Low-code is a visual approach to software development that reduces the need for a developer to write new code every time they build a new application. Instead, low-code development platforms provide reusable, pre-built components with drag and drop capabilities. These components help in quickly developing applications from the ground up and achieving unparalleled time-to-market.
Low-code development is not a new phenomenon, but governments and enterprises are increasingly looking at ways to speed up deployment of their new applications. Gartner even predicts that by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity.
Because of the wide range of options in low-code development, it’s not always clear what the best option is for your specific needs. Read on to learn more about different options on the market and what differentiates these platforms and what makes them similar.
Low code advantages
In addition to quicker development cycles, low-code platforms allow the development of a variety of solutions ranging from process automation apps to full-blown enterprise level solutions that are easy to scale on cloud-native architecture.
Low-code breaks down the silos between IT and business people as business requirements can be directly communicated and translated into application functionality. Again, because of the tight collaboration between IT and business, time, as well as costs, can be saved.
Image: Interfaces in AppWorks are created by dragging and dropping components on a desktop window.
Business process models in OpenText AppWorks can be configured using drag-and-drop tools.
Low-code market trends
When comparing OpenText AppWorks to other key players in Gartner’s 2020 Enterprise Low Code Magic Quadrant, one of the first things to note is that AppWorks is not only a low-code platform, but also a full-blown business process and case management platform which complies with the BPMN and CMMN standards.
This makes AppWorks unique; it brings together three worlds in one single application. It’s a platform that not only allows for faster application development, but also for digital process automation across functions, systems and machines. Furthermore, it offers an application framework to manage information related to problems, claims, requests and other complex activities.
Low-code and process automation coming together
In the market for low-code application platforms, there is an overlap with business process automation vendors. AppWorks is currently a leader in the Digital Process Automation market and continues to invest in its low-code capabilities. The same is true for low-code vendors who are improving and optimising their business process automation tools. In the future, it’s likely that these two markets will become increasingly intertwined. Customers are looking for integrated solutions that spread across different product landscapes.
Common themes: cloud, AI and automation
It’s also clear that all major low-code platform vendors follow a cloud-first strategy as the market is increasingly moving towards the cloud. Platforms like Appian, Mendix and AppWorks are investing in their AI capabilities. Furthermore, robotic process automation (RPA) is a technology which intrigues clients. Appian is one of the platforms that already offers integrations with Blue Prism, UiPath and Automation Anywhere, but OpenText also recently released an RPA connector which integrates with UiPath for their AppWorks platform.
Integrating the full stack
A final crucial factor is the possibility to integrate with other applications and services. This is something that a lot of platforms support greatly. OutSystems and ServiceNow highlight their out-of-the-box integration with a variety of services. OpenText then again profits from their wide portfolio of products that can be integrated with AppWorks. The most common integrations are with Content Server for document management needs and Magellan for analytics and AI capabilities. AppWorks also has an integration layer that creates a bridge to leading business applications, such as SAP and Office 365. For enterprises that are looking for a future-proof solution that can be easily extended, this is surely a safe bet.
Conclusion
AppWorks excels in case management and truly shines when it’s combined with OpenText’s broader portfolio. By integrating different products, process automation and case management solutions can be developed with extra capabilities such as analytics, automatic redaction and AI. Additionally, it’s a platform that bridges three worlds, namely case management, business process management and low-code. This results in a very comprehensive solution, which is backed by a company that will continue to invest and support it for many years to come.
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