The future of low-code development in industrial applications

Why low-code is becoming indispensable in industrial IT

Our customers include a number of industrial companies. Although their core business is not IT, they are increasingly using IT technologies to control their processes and monitor production quality and contact with customers and suppliers.

This is a must, especially in manufacturing in Western Europe, where many companies operate on the global market. Only with innovation, efficiency and quality can they defend their prices on the global market - because, as we all know, the competition never sleeps.

Although some customers have strong IT teams, they are not IT companies. This is why low-code platforms are used: a lot of music for little money, so to speak. You can quickly build applications that also handle complex processes and deploy them quickly - and support them if the manufacturer co-operates.

Predictions for the development of Oracle APEX and other platforms

And here we come to the crux of the matter: who are the manufacturers and will they be able to hold their own? There are many low-code systems that have been put together by unknown start-ups. Sure, they can automate workflows, some of them are even industry-specific. Nobody knows if they will still be around tomorrow. What will happen to support, patching and further development if the manufacturer no longer exists or has been swallowed up by another company and takes a different path for strategic reasons?

That's why we rely on APEX from Oracle: with more than 15 years of development, clear roadmaps and semi-annual updates, it is very well suited for Oracle DB customers, but not only. And another thing: the IT department of an industrial company can build up the necessary expertise relatively quickly, in contrast to rich code platforms.

How AI and automation will improve low-code development

The reuse of blocks of code has been a best practice for years: with AI, we expect this trend to intensify.

Steps that industrial companies should take to introduce low-code solutions

We recommend starting at the edge: A small process should be digitised, for example a web app for specific users with little business-critical impact - you can try things out there, with little risk.

We at Datasense Consulting deal with this topic. We are happy to help you realise the full potential of your data.

Get in touch with us - we will be happy to advise you!