Low Down on Low-Code

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and Rick Greenwald discuss the governance of AI in enterprises, focusing on a new research project conducted in collaboration with Microsoft. They explore the risks associated with AI, the importance of a structured governance framework, and the need for centers of excellence to effectively implement AI technologies. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of understanding both the potential benefits and risks of AI, advocating for a balanced approach to its deployment in business environments.Takeaways-AI governance is crucial for enterprise success.-The foundations of AI pose significant risks that must be managed-Outlawing AI leads to unregulated use.-Proper governance can mitigate AI risks.-Data security is paramount in AI governance.-The VRPP framework helps assess AI value and risk.-Centers of excellence are vital for AI implementation.-Understanding AI's non-deterministic nature is essential.-Rigor in AI projects is necessary to avoid pitfalls.-Collaboration with established firms like Microsoft enhances governance. 

In this episode, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Alex Landis, a founding member of the FinOps Foundation, to explore the evolving landscape of FinOps and its integration with emerging technologies. The conversation delves into the definition of FinOps, its significance across various industries, the challenges of data management, and the impact of AI on financial operations. Alex shares insights on governance, best practices, and the future of FinOps, emphasizing the importance of making informed investments and leveraging technology for better communication and efficiency.TakeawaysFinOps is essential for managing cloud costs effectively.Understanding platform operations is crucial for financial performance.AI presents both opportunities and challenges for FinOps professionals.Data management in FinOps is complex and requires sophisticated tools.Governance in AI usage is critical to avoid unnecessary spending.The role of FinOps is growing as companies invest more in technology.Effective communication between finance and engineering is vital.Automation can significantly improve forecasting processes.Empowering teams to self-serve with data tools enhances efficiency.The FinOps Foundation is a valuable resource for best practices.

Greg Price, the Global Leader of Digital Platforms at Virtusa, dives into the transformative world of low-code development. He emphasizes the surge of AI's impact on enhancing rapid development, balanced with the challenges of technical debt and vendor lock-in. The conversation reveals the critical role of systems integrators in streamlining low-code implementations, while also highlighting the necessity of robust process design for success. Price stresses that understanding business processes is key as the future intertwines low-code solutions with AI capabilities.

In this episode of Lowdown on Lowcode, hosts Rob Koplowitz and Dave Marcus engage with Marshall Sied from Ashling Partners to explore the evolving landscape of low code, digital process automation, and AI. They discuss the importance of education, governance, and orchestration in automation projects, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies. Marshall shares insights from his extensive experience in the consulting space, emphasizing the need for organizations to focus on value realization and continuous deployment methodologies. The conversation also touches on the significance of experimentation and the future of applications in a rapidly changing technological environment.TakeawaysMarshall Sied emphasizes the importance of education in automation.Organizations are increasingly conflicted about AI and automation.Value realization is crucial for successful automation projects.Continuous deployment methodologies are essential for achieving value.Governance is critical in managing automation technologies.Experimentation is encouraged in the current automation landscape.Orchestration is becoming a key focus for automation companies.Capability mapping should precede tool mapping in technology selection.Organizations need to be cautious with low-code and AI technologies.The future of applications will involve more productization and composability.

Kari Moeller, a consultant specializing in process optimization and AI, joins the discussion to unpack the dynamic world of business processes. She emphasizes the critical need for clear documentation and modeling when implementing AI. Kari argues that AI should enhance, not replace, human roles in workflows. The conversation highlights how organizations can leverage data quality over quantity and the importance of outcome-driven strategies. Real-world examples show how reimagining processes can dramatically boost efficiency, making clarity in technology vital for successful transformation.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Nick Cawthon from Gauge to explore the evolving landscape of design and application development. They discuss Nick's journey into design, the current flux in the industry, the impact of AI on user experience, and the importance of understanding user needs in 2025. The conversation emphasizes the human element in design and the necessity for collaboration between designers and developers, highlighting tools like Figma that facilitate this relationship.TakeawaysNick Cawthon's journey into design began with a childhood experience of flow state.The design industry is currently experiencing significant changes and flux.AI is reshaping user experience, making it more about emotions than interfaces.Designers must focus on qualitative research to understand user emotions.Efficiency in design must not compromise the effectiveness of user experience.Understanding user experience in 2025 requires a holistic approach.The relationship between designers and developers is evolving positively.Tools like Figma are crucial for collaboration in design and development.Mitigating risks in design is essential to avoid dead-on-arrival products.The human element in design remains irreplaceable despite technological advancements.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low Code, hosts Dave Marcus and John Rymer engage with Massimo Pezzini, a veteran in the field of integration and orchestration. They discuss the evolution of orchestration as a foundational need for modern business applications, the challenges of data synchronization, and the convergence of integration and orchestration technologies. The conversation also touches on the importance of governance in distributed systems and the growing role of AI in enhancing business processes. Massimo shares insights on how organizations can effectively navigate these challenges and leverage technology for better outcomes.TakeawaysOrchestration is broader than just workflow; it automates end-to-end business processes.Integration and orchestration are increasingly becoming integrated disciplines.Governance is essential for effective orchestration and cannot be an afterthought.AI can significantly enhance business processes when integrated effectively.Organizations should have a unified integration team to address various integration challenges.Mid-size organizations tend to favor integrated platforms due to skill limitations.The complexity of integration challenges varies, requiring different technological solutions.Trust in AI is growing as organizations find well-defined use cases for its application.Data integration and application integration are complementary and should be considered together.The trend is towards platforms that offer a comprehensive suite of services for application development.

This conversation explores the state of low-code technology in India, highlighting its growth, challenges, and the impact of AI on its adoption. The discussion features insights from Abhishek Anant Garg, an analyst at QKS Group, who shares his perspective on the low-code landscape, particularly focusing on the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the challenges faced by Indian vendors in competing with established players in the global market. The conversation also delves into the adoption of low-code by professional developers and its implications for industrial organizations.TakeawaysIndia is a service-based economy with a growing low-code market.SMEs are leading the adoption of low-code technologies in India.Indian vendors like Zoho and Kissflow cater effectively to SMEs.Low-code helps organizations achieve rapid prototyping and automation.AI is expected to significantly boost low-code adoption in India.Governance and maturity in low-code practices are still developing.Professional developers are complementing their work with low-code tools.Industrial organizations are slowly adopting low-code for operational efficiency.Citizen development is in its early stages in India.The partnership between IT service firms and low-code vendors is crucial for growth.

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, hosts Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Colin Teubner and Larson Thune from NavLabs to explore the intersection of low-code development and Agile methodologies. They discuss the journeys of Colin and Larson to NavLabs, the challenges of citizen development, the role of product owners, and the impact of AI on low-code development. The conversation emphasizes the importance of testing ideas, gathering requirements, and leveraging Agile practices in low-code environments.TakeawaysLow-code platforms are evolving and becoming more powerful.Agile practices can be adapted to low-code development.The role of product owners is critical in low-code projects.Citizen development has its challenges and misconceptions.AI can enhance productivity but requires quality inputs.Testing ideas in small batches can lead to better outcomes.Effective communication is key in Agile and low-code environments.Training and coaching can significantly improve Agile adoption.The future of development may involve more AI integration.Understanding user feedback is essential for successful projects.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low-Code, John Rymer and Rick Greenwald engage with Antigoni Kourou, CEO of NEKOD, to explore the critical topic of governance in low-code and citizen development. Antigoni shares her journey from engineering to governance, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with control. The conversation delves into the challenges of data management, the role of AI in citizen development, and best practices for establishing effective governance frameworks. Antigoni advocates for an adaptive governance model that evolves with organizational maturity and risk appetite, highlighting the need for collaboration between business and IT.TakeawaysGovernance is essential for successful citizen development.Antigoni Kourou emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation and control.Organizations must identify individuals willing to digitalize processes.Choosing the right platform is crucial for enabling innovation.Processes must be established to guide citizen developers.Data governance is a significant challenge for enterprises.AI can aid in governance but also introduces new risks.An adaptive governance model can cater to different organizational needs.Collaboration between business and IT is vital for effective governance.Governance frameworks should evolve with organizational maturity.