TECH TRENDS

As organisations across the globe ramp up digital initiatives , they require the tools and technologies which can ensure a seamless experience . Low-code is one such platform . Sudhama Vemuri , Director , Mendix Channel Sales at Siemens India , tells us how low-code enables organisations to rapidly build scalable and secure applications while improving collaboration between IT and business units .

What has been the impact of the pandemic on innovation and digital initiatives ?

The pandemic has impacted innovation and digital initiatives but it might be surprising to learn that most feedback has been positive . I recently explored the findings of a study which looks at a parameter called the Global Innovation Index and studies enterprises in around 132 countries to assess how much investment is going into digital technologies .

It highlighted that the usual suspects , like pharma companies and BioTech companies , have increased their investment in digital technologies . In some cases , there was an increase of as much as 30 % compared to previous years . But interestingly , sectors like manufacturing and logistics have also increased their investments . Many organisations have taken this period of uncertainty and fast-tracked their innovation or at least put their innovation back on track .

What are some of the challenges that organisations face when it comes to digitalisation ?

There are many challenges and most organisations face these very successfully , but the pandemic has essentially made the business reality very different . We have observed that organisations will fundamentally change the way they do business .

Much is driven by what the customer demands and wants – most organisations have very demanding customers . Are they geared up to meet these expectations ? Most are , but a lot aren ’ t .

One of the primary challenges is around the ability to deliver a lot with less resources – whether that ’ s time , people or budget . One consulting firm did a survey with 900 CXOs and 79 % said that without the right kind of resources at their disposal , they would not be able to meet the digital roadmap they have set for themselves .

How is ‘ Agile ’ helping organisations to accelerate Digital Transformation ?

Every organisation has to be agile – it is not a choice anymore . When we say ‘ Agile ’ we are talking about both the noun and the adjective . IT teams cannot function in silos anymore – for a Digital Transformation project to be successful , the business and IT have to work together . Teams have to be cross-functional and focus on collaboration and customer experience .

Organisations which have been able to navigate this and successfully implement Digital Transformation initiatives have seen a lot of gains . These can come through higher employee engagement , or improvement in operational performance , or increase in customer satisfaction . But most importantly , I think ‘ Agile ’ drives a cultural change within the organisation . For companies which are looking to be digital first , adopting ‘ Agile ’ and driving the right kind of culture through that is going to be very important .

What role will low-code platforms play in Digital Transformation ?

Low-code will play a significant role in Digital Transformation . One of the key things we have noticed , which affects many organisations , is a

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