Low Down on Low-Code

In this episode of the Lowdown on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz, Ryan Duguid, and John Rymer sit down with Rick Greenwald to discuss the concept of evaluative research in technology purchasing. They explore how evaluative research helps buyers navigate complex decisions, the role of analysts in shaping vendor perceptions, and the implications of crowdsourced feedback. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding individual needs when making purchasing decisions and introduces a new approach to evaluative research being developed at Analysis.Tech, aimed at providing tailored insights and up-to-date information for buyers.TakeawaysEvaluative research is designed to help buyers make complex decisions.Analysts provide insights but buyers often simplify their findings.Crowdsourced feedback can be valuable but lacks nuance.Understanding your needs is crucial for effective decision-making.There is no universal leader in the market, only leaders for specific needs.The evaluative research process must adapt to rapid market changes.Feedback from users is essential for refining evaluative research.A tailored approach to evaluative research can enhance buyer experience.The importance of collaboration between vendors and analysts is emphasized.Future evaluative research will focus on real-time updates and broader vendor inclusion.

This week's Low Down on Low Code features Simon Owen, formerly leader of the Power Ranger citizen developer program at GSK, and now a governance guru and change enabler at Avanade. Simon joins hosts Dave Marcus and John Rymer to demystify governance of citizen development and highlight its surprising benefits.

Low-code has become an indispensable part of developing new software faster and cheaper while unleashing innovation from within the business. But, what about the majority of your processes that remain locked in legacy applications? Himanshu Arora, COO of Rhino.AI joins us to discuss how Rhino has tackled that issue head on. In this week's Low Down on Low-Code, Himanshu, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer discuss Rhino.AI's approach to migrating legacy applications to any low-code platform and moving your transformation efforts from the long-tail of your processes right into the core of your business.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low Code, John Rymer and Ryan Duguid engage with Suresh, the founder and CEO of Kissflow, to explore the evolution of citizen development and the low-code movement. Suresh shares his journey from developing rule engines to creating Kissflow, a platform designed to empower business users to develop applications without extensive coding knowledge. The conversation delves into the role of Chief Digital Officers in driving digital transformation, the characteristics of successful citizen developers, and the impact of generative AI on the future of low-code development. Suresh emphasizes the importance of understanding the semantic gap between human thought processes and programming, and how Kissflow aims to bridge that gap, making it easier for users to create applications. The episode concludes with insights on the potential of low-code platforms in transforming business processes and enhancing productivity.TakeawaysCitizen development is a significant and evolving topic.Kissflow was born from the need to democratize application development.Excel remains one of the most successful low-code tools.The Chief Digital Officer plays a crucial role in digital transformation.Identifying the right individuals for citizen development is key.Generative AI can help bridge the semantic gap in application development.The 3% figure represents the potential citizen developers in an organization.Kissflow aims to empower business users to create applications easily.Disposable applications can be created using generative AI.The future of low-code development is promising with advancements in technology.Timestamps02:27 - The Origins of Citizen Development and Low-Code Platforms10:47 - Target Customers for Low-Code Platforms14:05 - Selling Platforms vs Solutions17:00 - The Role of CDOs in Driving Transformation19:08 - Different Use Cases for Low-Code Platforms23:39 - Unlocking the Potential of Citizen Development29:14 - Characteristics of Successful Citizen Developers33:44 - Addressing the Semantic Gap in Citizen Development36:14 - The 3% Rule: Process Knowledge and Organizational Authority37:51 - Disposable Applications: A Future Possibility of Low Code

Want to get the low down on AWS App Studio? Listen to this week's Low Down on Low-Code podcast! GM Sriram Devanathan joins Ryan Duguid and Rob Koplowitz to dive into the details. AWS, a massive player in cloud computing, jumps into the crowded low-code market with a brand new entry built from the ground up to take advantage of AWS services including a massive investment in AI.

SummaryIn this episode of Lowdown on Low-code, hosts Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Raveesh Dewan, CEO of Joget, to discuss the critical role of a Center of Excellence (COE) in the adoption of low-code platforms. Raveesh shares his journey into the low-code space, the evolution of Joget, and the importance of establishing a COE to facilitate technology adoption within organizations. The conversation covers the challenges of setting up a COE, the necessary investment and commitment, the roles within a COE, and the relationship between COE and IT. Raveesh emphasizes that a COE should serve as a coach rather than a gatekeeper, fostering collaboration and ensuring that technology is used effectively across the organization. The episode concludes with insights on the longevity and evolution of COEs as organizations adapt to changing needs.TakeawaysEstablishing a COE is a complex task that requires careful planning.A COE should focus on facilitating and supporting delivery teams, not controlling them.Senior management commitment is crucial for the success of a COE.The right mix of technology knowledge and organizational understanding is essential for COE members.Building relationships with delivery teams is key to a COE's effectiveness.COEs should be seen as coaches, not gatekeepers.Investment in a COE should be long-term, not short-term.COEs must adapt to changes in personnel and organizational goals.The COE's role is to ensure technology is used appropriately and effectively.A COE should evolve over time, but never fully disappear as long as technology is in use.Timestamps09:18 - Introduction to Joget and the COE10:58 - Senior Management Commitment and Resource Investment22:55 - Roles and Reporting Structure in the COE24:53 - Mapping Technology Capabilities to Organizational Needs26:45 - COE as a Path to Accelerate Delivery30:37 - Evolution and Longevity of the COE

In this conversation, Dave Marcus and Francis Carden interview Prince Kohli, the CTO of Automation Anywhere. They discuss the evolution of RPA and AI in the automation industry, the differentiation of Automation Anywhere in a crowded market, and the value proposition of their platform. They also touch on the competition and partnership with Microsoft and the importance of delivering measurable business outcomes to customers. The conversation highlights the focus on AI agents, process orchestration, and solution accelerators as key areas of investment for Automation Anywhere.TakeawaysAutomation Anywhere has evolved from traditional RPA to Gen 3 automation, which combines RPA with machine learning and AI.Their platform focuses on AI agents, process orchestration, and solution accelerators to deliver measurable business outcomes.Automation Anywhere competes with Microsoft in the automation space but differentiates itself by providing enterprise-level automation solutions.The convergence of marketing terms and the complexity of the automation market can confuse customers, but the focus should be on solving specific business problems.Customers value the ability to quickly deploy automation solutions and see tangible results, which Automation Anywhere enables through their platform.

Shell's Paul Kobylanski is back for a second episode of Low Down on Low-Code with John Rymer and Rob Koplowitz. Shell has unleashed 4000 business people to drive business optimization in an extremely complex, sophisticated and risk averse environment. Paul takes us through Shell's strategy to engage and energize the business to drive better business outcomes. Paul then takes us through Shell's governance program that allows Shell to unleash innovation while maintaining Shell's "resolute focus on safety".

Paul Kobylanski, a trailblazer in citizen developer programs at Shell, shares insights on empowering over 4,000 citizen developers to drive innovation. He discusses the shift to low-code technology and the critical role of leadership, training, and community. The conversation dives into the challenges of terms like 'citizen developers' and the balance between professional identity and efficiency. Additionally, Paul emphasizes the importance of IT governance, collaboration, and how Shell measures the value and success of its transformative program.

Graham Sheldon, the Chief Product Officer for UiPath, delves into his journey from Microsoft to spearheading innovations in automation. He discusses UiPath's evolving product strategy and the integration of agentic AI, which enables more complex decision-making alongside human oversight. The conversation highlights the crucial role of UI automation in business transformation and the challenges posed by legacy systems. Sheldon's insights on the changing landscape of low code and the collaboration with AI illuminate the future of automation and process orchestration.