Some time ago, I communicated with a senior manager of a large company. He was very excited to say that XX company has launched a low-code platform. Enterprise software can do whatever you want, and it is very simple to build the system you want. You don't need to work hard to do those complicated ERPs.
I couldn't bear to sweep him on the spot, but in my heart I felt that "low code" was on the stinky street faster than "zhongtai".
The "low-code (no-code) development tools" currently on the market refer to visual application development interfaces. The origins of these tools are mainly as follows:
The visual development tools of the new generation of technology include general development tools, such as Outsystems, Mendix and other vendors that promote the concept of this software category, as well as industry-specific or professional vertical field tools, such as Unqork, which has recently received widespread attention in the foreign financial industry.
Between the SaaS application and the PaaS platform, the generated form workflow, custom BI and other visual development tools, represented by Microsoft Power Platform, I personally think that this is Microsoft's integration of its SaaS hook products (Office, Dynamics) and Azure cloud Service, the result of a product strategy that provides users with a unified data and service view
Perhaps it is the demonstration effect of Microsoft. Traditional cloud vendors seem to have found a new direction in the development of application-level PaaS. They have begun to consider entering this field. It is said that AWS and Google are about to launch low-code platforms, and Ali recently promoted the integration of "cloud nails". "Combining DingTalk and Yituo to repackage it as a low-code development platform is very similar to Microsoft’s product strategy; however, Microsoft’s business model spans SaaS and IaaS/PaaS, which is similar to those underlying IaaS/PaaS The path of cloud vendors going up is still very different
Visual development tools for large-scale SaaS software, represented by SalesForce and ServiceNow. These SaaS visual development tools have a long history (As will be mentioned later, traditional large-scale enterprise application software, such as PeopleSoft, Siebel, etc., actually provide visual development tools ), because of the rise of the concept of low-code, it has recently been labeled as "low-code development"; I have observed that some traditional enterprise software companies in China who do ERP, CRM and even digital marketing software also visualize their own application software The name of the development tool was changed to "Low Code".
Some software development teams, whether it is a product development team of a software company or a self-development team of a large enterprise IT department, have packaged some visual configuration tools in order to improve development efficiency and help business personnel perform rapid business modeling. Now it is beginning to claim that this is a "low code tool"
In addition, some traditional business process management software, workflow configuration engines, data analysis and BI tools, etc., are now also renamed "low code" following the fashion.
The original intention of the "low-code development platform" is to provide a booster that encourages employees to micro-innovate, develop applications independently, and use the company's digital capabilities; in some scenarios with relatively simple processes, it can help companies quickly realize these simple scenarios Digital transformation!
For complex processes and core business processes, low-code platforms are certainly not completely suitable, but are only the preferred development platform for simple and auxiliary processes . However, due to manufacturer hype, low code has caused a lot of misleading to corporate decision makers in the market. Here are some of my personal views:
error:
Low code can develop enterprise-owned software
correct:
At present, the main application scenarios of low code are rapid supplementary development for enterprise users, such as:
1. Simple workflow and form circulation application
2. Development of functional extension of large-scale application software
Low code is not suitable for the development of complex logic core business, and it is not suitable for managing enterprise master data; the use of low code development will cause some hidden dangers to the enterprise's data governance and information security.
error:
Low code is a revolution in the enterprise software industry, completely changing the enterprise software industry
correct:
The modular and visual programming method, namely the "low code" development method, has a long history:
Whether it is the early visual programming tools, such as Visual Basic, Delphi, PowerBuilder, etc.,
It is also a visual editing tool for large-scale application systems, such as Siebel Tools for CRM, PeopleSoft People Tools for HR software, eMatrix Foundation for PLM software, etc.,
When the Internet first emerged, it was troublesome to create a website and write html code, and the efficiency was not high. At that time, Microsoft launched a visual website development tool called FrontPage.
IBM Lotus, a smash hit in the late 1990s, has inspired a whole generation of OA software in China with its product concept. You can configure operation controls, business objects, relationships, functions, etc. in a visual manner.
These are actually low-code tools. Those of us IT workers who came from the late 1990s have been using these tools for the past two decades, and even felt that these tools were outdated. How could we suddenly and creatively revolutionize?
error:
Low code is an independent software
correct:
Low code is a component of the PaaS platform, which helps to utilize the business, data, and integration cloud services of the PaaS platform, or to integrate business and data services on multiple clouds. Therefore, low-code software must be used with the PaaS platform. There are two situations:
1. Low-code software dedicated to PaaS platform
2. Extended development platform for large-scale application software (SaaS)
error:
Low-code tools can be used by anyone, and anyone in the enterprise can use innovative applications
correct:
The essence of enterprise IT application system implementation or digital transformation is management and business issues, not technical issues.
In most cases, the bottleneck of enterprise digitization is not the efficiency of technology development, but the promotion of user behavior and changes in enterprise management.
I think that the application innovation of large-scale citizen development in enterprises is a false proposition. Developing software is one thing, but being able to use it is another.
To use a popular analogy, many friends have this experience. When buying books, they were very excited, especially when they met with a discount on JD.com and bought back a lot of books. How many books have you really finished reading?
I was also a believer in "Enterprise Democratization and Innovation", but the political chaos in American society in the last year has raised deep questions about the democratization of organizations promoted by the Internet Revolution. See the end of open social media .
"Low code" is neither a revolution nor a disruptive thing. Enterprise informatization and digitization must start with core system construction and business process management in a down-to-earth manner.
"Low code" itself is very useful, but its widespread application has yet to be verified in practice, and its role cannot be overstated. Otherwise, just like "Middle Taiwan", it was originally a good thing, but it was hyped up by the media, manufacturers and laymen. Down the street.
Finally, I think there are two development directions for "low code": 1. Pure cloud; 2. Cross-platform. In a few years, the industry will definitely complete the integration in these two directions.
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