The digitalization and automation of business processes is the order of the day across all industries. In this context, companies are faced with the question of how necessary automation projects can be implemented quickly and effectively. However, the challenges facing IT departments are numerous: reconciling applications and business processes of varying complexity and scope, managing the increasing shortage of skilled workers, meeting high quality requirements and maintaining and renewing the existing IT landscape and core systems. How is it possible to implement process automation in such a diverse environment and develop new digital solutions that meet all possible scenarios?

One possibility is application development with low-code support. It makes it possible to create highly flexible and user-friendly apps quickly and easily. However, the low-code concept quickly reaches its limits - depending on the scope and complexity of the process to be automated. In order for company-wide digitalization and automation to be future-proof and agile, a combination with full-stack automation is required.

Low code? Absolutely!

Low-code development can serve as the basis for full-stack automation, but other tools and technologies are also used. Software developers with programming skills, experience in working with web technologies and database expertise are required for implementation. Compared to traditional development, full stack automation works with a predefined, process-oriented technology stack and makes it easier to adapt new technologies to existing workflows. This supports the use of innovations and the digital development of companies. In addition, a large number of interconnected platforms and tools can be easily controlled without limiting their benefits or affecting company processes.

Low code and full stack automation are therefore equally necessary to meet the digitalization requirements of companies. This intelligent combination allows companies to build a bimodal IT system that covers both the management of standard software and the rapid development of new applications at every level of complexity. In concrete terms, this means that the implementation of complex applications remains in the hands of IT, while the specialist department can develop basic functions independently via low code.

The automation platform

The author: Andreas Balsiger is Head of Product Management at Axon Ivy.

© Axon Ivy

A process automation platform that supports both low-code developments and full-stack automation and enables a seamless transition between them and to IT development serves as the linchpin. The platform combines and coordinates the different variants of application development and enables end-to-end automation of business processes of any complexity. In the interplay between low code and full-stack automation, the successful automation of processes depends on their company-specific evaluation. This is because the same process is designed individually depending on the organization. For example, what is used operationally in one company as a short-lived application should be made available elsewhere as a long-lived system. The decision here must be based entirely on company-specific requirements.