Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 61 | Page 40

CIO OPINION
Apps built using low-code platforms are secure and can be scaled reliably . A simple application built by a citizen developer can be turned into an enterprisewide solution by the IT professional for mass adoption . This encourages widespread usage since such an application has been built by those who are the closest to the problems that the app seeks to resolve .
The ability to use a platform for prototyping and generating a workflow or even an entire application for production encourages dialogue between the IT team and business users . This is the kind of collaboration necessary to combat the problem of shadow IT .
Bridging the gap
Apps built using Low-code platforms are secure and can be scaled reliably . A simple application built by a citizen developer can be turned into an enterprise-wide solution by the IT professional for mass adoption .
The reason why shadow IT exists is because of a disconnect that exists between the IT ’ s priorities and the business user ’ s needs . In such an environment it is easy for silos to creep in with each business unit running its own IT show – placing the organisation ’ s security in danger and inflating IT costs .
Successful organisations can spot an opportunity here . IT can become a source of empowerment that collaborates with business users and actively supports citizen development . With a Low-code platform , an ecosystem can be created where innovation and creativity thrive , where solutions are more agile and responsive to the dynamic needs of both the users and the market conditions . Only then will Digital Transformation efforts truly spell success . p
40 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com