How low-code/no-code platforms democratise Industry 4.0 transformation
Author : Grace Nam, Laserfiche
04 May 2023
The realisation of Industry 4.0 provides hope for manufacturers dealing with an abundance of challenges, from skills shortages to supply chain disruption, increasing customer demands and stringent regulatory oversight.
Manufacturers of all sizes know digital transformation is key to their survival, with the global smart manufacturing market forecast to grow to over $650 billion by 2029.
However, as McKinsey recognises, a large majority remain stuck in pilot purgatory, struggling to capture the full potential of their transformation efforts or deliver a satisfactory return on investment.
Undertaking industrial transformation can seem like a daunting task, one that lies beyond the reach of those on the front line of the business. However, impactful digitisation is not just the preserve of the IT department.
With today’s low-code and no-code application development environments, those responsible for delivering efficiency and growth have transformative digital tools at their disposal – without the need for high-tech experience.
Low-code development tools empower individuals or teams to build processes, deploy electronic forms, automate workflows or integrate technology applications with little to no IT or programming support.
This is achieved by providing users with an easy drag-and-drop interface to design and map out the logic for applications, workflows and business processes. In short, low-code technology is a much-needed democratising approach to Industry 4.0.
Libraries of low-code templates provide instant access to a world of digital assets that can revolutionise processes across entire operations. By both lowering the barrier to entry to create an app and speeding up development times, such low-code automation platforms enable organisations of all kinds to be agile in response to market conditions, increasing regulation and heightened customer expectations.
Here, we will explore how the low-code/no-code approach breaks through many of today’s manufacturing roadblocks and how manufacturers can harness it as part of Industry 4.0 transformation.
Vast low-code potential: The building block of automation
According to Forrester, low-code platforms have the potential to speed up software development by as much as 10 times compared to traditional coding methods, while Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70 percent of new applications will be developed using low-code or no-code technology.
Research published in the journal Applied Sciences explores why manufacturers use low-code development platforms; 66 percent are motivated to accelerate digital transformation and increase responsiveness to the business, while 45 percent pointed to the reduction of dependency on hard-to-hire technical skills.
The potential for low-code platforms within manufacturing is vast and can help realise the vision of Industry 4.0 hyper-automation that many industrial leaders are now working towards.
Hyperautomation through low-code platforms helps teams to easily bridge the gaps between unconnected technologies or disconnected processes across the organisation, enabling manufacturers to digitise data collection to transform processes.
As such, low-code platforms are increasingly becoming the foundation of digital transformation initiatives, especially for manufacturers dealing with legacy processes that involve repetitive, manual, time-consuming tasks.
For example, traditionally, the RFQ process is involved and time-consuming, requiring employees to undertake numerous manual steps across various documents. Even today, it is still often a paper-based task.
In contrast, a fully automated, paperless process built using low-code tools saves significant time by both eliminating the physical routing of paper and also by auto-populating key information from centralised data.
For example, one global manufacturer we worked with reduced RFQ processing time by 60 percent and doubled win rates. The beauty of such an approach is that it can be designed and deployed by non-IT staff with minimal support but maximum efficiency.
Transforming processes
Supported by a digital data repository where metadata can be stored and structured, various low-code solutions can be deployed to transform processes such as inspection, quality, accounting and shipping.
Additionally, manufacturers can use low-code automation to support compliance by creating filing structures, requirements and retention policies for critical documents that align with governmental and industry regulations.
Integrating multiple platforms and data sources can ultimately unlock insights that inform firms’ strategic decisions, driving new and innovative solutions and customer experiences.
Further, with low code powering much of today’s hyper-automation efforts, manufacturers can more easily explore technologies like RPA, ML and AI to create end-to-end solutions and scale automation efforts. No longer will projects languish in the pilot phase, but can be almost instantaneously deployed for real business impact.
Ultimately, these initiatives allow smart people to do smart jobs, automating processes to fit into a lean manufacturing approach within a digital ecosystem. The effect of such automation on the workforce should not be underestimated.
With manufacturing continuing to suffer a well-publicised skills shortage, reducing the need for human-led manual tasks and attracting high-quality talent is crucial.
For example, according to our research, 70 percent of Gen Z have left or would leave their company due to outdated technology, with one of the leading frustrations being the lack of tools to help with time-consuming tasks.
Adopting cutting-edge digital tools is no longer an option for organisations to meet the expectations of the newer generations entering the workforce – it is imperative.
Considerations for leveraging low-code and no-code tools
While the promise of low-code/no-code has many manufacturers exploring this new frontier of application development, not all vendors providing low-code/no-code solutions are created equal. Firms seeking out these technologies should be aware of key considerations.
• Industrial services experience: Operating in the industrial space requires expert-level compliance literacy. Vendors should have a deep knowledge of new technologies and a demonstrated commitment to data security and privacy.
• Ease of use: The term “low-code” casts a wide net. Technology platforms that provide intuitive experiences – such as downloadable prebuilt templates and drag-and-drop tools – provide the most value to firms looking to deploy automated solutions quickly, speed adoption and achieve fast ROI.
• Customisability: Tech vendors should provide flexibility within their solutions to allow users to configure solutions to fit specific organisational needs easily.
• Scalability: Vendors with a cloud-first development approach will provide more agility and scalability, essential for manufacturers looking to grow and navigate change.
Traditional ways of developing applications can take months and in today’s fast-moving manufacturing environment, speed is everything. Low-code/no-code fosters agility, allowing manufacturers to respond to change not within weeks or months but mere days.
With unpredictable market conditions, changing customer demands and efficiency imperatives, realising the benefits of Industry 4.0 is a true team effort – now is the time to give those teams the tools they need to succeed.