Low-code platforms have the potential to become accelerators of digital transformation in industry. Their use makes it faster and easier to implement applications in production plants.
The changes experienced by manufacturers in recent years are moving towards constant exchange of information between factories, suppliers and clients. New technologies play an increasingly important role in this process. Thanks to the use of the Internet of Things, mobile devices and data analysis, production plants increase their efficiency and quickly adapt to changes on the market. One of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers is the time it takes to develop applications compared to the pace of required changes. Low-code platforms can be very useful in this regard.
Low-code platforms on a roll
Programming with the use of low-code platforms allows companies to quickly create and implement applications with little effort by the programmer. Instead of writing every line of code for a given application, users can build their projects using drag-and-drop graphical interfaces. Gartner predicts that at the end of 2021, global revenues from sales of low-code platforms will be USD 13.8 billion, which is a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year. Dariusz Pruchnik, Managing Director at nAxiom platform, admits that creating applications with low-code platforms is nothing new, but the shortage of programmers and the efforts of companies to increase efficiency make such platforms increasingly popular, including in the broadly understood industrial sector.
Low-code applications for small and medium manufacturers
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about Industry 4.0 and concepts such as automation and artificial intelligence. Analysts and media are focussing their attention on spectacular projects in global corporations. We do not hear as much about medium or small production plants that cannot afford the implementation of advanced and costly systems.
“Low-code platforms are a perfect solution for smaller manufacturers. On the one hand, they can help solve problems with efficiency or organisation of work, and on the other, smoothly implement applications supporting the company’s performance at relatively low costs”, explains Dariusz Pruchnik.
“In my conversations with clients, I notice that they often cannot determine the source of the problems on the production line. Meanwhile, it turns out that bottlenecks can be found by simple applications, developed with the low-code platform”, says Dariusz Pruchnik.
Low-code platforms have a bright future in the industrial sector. Their use accelerates the evolution to smart manufacturing, providing solutions for connecting technology, processes and people in increasingly intelligent factories.