technology tools are mostly a blessing. However, there are many tech pitfalls that employees can fall into that kill productivity. Here’s how to avoid them.

Technology has paved the way for organizations to do better, create pioneering processes, and deliver above expectations. There is no doubt about that. One can’t imagine what the modern world would look like without digitization, which defines every aspect of our lives. However, like all things, technology has its downsides, too, most of which we are aware of.

However, a downside that often misses our eye is our tech habits. We are so inclined to use technology for everything that we sometimes fail to differentiate between usefulness and unproductive tech habits. Organizations suffer the consequences, as their employees often engage in unproductive tech habits while at work without knowing.

In fact, a Forbes article states that more than 90% of employees waste anywhere between 15% to 40% of their workday due to technology. This problem is further exacerbated when it comes to hybrid/remote work, as there exist higher chances of these tech habits taking over the workday of employees.

List of Four most Unproductive Tech Habits

So what are these tech habits that we are talking about?

1. Checking Inbox Too Frequently

Mails in themselves lead to one of the most unproductive tech habits. While a great tool to communicate, we know how our inbox is flooded by spam, promotional emails, emails from linked accounts, etc. Checking our inbox each time a notification pops up is an unproductive tech habit. It leads to distractions for no good reason and makes it really hard to focus for long stretches of time.

2. Distractions by Notifications

Similarly, but on a larger level, phones contain multiple apps that send notifications, making it hard for employees to focus. In addition to personal apps, many work-related apps are also guilty of bringing in this distraction. Once the attention span is captured through such notifications, it usually paves the way for mindless scrolling and phubbing at work.

3. Missing Out on the Right Tools

We understand the irony, but missing out on the right tech tools and platforms is detrimental. Technology has pioneering solutions to deal with its pitfalls, and the onus lies on business users to introduce tech tools before it is too late.

4. Lack of Ownership

The absence of clear ownership of tasks is an example of mismanagement that lead to unproductive results and dissatisfaction. People hop on to unnecessary calls and meetings, draining their bandwidth and diverting their attention from projects that would benefit higher.

5. Hoping on to “Okay Google” without thinking

Easy access to digital tools has, for one, helped humans to find quick solutions but, at the same time, sometimes has handicapped their thought processes. Turning towards apps like “Google” for queries you have in your mind leaves little or no room for your thoughts to wander and think. An easy way out of this tech habit is to stop yourself and think without asking “Google” for your answer.

What’s next?

While the list of unproductive tech habits is much longer, we focus on the ones that are most common in our everyday lives and often escape our radar in ways to increase productivity. Most of those reading would relate to the incidents we have mentioned.

Now, where can an organization step in this regard? Indeed, they can not implement 360-degree monitoring systems to supervise every employee and breach their privacy. But the issue can not be allowed to slide as well, as these unproductive tech habits can have disastrous business consequences.

There’s a relatively easy way out of this dilemma. While organizations can not dictate how employees use their devices or monitor them, they can create an environment conducive to promoting productive workplace tech habits.

The corporate culture is created to enable employees to use their bandwidth on just the right tasks and support them in showcasing their peak performance.

Follow the following tips to avoid tech pitfalls

1. Organizations can encourage a maximum character count on emails to ensure that long emails do not take up their employees’ workday. Email threads should be updated frequently to provide that only relevant people are added to such conversations. A great practice would be to start such threads with the involvement of only necessary people.
2. Increasing employee awareness will enable them to look into their unproductive tech habits and find ways to kick them off. Workshops and talks from mindfulness and productivity experts can help to sensitize employees about changing the structure of their workday. From having dedicated time slots to check mail to productivity apps to optimizing and minimizing notifications, there’s a lot that is done to bring back attention where it matters the most.
3. Organizations and managers take responsibility and assign process owners for various tasks and roles to ensure no productivity is lost due to confusion regarding the same. This allows employees only to receive communication for all that is relevant and save their bandwidth.
4. Being on an active lookout for technology opportunities to transform and revolutionize multiple organizational processes is an absolute must. Falling behind on adopting them leads to productivity losses and can even result in the loss of competitive advantage for many organizations.

What is Next?

Kicking away unproductive tech habits is not an overnight process and would require constant commitment and awareness from both organizations and their employees. However, once achieved, the benefits of the same for an organization would surely make a mark.

Even more, overcoming these habits would have a holistic impact on the personal and professional lives of employees. With increased mindfulness and more bandwidth, they could forge better relationships and have high morale. This will allow them to bring their best self to work and have an overall impact on their emotions and attitude.

Take Away

Technology habits are hard to let go of. That is why we call them habits in the first place. With the right tech solution at your disposal and the right purpose, you can avoid developing unproductive tech habits. It’s time you ditch your unproductive tech habits and focus on the ones that help you improve.

Related Post: Best Productivity Tools of 2023

Try Out Productivity Tools We Are Using

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For the new generation of workers just entering the workforce (who we fondly call Gen Z), it’s about meaningful jobs and building an impactful career than run-of-the-mill stuff.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, people are reflecting on what they want from their jobs and growth trajectory. Gen Z, in particular, is placing more importance on workplace flexibility. “Work-life balance” has become the ultimate selling point to attract, motivate, and keep early-career workers. In addition, these young employees desire cutting-edge technology that will enable them to remain as productive, effective, and connected as possible.

The Equation between Gen Z and Technology

Gen Z is the first generation who grew up in a digital age. Therefore, they are accustomed to connectivity and technology. Early exposure to devices from millennial parents is thought to have resulted in them having their smartphones by the age of 12. Global Web Index’s survey indicates that 98% of Generation Z worldwide own smartphones.

At least 8 hours a day is how 74% of Gen Z spend their free time online. They are available on various gadgets, including laptops and tablets.  Their exposure to digital media affects how people get information and form opinions. Advantageously, these can serve as platforms for creative expression, inquiry, and learning.

They are more knowledgeable about the technical aspects of technology now that they have been exposed to it. Coding has already been incorporated into the middle school curricula in nations including the United States, Australia, and Israel. Teaching coding to young minds can facilitate adoption and provide them the ability to approach challenges logically and creatively. They can use this expertise not just in programming but in a variety of other careers.

However, due to a lack of mentors and modernized technology, this has not yet been appropriately implemented in other nations. But now that no-code platforms are available, kids will find it simple to start creating their no-code programs, websites, or apps. These resources will make visual programming as simple as dragging and dropping for them. Although there is some code, the learning curve is simple and can be quickly picked up on sites like Youtube, Twitter, Discord, etc.

No-Code and Gen Z – The perfect match

Maintaining employee engagement and preventing burnout is more critical than ever in the face of the “Great Resignation,” which saw four million Americans quit their jobs in July alone. Giving employees the ability to automate away the most tedious parts of their days is the best approach to handle this.

Gen Z is accustomed to using technology to solve problems because they were raised in an era of Google, YouTube how-to videos, and drag-and-drop website builders. There is no reason why this should be any different in the workplace. But unfortunately, no-code is the DIY technology this generation has been waiting for.

No-code platforms have become a golden goose for Gen Z, who have limited access to coding education. A generation of young, “not so obsessed with coding” personnel is being given unprecedented flexibility, thanks to no-code platforms. They can build team-specific applications without much dependency on IT.

No-code is not limited to apps and websites but can enable workflow automation for mundane tasks. As a result, flexibility-loving young employees can save many hours on admin tasks and involve themselves in other high-level analyses and processes.

Of course, no-code tools require deductive reasoning that is inherent to coding. For example, you must be able to create pivot tables or comprehend what machine learning capability is and its potential applications.

The critical thing to remember is that no-code tools are practical because they are simpler to use and appeal to a younger generation familiar with the reasoning these platforms need to operate. Moreover, today’s students view their computers and mobile gadgets as more than merely consuming screens they can activate. Instead, they use them as tools of self-expression, research, and analysis.

Gen Z, No-Code, and Creator Economy

In the creator economy, a person or a group creates visual material or a tangible good and uploads it on a platform. It might be a YouTube video, a handmade necklace sold on Etsy, or even a carefully cropped Instagram photo. It can generate income if someone interacts with it or sees it. Selling, sponsorships, and subscriptions for unique content are ways they can make money upfront.

It’s a tailor-made model for Gen Z for running independent businesses.

No-code is now a tool for creators and young entrepreneurs, with Web3 enabling the decentralization of content delivery. Platforms that can facilitate the production, distribution, monetization, and business management of Gen Z are indispensable for the creator economy to expand. No-code development gives more individuals the ability to become creators and gives creators control over how their work is distributed.

No-code platforms give creators access to other key technologies like AI or blockchain, which can significantly benefit their solopreneur ship. Additionally, they can now create NFT collections consistent with their brand.

Given that most young creators are presumably not tech-savvy, no-code is an ideal tool for the creator economy. Only a tiny fraction of people can create apps or websites from scratch; even then, it typically takes them years to learn and even longer to complete. For a variety of reasons, no-code can give a big push to the middle-class creator economy.

Conclusion

Raising the bar is a crucial aspect of progress in many ways. For example, the standard for data utilization in the workplace, in business, and entrepreneurship is being raised by Gen Z. They are more adept than ever at combining multiple standalone services and integrating them into seamless user interfaces for their clients, readers, and users.

The No-Code Generation can close the productivity gap in the global economy, improving our lives and saving everyone’s time in the process.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

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Automation in 2022 is different from the robot takeover that some people have envisioned. Automation in the workplace now refers to platforms and systems that allow a layman to accelerate efficiency through digital means. As a result, manual efforts are minimized, making business processes more cost-efficient, error-proof, and consistent.

Additionally, the saved amount of time can be used for more valuable business tasks. It is reported that employees burn over 30% of their working hours simply by looking at paperwork- a task that can be easily automated.

Automation is a Must in the Workplace

The advantages of automation are hard to ignore. According to a McKinsey report, the benefits are three to ten times the cost of implementing automation.

The pandemic taught us that digital transformation sits at the cusp of business goals.

It’s impossible to be digital-first without including a certain degree of automation or business processes. Before the pandemic hit, the need for digital skills was minimal. In a work-from-home and staycation era, employees need to develop technical skills and integrate automation with their daily tasks.

Apprehensions to Automation in the workplace

There are apprehensions still attached to automation, such as replacing jobs, decreasing wages, and possibly making human skills redundant- all at an extremely steep price.

Allow us to bust these myths for you

1. “I’m going to lose my job.”

   A World Economic Forum study predicts that automation would boost the job market by introducing nearly 58 million jobs. In all honesty, if your job can be simplified through automation, it probably will be. But it’s also going to give rise to a plethora of job opportunities that you can leverage by upskilling.

2. “It simply costs too much.”

   Due to inefficient processes, organizations lose 20 to 30% of revenue every year. Automation improves processes and allows you to free up expensive resources (human resources being one of them) to be utilized on other cash cow activities. The benefits of automation significantly overpower the cost of adoption.

3. “My skills are going to be useless.”
   

   According to a McKinsey report, essential data input and processing skills will be particularly affected by automation, falling by 19 to 23% from 2016 to 2030. But automation will also give rise to a range of skills that will be high in demand- from emotional and cognitive abilities to entrepreneurial and risk-taking behavior. A surge in automation doesn’t signify a redundancy in skills; rather, it pushes for a shift in skill sets.

FOMO on automation in the workplace — why it’s absolutely justified

Even if you’ve been living under a rock, it’s hard to ignore the benefits that automation can bring to workplaces.

1. Helps your employees enjoy their work
   

   Automation does away with mundane and repetitive tasks and allows employees to focus their energy on innovative tasks. For example, automating workflow processes like a customer grievance redressal system enables your company to focus on creating better products, innovative solutions, and growing the business.

   Think about it: would your employee rather send out standardized emails or think about what’s the next new product they could develop at work?

2. Humans mess up; automation doesn’t
   

   Automation in the workplace helps businesses minimize errors. Simple tasks like entering the correct email address into a CRM program or placing the right amount of orders to stock inventory are prone to human errors.

   If properly utilized, automation tools can provide data and workflows through a centralized process that helps decrease human oversight- through redundancy and duplication.

3. Growth and scalability with automation in the workplace
   

   When manual processes are automated, it saves time and frees up valuable resources that can aid in the growth and scalability of businesses. Sales outreach emails can be automated to reach people at an unmatched scale by human labor.

   You cannot save time, but you can use time differently- and that’s the value add that automation brings into the workplace. From automated administrative workflows to chatbots, automation tools help employees win back nearly 20% of their day.

How can a company boost workplace automation?

1. Push for upskilling
   

   The fear of automation taking over jobs can only be dispelled by constant upskilling. A McKinsey report expects advanced IT and programming skills to grow as much as 90% between 2016 and 2030. Basic digital skills will be imperative for an organization to thrive, and this is where tools like no-code platforms become a boon for non-technical employees.

2. Adopt automation tools rapidly
   

   Automation tools like no-code platforms allow you to beat the race to digital transformation at every level. From automating marketing workflows to employee onboarding systems, no-code platforms will enable you to accelerate automation in each department- whether that’s sales, finance, logistics, or even communication.

3. Unlearn, learn, unlearn
   

   When digital transformation sits at the forefront of business efficiency, it’s imperative to get your employees enthused and excited about being a part of the digital revolution. This involves helping them unlearn the fear of automation and providing the necessary skill-building tools to learn the beauty of automation. Workshops on no-code platforms, expert sessions, etc., would aid in this.

To sum it up

Automation is the future of growth and scalability. From providing the necessary training for employees to adopting automation tools, companies have to make automation a part of their workplace actively.

The value add isn’t restricted to business goals- it also aids in long-term growth and boosts the morale of employees who can utilize the time saved from completing mundane tasks to delivering better products and services.

A company’s success will largely depend on its proactiveness to instill a culture of lifelong learning throughout the organization. This cultural shift will hold the most value- as sectors, skill-sets, and employees change, the only constant will be continuous learning.

This degree of adoption will make the difference between being the best and doing just enough to beat the rest.

Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

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As per McKinsey, 70% of digital transformation projects fail to meet their objectives. This is a concerning statistic, especially given enterprise transformation’s global frenzy, regardless of size or revenue. After a near-successful pilot initiative, the main challenge is scaling digital innovations.

The IT industry has been caught off guard by digital Darwinism, with technology evolving at a rate far faster than businesses can keep up. It’s time to build a new ecosystem based on focused technology leadership, innovative building blocks, and steadfast digital maturity to realize your long-term digital vision. It’s essential to lay out the different stages of digital transformation and figure out where your company is right now.

This is the essence of digital transformation 2.0. It requires a fundamentally transformed workforce. There is a need to focus on empowering employees at the frontlines of business. Organizations need to have a holistic approach towards innovation and foster a DIY culture across different departments.

Often business users want to innovate, but they don’t understand the idea of innovation or how to structure it. It’s high time we looked into achieving large-scale innovation and formalizing a process for training our workforce to build certain applications independently and without any extensive IT involvement.

How can no-code accelerate digital transformation 2.0

Given the difficulty most businesses have in finding the right tech talent, they must look for new ways to meet the demands of digital transformation. No-code aids in developing digital solutions by making building solutions easier and reducing the time and resources required. Regardless of technical skill, anyone can create apps and thus contribute to the digital transformation’s acceleration.

i) Acceleration with visual development

No-code platforms reduce the time to build new applications by 90% (from well over six months to under four weeks). Drag-and-drop functionality allows both developers and non-developers to create enterprise applications on the go. The ability to quickly build functional prototypes of potential solutions and test them is a crucial feature of no-code platforms.

No-code tools empower business users familiar with and knowledgeable about operational challenges. They can build working prototypes using drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-configured connections to data sources and APIs, and built-in security. Most low-code app development projects are delivered with little to no coding because much of the boilerplate is already removed.

Component reusability is another benefit of using low-code tools and a catalogue of pre-built components and pre-configured modules. Using standard user interface components like menu bars, buttons, form sections, and so on, a user can leverage pre-built UI components and combine them into a full-fledged application.

ii) Democratization of application development

According to Gartner, the demand for business-related applications is five times higher than the available IT capacity.

As a result, one of the most significant roadblocks to digital transformation is a lack of talent. Companies can enable teams to produce high digital solutions for daily operation while still achieving IT security regulations and tackling cybersecurity concerns by transforming many semi-technical employees into citizen developers.

No-code allows you to create applications, websites, workflows, and automation recipes using a simple user interface. Backend integrations are supported by some of the more refined low-code platforms, allowing users to connect their digital solutions to multiple data sources and create unified web portals.

As a result, citizen developers can aid in the Acceleration of business value in addition to increasing development resources. While they create business apps, the IT department can handle the more complicated digital issues.

iii) Enhancement of scalability

Many businesses have massive project backlogs costing billions of dollars in lost revenue. As they can’t find the right talent to address business opportunities quickly enough, or they can’t give them priority over other tasks because they can’t find it. Low-code can help your development team get more done less time, reducing backlogs. No-code development turns pre-built UI components, integrations, and custom logic into visual building blocks that are simple to copy and paste.

Thanks to ready connections to multiple data sources, users can easily connect to data from various business functions and scale the application.

A no-code approach reduces the time and effort required to scale and maintain apps across an entire company or millions of users. In minutes, the developer can build something once and deploy it everywhere. Thanks to easy cloud deployment, extending the application from one geographic location to another is simple.

iv) Improvement in application lifecycle management

The main goal is to create applications that are adaptable to enhancements, cost-effective, quick to develop, and less complex to maintain. No-code development speeds up application delivery by allowing users to deploy apps with just a few clicks instead of relying on DevOps or engineering teams.

All stages of the application life cycle, including development, deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and updates, can be performed in real-time from a single point, ensuring security, compliance, and version control, depending on the platform.

The ability to quickly change what has already been developed to ensure that the app continues to serve the purpose required by the business is critical during the software maintenance phase.

v) Expansion of enterprise functionality

There is more to digital transformation than an organization’s ability to convert its existing services, competencies, and processes into digital assets. It also expands its functionalities by integrating no-code, low-code, or hand-coded applications with valuable third-party solutions.

Modern No-Code platforms facilitate the seamless integration of current systems with legacy technologies and enable easy configuration of APIs using plug-in components. They can graphically represent all key software components—including third-party integrations—in a visual UI that can be configured with ease.

These third-party integrations can enable enterprises to:

• Not miss out on vital solutions in the market
• Enhance operational efficiency
• Derive the best out of legacy systems

vi) Reduction in time-to-market of Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Launching your MVP (an early stage but a viable version of your product) is an intelligent way to validate your business model and keep yourself on the right digital transformation track. Before the full-fledged release, you can gather ongoing feedback from customers and external stakeholders. MVPs help gain deeper insights into the end user’s experience and develop a shared understanding of what works and what doesn’t. It can provide insights into positioning the product competitively and use the resources prudently.

It takes a lot of time, commitment and resources to traditional code, even the most basic iteration of a product – that includes creating a wireframe – a basic mockup image displaying the software interface elements.

No-code platforms are tailor-made to build a functional MVP, with a shorter software development life cycle (SDLC) and better time-to-value. With no code, you can divert your focus from technical hassles to user experience and go-to-market strategies. Moreover, you can nimbly respond to stakeholders’ feedback by customizing your solution on the go.

Conclusion

Many people are more digitally oriented. We refer to them as “digital natives” on occasion. They’ve grown up with technology, but they don’t want to work in the field. They want to work in the marketing department. They want to work in operations or sales and believe that technology can help them improve their operations. They believe they can automate more, make something more data-centric, and add the appropriate dashboards to help people make better decisions.

To achieve the goals of digital transformation 2.0, encouraging such individuals and adapting to technology like no-code are the correct steps in that direction.

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Automation is the next big thing, and the benefits of this new technology have proven themselves again and again. However, this has led to some confusion regarding how the workforce may need to change to suit the needs of this new technological landscape. This also leads to the question, is coding a required skill? Or can we do without it?

At the first glance, coding seems to be the most useful skill going forward which could enable individuals to help build applications and tools to meet the current automation needs. But then the coding is not for everyone. What happens in such a case? Are there no other options? These are the questions we will explore in this blog.

What is automation?

Automation is the technology, processes, programs, or robotics that can ensure that business goals are met with minimum human intervention. Automation of tasks is undertaken to achieve maximum efficiency, speed, and productivity while reducing problems and errors to a minimum.

There are many different automation types, including business process automation, robotic process automation, workflow automation, etc. All these types of automation can be utilized in different sectors and industries, leading to improved performance and productivity.

Many people are also wary of automation as it may be possible to replace their jobs with machines and technology. A WEF report says that by 2025, the time spent on tasks by machines and humans will be equal.

Despite these statistics, the automation revolution may lead to the creation of 97 million new jobs, leading to new employment opportunities. To remain relevant in an automated world, employees will need to adapt and reskill themselves to suit the new technological landscape.

Although automation is utilized to speed up and improve the productivity of basic tasks, this also frees up the time of the employees to focus on more valuable and high-level tasks. Hyperautomation (quixydotcom) has also become popular as it can provide a method of orchestrating many different tasks together on the basis of data.

The ability to build and create will be of the utmost importance going forward. Employees who can reskill and upskill themselves with relevant skills will be in demand, and automation may be the catalyst that leads to a whole new set of required skills in the future. However that leads to the question – is coding a required skill in an automated world?

What is coding?

Coding is a skill that can enable people to create software, websites, applications, etc. There has been a huge wave of encouragement for everyone to learn to code. Countries across the world have started teaching basic coding skills to children as part of their school curriculum. As code and programming seem to be the basis of our technological world, it seems imperative that individuals learn how to code.

To learn how to code, an individual needs to learn a particular coding language. There are many coding languages and each of them can be used for a specific purpose. Currently, the most popular coding languages include JavaScript, Python, PHP, SQL, C, C++, Java, C#, GO, R, Swift. These languages are all created to suit different needs such as web development, writing desktop software, mobile app development, hardware development, etc.

With so many different coding languages and choices, it is easy to get confused. Learning a new coding language is akin to learning a whole new language, complete with new words, syntax, grammar, and rules. This can be difficult for individuals without the aptitude for coding or a programming background.

But is coding for everybody?

Coding is an important skill; however, everyone may not have the aptitude for it. There are a variety of reasons why learning how to code might not be feasible for certain people:

1. Coding is complicated

Learning how to code requires individuals to learn a whole new coding language. If people aren’t used to sitting in front of the computer for long amounts of time and focusing on writing endless lines of code, this can become tedious and frustrating for some. Coding can also take a lot of time to learn if you’re learning it on your own, and coding boot camps can be expensive.

2. Coding is simply a tool

Coding languages are simply tools to create applications and programs that achieve a defined goal. Simply learning a coding language will not be useful in the long run if your problem-solving skills are not developed simultaneously. Coding is a tool that can help people solve problems using specific coding languages, so learning to understand and comprehend the problem in a way that can be solved using code is half of the battle.

3. The coding world is ever-changing

Those who learned how to code in the past might have sworn by coding languages like FORTRAN or PASCAL, but newer languages like Python and JavaScript have succeeded these languages in the past few years.

The coding world is constantly improving and innovating. If an individual is learning coding as a secondary skill while holding on to a full-time job, it may get exhausting to keep up with constant innovations.

4. Coding is not an end-all skill

Coding is definitely a good skill to have. However, it isn’t an end-all skill that will render all other skills obsolete. Coding is a tool that can help translate functionalities into a coding language that can be used by computers to create apps or websites.

However, if the website or application has a specific topic like gardening or beauty, experts in the gardening and beauty fields will become indispensable. These experts will have insights and knowledge that won’t be available anywhere else. Experts with domain knowledge will be indispensable in the future, especially with AI coming up.

Coding may not be the way forward for everybody. What’s more important is learning how to use and leverage new technology to help you in your profession. New technology like low-code no-code (quixydotcom) can be the solution for people who don’t know how to code.

What is low-code development?

Low-code development is a method for developers to design applications quickly with minimum manual or hand-coding.

Low-code involves using drag-and-drop blocks of pre-written code into a workflow to help create applications. It can completely speed up developing a new application for developers since they won’t get caught up in repetitive hand-coding. Low-code development assumes that the user has some level of technical knowledge of coding and coding languages.

What is no-code development?

No-code development is a form of web development that can help non-programmers and citizen developers create software, websites, and applications using a visual user interface.

This form of development allows people to create using new technology without letting a lack of coding skills become a barrier to entry. No-code development involves creating robust solutions that can be created without writing even a single line of code.

Thus, no-code application builders can be a good solution to the question of “is coding a required skill.”

No-code solutions can also lead to benefits like:

• Quicker and easier prototypes and MVPs
• Reduction of dependencies on developers
• Faster launches
• Increased autonomy
• Reduced production costs

No-code development can help citizen developers and non-technical people create websites, applications, and software through democratizing technical skill sets. No-code technology can empower business users and employees everywhere by abstracting technical complexities and creating a unique visual interface. No-code application builders are perfect for businesses who need custom applications to help with specific business requirements.

There are many examples of successful citizen developers, and Gartner predicts that there will be 4 times more citizen developers than professional developers at enterprises by 2023. This will definitely help lessen the load on the IT team in the organization, leading to more time that can be focused on strategic ventures.

The IT team is often overwhelmed with maintaining existing software and other operational backlogs, which can be resolved by giving citizen developers a chance to share the load.

No-code development can help bridge the gap between the previously impossible idea of creating websites and applications without any prior knowledge of coding.

Businesses can now adopt this form of development to help existing employees create and design business applications without the need for specially hired developers and programmers.

This opens the doors to creating hybrid positions that can merge existing expertise and domain knowledge with basic development skills through no-code platforms. These individuals will be better prepared to meet future challenges and adapt to the business and employment conditions created through automation.

Citizen developers have gotten no-code resources now to help them create websites and applications that are best suited for the unique needs of their profession that they know inside out. These developers have the chance to become invaluable assets due to their unique knowledge of the needs of their domain. Citizen developers now have the chance to develop new abilities and adapt in an automated world without being forced to let go of their experience and domain knowledge.

Different uses of no-code tools

No-code tools are a gamechanger. These tools have provided an alternative for the question of ‘is coding a required skill?’. No longer is it necessary to have a full team of developers working to create applications and programs for specific requirements; instead, now employees and business users have the means to create basic flexible applications on their own. No-code tools aren’t just limited to creating websites and applications; they can also be integrated with other technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Machine Learning (ML) to increase capabilities.

• Artificial intelligence: These technologies can help you leverage the data you have and use no-code solutions to automate tasks that you couldn’t before. AI can be integrated with no-code tools to help perform unique tasks that are dependent on comprehending data.
• Robotic process automation: If companies want to use RPA automation, they need to program and debug the tools themselves. Using no-code tools with RPA, businesses can program the RPA automation faster, simplify maintenance, and ensure that tasks are completed and automated accurately.
• Machine learning: No-code machine learning bridges the gap between non-technical users and machine learning. Machine learning coding is no longer a required skill for no-code users to learn for successful ML ventures. This can also reduce the need for professional data scientists and streamline data collection from other business employees.

Summary

In an automated world, coding is a useful skill, and programmers and developers need to stay updated and knowledgeable about different coding languages. However, coding may not be for everyone, and that’s where solutions like no-code and low-code come in to answer the question of ‘is coding a required skill?’.

No-code low-code solutions are the way forward for those who don’t have the aptitude or time to take-up full-time coding.

These solutions can also help businesses lessen their IT team load and enable their other employees to create applications and websites using no-code low-code platforms.

Quixy is a no-code platform that provides an intuitive visual builder that can help develop a website or application. Citizen developers and other business users can definitely benefit from this platform, so take a free trial now (quixydotcom).

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