Unlock the power of your systems by extending SAP  Pritesh Pattni Unlock the power of your systems by extending SAP  If you’re already using SAP in your business, you’ll know that it brings considerable benefits. SAP is global leader in in enterprise applications, helping businesses to run more efficiently, serve their customers better and plan for growth with confidence. SAP is constantly innovating, with its latest version, SAP S/4HANA supporting AI and machine learning capabilities, giving customers even more insight and value.  You can take advantage of that value by extending your own SAP system – and this is easier and more cost-effective than you might think. If you’ve previously gone through a complex digital transformation to bring SAP into your business, then relax – when you work with the right technology partners, extending your SAP system can bring a number of benefits:  Supporting growth – as your business grows, your technology needs to be able to keep pace. Failing to update your technology can cause technical debt, which in turn will slow your business down. Instead, choosing to plan and implement a structured extension of your existing system will mean you have the right technology in place to support your growth plans.  Reduce maintenance worries – if you extend your SAP applications in a planned way, you can ensure that the core of your system remains ‘clean’. It’s important to work with the right people and technology when you extend, so that any work is centred around the continuity of your existing systems. Done properly, this will help to maintain a system that works well and requires less maintenance in the long term.  Customisation – you will have already configured your SAP application to meet your business needs. But as those needs change, SAP may not cover some of your new business areas, or may require adaptation to keep pace. Extending SAP allows you to customise the system to the way your business works, giving you the best possible value for your investment.  Integration – one of the worries about adding new technology to your business is how it will integrate with your existing systems. Working with a tech partner that is a SAP specialist means that you can extend capabilities without compromise. SAP has a dedicated integration suite which helps to maintain integrity across systems.  Future-proofing – you don’t know what’s around the corner. So extending your SAP capabilities allows you to put your business in the best place to handle unexpected events. That way, there are no sudden, unexpected costs, and you can be confident that your business has the technological capability to react positively to change.  Better employee experiences – extending SAP isn’t just about processes; it’s about people. Your employees can get frustrated with technology that doesn’t quite work the way they need it to. But you can create personalised experiences that help to make your team more efficient and – even better – happier in their work.  Scalable SAP transformation with OutSystems  At ISB Smart Solutions, we’re a proud OutSystems partner. We use OutSystems to support clients who are extending their SAP, because we know it delivers a fast, reliable solution.  OutSystems is a low code pioneer. Low code is a method of software development that lowers costs, reduces the manual errors associated with ‘hard coding’ and delivers flexibility and accuracy to end clients. Using OutSystems means we can build customised extensions for SAP users.  And, of course, because we are also an SAP partner, we have an in-depth understanding of the way SAP works, so our dedicated team can make sure your SAP project is successful at every level.  How can we help?  We use OutSystems and SAP to build the exact digital solutions you need. We’ve helped a wide range of businesses extend their SAP systems to meet their specific needs. These include:  Customer and partner portals Inventory management mobile app Rebate management applications Field services mobile app Order tracking portal What are you missing? Where is your greatest need or your biggest challenge? Instead of being frustrated that your current SAP system doesn’t support your plans, talk to us about how we can help you to extend the power of SAP to get you where you want to be.  Contact us to find out more. Recommended Posts​ Manage and reduce technical debt Manage and reduce technical debt Pritesh Pattni Manage and reduce technical debt  We often write about technical debt. That’s because it’s an issue for many companies – large and small. Of course, the… Read More What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it? What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it? 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What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it? Pritesh Pattni What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it?  Technical debt is present – to a lesser or greater degree – in every company. The term refers to the technical problems that arise from short-term or cost-based decisions that affect the quality of the technology solutions within the business.   There are several key causes of technical debt. Some of these are easy to identify, while others are only discovered when they create other problems in the business. In some businesses, new leadership – such as a change of CIO or CTO – can result in an audit to uncover technical debt. This helps the business understand where the potential weaknesses may be, and put a plan in place to strengthen the technology stack across the organisation.  The central causes of technical debt  Usually, technical debt is incurred by taking short cuts. This often happens for a variety of reasons, including:  Time pressure – development teams are under pressure to meet tight deadlines in order to get a product to market, or release a new feature internally. This pressure often means that testing isn’t thorough enough, or code isn’t properly written. While the application itself might work in the short term, there will be issues that are difficult to fix – such as adding new features or finding bugs in the system – and can cause significant problems for the business in the long term.  Poor design thinking – developing a new piece of technology takes time, thought and a clear strategy. Where that thinking hasn’t been done, the resulting application can lack scalability, usability and have other performance issues. There are several reasons why this might happen – design might be outsourced with a poor brief, for example, or an internal team may not have the strategic design experience to manage this important stage of the development process.  Inadequate documentation – while it might seem less important than the technology, documentation is vital for ensuring that people can understand the design and development strategy and the way the application has been coded. Failing to do this means that future team members are effectively working blind. Any changes they make could undermine the original code, resulting in performance problems. This knowledge gap is a common form of technical debt, and it can have a  substantial impact.  Limited testing – testing is a critical part of the development project. It’s not just about making sure the end user can use the application properly – it’s about checking the application for bugs and for maintenance issues, so that there is complete confidence before release. Where testing is rushed or inadequate, you cannot be sure that the application is fit for purpose. Potential problems can be missed. Fixing these, in the long term, results in time and cost implications.  Project brief changes – it’s not unusual for new application requirements to change. It’s all part of the process, with project owners looking for additional features or functionality. The way these updates are managed, however, has a serious impact on the potential for technical debt. Unless a clear system is in place to raise, discuss, design and test new features, the project can become confused, with several people ‘owning’ coding areas and poor communication resulting in functional problems.  Lack of collaboration – projects need to be regularly reviewed within the team  – and beyond – for them to be successful. Daily meetings, along with using collaborative online project tools, help teams to keep track of progress and responsibilities. This avoids problems caused by working in silos, which can result in things being missed, or duplicated.  Underskilled development teams – to keep costs down, organisations may use inexperienced developers. While they may have the appropriate coding skills, a lack of project experience can result in problems down the line. Saving money in this way will result in far more cost in the future.  Legacy technology – one of the most common causes of technical debt is the technology that’s already in the business. Platforms or solutions that are no longer supported by the original manufacturer, or that was developed in-house but never updated, will create inefficiencies. They may also be unable to work alongside newer technologies, restricting the value of investment in those new solutions.  Identifying technical debt  It’s all very well to know what the causes of technical debt are – but if you can’t identify it in your organisation, you will still struggle to solve the issues it creates. There are some key signs that you might have technical debt, including:  Development speed is slower than expected.  There are frequent bugs and recurring usability problems.  Systems go down more often.  Developers find that code is difficult to modify or extend.  New team members don’t have access to reliable documentation about the application.  Testing records are incomplete.  Easy updates are slow to release.  Maintenance takes more time and costs more money.  You can’t scale the application when you need to.  Manufacturers have stopped updating or supporting existing technology.  When you discover technical debt, you need to do something about it. Failure to pick this up can negatively impact your business. Investing in solutions to resolve technical problems – and make sure they are fit for the future – is an investment in your bottom line.  You might want to think about:  Severity – how much is the technical debt impacting your team’s ability to develop and release features or maintain the system?  Risk – is the debt leading to potential security vulnerabilities, system instability, or performance issues?  Cost – how much time and effort is required to address the debt compared to the time spent working around it?  Visibility – is the technical debt causing noticeable issues for customers? Have you had complaints?  This will help you to prioritise the technical debt that needs addressing first, and start to put a plan together. At this point, it’s worth talking

Patterns and features to get more from your systems. Pritesh Pattni Patterns and features to get more from your systems.  Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) have revolutionized the way software is built and deployed. These platforms enable developers to create applications using graphical interfaces and pre-built components, drastically reducing the time and effort required for traditional coding. According to Gartner, by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity.  Essential low-code features  LCDPs have a range of features that support developers to build applications faster, more accurately and with scalability built in. These features include  Drag-and-drop interface  Pre-built patterns  API integrations  Data management  Security and compliance  Analytics and reporting  These features help development teams to design and build high-functioning, user-friendly mobile and web apps – from the simple to the highly complex.  Low code patterns  Pre-built patterns, like those available from the leading low-code OutSystems platform, are available to developers. These patterns are common user interface components and are available for both mobile and reactive web applications, and for more traditional web applications.  Patterns are usually customisable, which means you can change the way they look and feel – including adding extra elements, depending on what you need to achieve.   For traditional web applications, patterns include:  Content  Controls  Layout  Navigation  Numbers  Responsive  Structure  Utilities  For more common mobile and reactive application development, OutSystems offers a range of pattern options:  Adaptive – allowing the app to be viewable on multiple devices and screen sizes, giving the user the best possible experience, whatever device they are using.  Content – these allow you to organise content and have pre-built patterns for common elements such as notifications, chat screens and error messages.  Interactive maps – this pattern is fully customisable, and there is also a static maps option for including in non-interactive communications such as email.  Navigation – a central part of a good user experience is being able to easily navigate around your app. These patterns allow you to manage the way you organise content and direct the user journey.  Numbers – patterns to help manage numbers on an application include progress bars, ratings and counters.  In more general terms, patterns also include:  Reusable components: a library of reusable components that can be easily integrated into different applications.   Microservices architecture: an approach to build applications as a collection of loosely coupled services. This delivers flexibility, easier maintenance, and the ability to scale individual components independently.  Event-driven architecture: event-driven patterns enable applications to respond to real-time data and user actions.   Workflow automation: use low-code features to automate complex business workflows. This helps to streamline processes and build efficiency into your application.  Patterns and features from ISB Smart Solutions  Our team at ISB Smart Solutions has developed additional features to create several high-level, reusable patterns or methods which are available to be integrated into any new application. There are currently 17 unique patterns available, which can be used alongside our standard OutSystems development to build a responsive, customised app that is designed to meet your particular business challenges.  These include:  Data upload tool: ISB has followed industry standards to create a framework to load data into OutSystems with standard data load validation, performance and history tracking.  ERP integration: send or receive ERP business objects to or from OutSystems, using the integration framework in a proven, standardised way.    DocuSign integration: the DocuSign integration framework allows for DocuSign to be connected to OutSystems. Within the management of the framework, mapping is configured and developed for required data into a document developed in DocuSign or Adobe.  Multi-currency: Within the multi-currency framework we have built the ability to maintain conditions for spot rates, weekly or monthly rates.   Security group management: this is for employees, IT support, customers or vendors who need to access specific functionalities, reports, screens or processes. Our framework allows you to create groups and assign the required reports, screens or processes based on the type of user.   Bringing speed and flexibility to your next development  The patterns and features available on the OutSystems LCDP, alongside the additional features, patterns and methods that we have built at ISB Smart Solutions gives you access to flexible, intelligent application design without the need for an expensive, long-term hand-coding project.  Your application gets to your people – or out to market – faster, and can be continually updated or added to, so your users get the most from it. Scalable with your business and with all the required security elements built in, this development method brings the momentum you need for your next project.   Contact us to find out more. Recommended Posts​ What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it? What causes technical debt – and how can you solve it? 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The synergy of design, code, and development Pritesh Pattni The synergy of design, code, and development Like all disciplines, digital development works best when all the various elements are used collaboratively, and where new approaches are created based on the input of experts in each area. Depending on the type of development, new technologies can be expensive and time-consuming to create, and this is only exacerbated when some parties are consulted late in the day, or assumptions are made. That’s why uniting design, code and development is seen as the best approach for a successful technology project. In this article, we look at why this synergy is important. What is design? For technology projects, design is the process of creating visual and functional concepts that  are focused on delivering a great user experience. This often covers a range of design expertise, including graphic design, user interface design and user experience design. Working together, these designers use their experience and understanding of aesthetics, usability and psychology to build a visual approach that attracts users while accurately representing the end brand. What is code? Code, in the context of software development, refers to the instructions written in a programming language to define the behaviour and functionality of a system or application. It covers both frontend code, which is focused on the user interface and interaction, and backend code, which manages data storage, processing, and communication with servers and other systems. Code is used to translate design concepts into executable software, employing algorithms, data structures, and software architectures to bring ideas to life. There are usually two approaches to coding: traditional hand coding and low code. Hand-coding is where every element of the code is written by a professional developer and is often used on complex projects. Low code is an approach that uses a drag-and-drop interface to create certain elements of a project, reducing time and cost, and ensuring reliability. The type of coding used on a technology project will be determined by the type of project, timescales and budget. What is development? Development is the term given to the broader process of creating, deploying, and maintaining software solutions. It is often used just to describe the technical aspects of coding, but it also involves the strategic planning and management required to deliver successful products. Ideally, development teams will collaborate across disciplines, including design, engineering, quality assurance, and project management, to build software solutions that meet user needs and business objectives. Why collaboration matters To run a successful technology project, all these elements must come together. Design, with its focus on aesthetics, usability, and user experience, lays the foundation for intuitive interfaces and engaging interactions. Whether it’s crafting visually compelling layouts or mapping out user journeys, design serves as the initial touchpoint, drawing users into the product. Design – both for aesthetics and for usability – is a critical part of the process, giving coders the direction they need to create a workable solution. But ‘design’ and ‘code’ shouldn’t work in a vacuum. Of course, coders could wait until the design process is complete, and then take over, but the project will be far more efficient when designers and coders work together from the very beginning. This is where creativity and technical understanding can work together to create not just a functional and high-performing solution, but to manage the project in the best way from end to end. Designers provide developers with the blueprint for innovation, while developers empower designers with the tools to realize their vision. This synergy fosters a culture of creativity and refinement, where ideas evolve organically through continuous feedback and open conversations. Beyond individual projects Of course, collaboration helps individual projects to succeed. Sometimes, all the elements of design, code and development are based within internal teams, which makes this teamwork easier. On other projects, the project development team may be internal, while the design and coding is outsourced. In cases like this, it’s essential to bring teams together regularly to establish and build good relationships to help the project run smoothly. Beyond individual projects, this focus on collaboration is being encouraged across the technology industry. Leaders understand both the commercial benefits of working more collaboratively, and the fact that this approach delivers better outcomes for users. Agile methodologies, using iterative development and cross-functional teams, has blurred the lines between design and code, removing the risk of siloed thinking, and producing more efficient and effective results. Why low code is a good collaborative option In the context of uniting design, code, and development, low-code platforms offer several advantages over hand-coding approaches. First, they enable rapid prototyping and iterative development cycles. This helps to bring technologies to market faster, and results in more reliable end applications. Low code also streamlines the development process by eliminating complex technical details. This means the development team can focus on high-level functionality and business logic, rather than getting tied up with every small detail. By reducing the amount of hand coding required, using low code can increase productivity and efficiency, and drives faster, more cost-effective delivery. At ISB Global, we are a proud OutSystems partner. OutSystems is regularly named as a platform of choice for collaborative teams. It’s an open platform that accelerates development without compromising quality, and leaves room for easier adaptation and scalability. We use OutSystems low code both for our own market-leading application, Waste and Recycling One, and for the development projects we work on for clients. Contact us to find out more about how low code and collaborative working could help your business to build stronger technologies. Recommended Posts​ What is the true cost of technical debt? What is the true cost of technical debt? Pritesh Pattni What’s the true cost of technical debt?  Technical debt comes in a variety of guises, and occurs for many different reasons. 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An evolutionary approach to software engineering Pritesh Pattni Evolution. The gradual development of something to make it even better. It’s this approach that underpins the low code software development revolution, and that drives the progression of market leader OutSystems, one of the most respected low code platforms in use today. What is low code? Software development has seen significant changes in recent years, and rather than relying on traditional coding for every project, developers and businesses have been looking for more accessible, cost-effective and efficient methods. The main alternative to traditional coding is low code, which has emerged as people look for ways to get to the same development goals without the challenges of traditional coding – high costs, protracted development cycles and the need for highly skilled developers, for example. Low code still requires development expertise and experience, but its drag-and-drop nature helps to reduce project timescales, eliminate common errors and speed up time to market. Part of the low code ‘revolution’ is the fact that it allows developers to have an ongoing relationship with an application or programme. This allows changes, updates and improvements to be made quickly, affordably and with usability in mind – helping organisations to always deliver the best experience to their users. The key benefits of low code development include: Speedier, more agile development – low code platforms simplify complex development tasks. Drag-and-drop interfaces allow developers to build applications quickly, reducing long project timescales and delivering faster time to market.   Integration capability – low code development promotes good integration across systems including varied data sources, APIs and existing systems. This helps to build new applications that reduce downtime and business disruption, thereby reducing costs. AI and automation – like it or loathe it, AI and machine learning are important developments that will change the way we do things. Today’s leading low code platforms understand this, and have space for these capabilities to be introduced. From automating common tasks to improving decision making, ow code development can help organisations to take advantage of these opportunities. Scalability – many organisations need software applications that can change and grow with them. This means scalability and adaptability – something that low code development offers as a matter of course. Why is OutSystems a leader in this field? There are some big players in the low code market – and many smaller companies too. If you are looking for low code development, you’ll probably start by researching the various platforms available and evaluating which might be best for your needs. In fact, that’s exactly what our team did when we wanted to take advantage of low code development for our own market-leading software product. We chose OutSystems. And now we’re a proud OutSystems partner. So what can we share with you about why we think OutSystems is the platform of choice? To start with, we’re not the only ones. In fact, in 2023, OutSystems was as a market leader for Enterprise level low code application platforms by the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ report. It’s the ‘enterprise’ element of this that is important to us. This means that the platform is set up to support a wider range of scenarios than just ‘building something faster’. Another crucial aspect that sets OutSystems apart is their ‘no lock-in’ policy. This means that you can feel confident knowing that you have the flexibility to separate your code from the platform, all while keeping your application running smoothly and without any disruptions. This freedom empowers you to make strategic decisions for your business, ensuring that you are always in control of your software and ready to adapt to changing needs, knowing that your application is not tied down to any specific platform. OutSystems recommends that you cover at least the following areas when you are evaluating platforms – and these help to identify whether the platform can truly support enterprise-level projects: High quality omnichannel experiences Breadth of app types you can build Security automation and built-in DevSecOps Licensing clarity and predictability Reusability, composability and governed innovation Platform engineering and DevOps integration Of course, there are many aspects to compare in each of these areas, so your evaluation criteria should include: Is the provider an established leader in its field? Is the platform scalable, so solutions can support your growth plans? Can you easily deploy your apps in leading app stores? Does the platform support multi-experience user journeys? Can you use the platform without having to expand your current tech stack? Can the platform integrate with your existing business workflow and systems? Does your provider support security mechanisms and allow your team to scan for vulnerabilities? Is the pricing model realistic, transparent and suitable for your needs? Is the platform designed to help your team build to best practice guidelines? Can the platform co-exist successfully with traditional coding teams? OutSystems ticks all these boxes and more. But what does that mean for you? It means that your application is being built to give you the best outcome at the best price, without compromising technical good practice, and with a focus on ensuring it works with other systems in your business, now and in the future. What do you get if you unite great design, coding and development? You get an application that’s completely fit for today’s purpose while also being ready to update for tomorrow. This evolutionary approach to software engineering results in better products that are ready faster and with a lower budget. It means access to quality software without the huge investment or lumbering timescales often associated with development. It means you get to market faster, with a secure, advanced product that can easily adapt to meeting your users’ changing needs. It’s why we chose OutSystems – and it’s why we believe it’s the best choice for your next project. Why not get in touch with us today to find out more. Recommended Posts​ How to choose a low code platform partner How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni

How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni If you have a technology project or digital transformation programme, you are probably considering a low code solution. Low code offers a range of benefits when compared with traditional hand coding. These benefits include speed of development, cost-effectiveness and easier maintenance. If low code is the option you choose, you’ll need to find a partner to work with, and you’ll want to know as much as you can about which low code platform they use and why.  What is a low code platform? In recent years, the Low Code revolution has transformed the way applications, software and solutions are developed. The first thing to understand is that Low code development is platform based. The number of low code platforms on the market is increasing, with both well-known brand names and new entrants vying to offer the best solution for development teams. The most common low code platforms are: OutSystems Quickbase Airtable Appian Caspio In addition, well-known tech brands like Microsoft and Salesforce have developed their own low code platforms, and there are plenty of other suppliers out there. Like all technology platforms, this competition means that it can be quite tricky to decide which platform will be best for your needs. When you approach a potential development partner, they will have a set of questions for you, to help determine the scope of your project and so that they can tell you how they can design and build your software using low code. How to prepare to choose a low code platform partner In order to make the process as easy as possible, it’s best to be prepared for the questions your target suppliers might ask. This means you need to take a step back from ‘I need to hire a development team’ to think about questions like ‘What do we want the software to achieve?’ This consideration takes two forms: the practical things you need from the software, and the relationship and service you need from your supplier. So here are some things to think about: How to choose the right low code software for your business Are you replacing existing technology?  For example, a company may have a critical process that is currently managed via a complex Excel spreadsheet. Spreadsheets have their place, but they are not the best technology for many agile processes, so the company might want to introduce an app instead.  If you’re replacing existing technology, don’t forget that you need to think further than how your current process works today – you need to think about how it might be able to accommodate your business growth, or work across multiple locations, or manage changes in teams. Do you know who your users are?  Developments often fail because no one has thought about the end user. But if you want your software to promote collaboration, open communication and efficiency, you need to have a really clear idea of who will be using it, including their technical capabilities and how it fits with their current work environment and processes. Have you already mapped out the functionalities you want your project to deliver? If your planning is not far beyond “we need a new solution”, then part of the development phase should involve thorough planning. Otherwise, if you go straight into choosing platforms and development without truly knowing your requirements, you could end up needing to do more work (with additional costs) later on.  Does low code meet your needs?  Very complex or bespoke software might be better approached through hand coding. This takes longer – and is therefore more expensive – but it can deliver a completely specialised result. Low code platforms can meet the needs of most process automation, app development, integration and digital transformation projects, but a professional development partner will want to make sure that it will meet your needs. How to choose the right Low Code Development Partner Which low code platform will your developer use?  This is a key question, because not all low code offerings are equal. Platforms that offer good integration, flexibility and scalability are likely to be best for your business if you are looking for reliable technology that will support your business as it grows. There are plenty of online articles about low code platforms – do some research and list the platforms that seem to offer the features you need. Who will own the technology?  Depending on the type of software you are developing, you need to make sure that you will own the technology once it is complete. There are various licensing options available, so it’s worth understanding what these are and working out what is best for your business. How will they support you?  We’ve already said that you will want your technology to scale with your business. So how will that work with your development partner? Will your technology be easy to scale and how will your developer manage new features that become available after your project is finished? These are just some of the things to consider when choosing a low code development partner. Be clear about what you want the software to achieve, and what you want from a partnership and then arrange to chat to a few development teams that have the experience and expertise you need. As an OutSystems partner, we have years of experience in using low code technology to deliver digital transformation solutions to businesses around the world.  Our team has even used OutSystems to build our own commercial waste management software, Waste & Recycling One. So we’re always happy to talk about your project to see if OutSystems and our development approach is right for you – why not give us a call to find out more? Contact us today to find out more. Recommended Posts​ What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? November 22, 2023 What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? Pritesh Pattni The demand

What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? Pritesh Pattni The demand for new and upgraded technology isn’t going anywhere. The human race continues to adopt new technologies to replace either existing non- or low-tech solutions, or look for new ways to make our lives easier, more collaborative and more connected. This means we need to find creative ways of meeting that demand.   So, when clients ask us ‘what is low code technology’ we tell them that it’s a creative, cost-effective and reliable way to get technology projects done faster, making the most efficient use of development time and expertise. In fact, you could call recent advances in this technology, the low code development revolution.  What has caused the spike in demand for low code solutions?Well, the IDC FutureScape Worldwide Developer and DevOps 2021 Predictions stated that the shortage of full-time developers will reach 20% by 2025. That’s just a couple of years away. There simply aren’t enough developers out there to meet the demand for new technology. So, rather than slow down the pace of change and adoption, the industry has been adopting new ways of working. Low code – older than you think You may have only just started to hear about low code development. In fact, low code has been around in one form or another for the past 10 years or so. According to TechRadar, we are already in the third generation of low code. The first generation was built not for commercial use, but to give hand coding developers the option of a few shortcuts and allowing them to look at better ways of developing. However, this generation of low code technology wasn’t flexible enough to develop quickly, or to be consistent, and it often caused problems in the development cycle, rather than making life easier. The second generation of low code was designed largely for a non-developer audience. This is easier to identify with if you ever built your own website by dragging and dropping the elements you needed to build a home page, for example. It allowed businesses to take control of their own IT to a certain extent, and helped to speed up time to market. But these low code platforms were really just for performing a straightforward task – they didn’t have the ability to grow with the business and some platforms weren’t as architecturally strong or robust as they could have been. So, what is low code technology today? It’s certainly come a long way – today’s low code platforms are sophisticated, able to integrate with other software, allow for commercial scalability and help development teams to complete projects faster and more cost-effectively. Low code technology is reducing pressure, reducing cost, reducing time These are the three central benefits of choosing low code technology for your next project. IT leaders have been under pressure for many years – not just with the complex process of general digital transformation, but also with managing the challenges of home and remote working. Looking for secure, affordable solutions means that more IT departments are evaluating low code vs traditional coding, and seeing that in many cases, low code is the better option. That’s because it offers: Faster time to market Lower in-house development team costs Reduced pressure on existing IT resources Wider company involvement in digital development Reliable application outcomes Plus, you can use low code technology to develop software for a wide range of applications. Our partner low code platform, OutSystems, lists some of these in its blog, What Can You Really Build with Low-Code? Business process automation solutions Web apps Workflow management Data visualization and reporting OutSystems expands this list, however, because at first glance it looks like fairly standard, non-complex software. However, low code can handle complexity. So a ‘web app’ could easily be a secure banking app used by millions of customers. A ‘workflow management’ app could be targeted at internal teams across a global business. A ‘business process automation solution’ could take several linked processes that are currently managed across different software platforms and bring them into a single digital process that saves the organisation significant time and money. Learn more about the benefits of using a low code app builder. Why consider low code technology? If you have any sort of software or digitalisation project on the horizon, you should be looking at the benefits of low code technology. Not only can it handle most commercial requirements, it is scalable, easier to maintain and update than hand-coded software, and delivers a faster, cheaper outcome. And the fastest and most efficient way to get a successful low code project delivered, is to work with expert consultants who have delivered many projects like this before. That’s where ISB Smart Solutions comes in. Learn more in our blog How to Choose the right Low Code Development partner.  We’re a proud partner of OutSystems – one of the most highly-rated low code technology platforms on the market today. Learn more about why we choose OutSystems as our low code platform. So, Why not get in touch to see how low code could transform your next project? Contact us today to find out more. Recommended Posts​ How to choose a low code platform partner How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni If you have a technology project or digital transformation programme, you are probably considering a low code solution. Low code offers a range… Read More What does it mean to work with an OutSystems Partner? What does it mean to work with an OutSystems Partner? Pritesh Pattni What does it mean to work with an OutSystems partner? When you’re planning a software project, you want to look for a development… Read More The OutSystems low code platform guide – an introduction The OutSystems low code platform guide – an introduction Pritesh Pattni If you’re considering using a low code solution for your next software project, you’ll want to know all about the various… Read More

What does it mean to work with an OutSystems Partner? Pritesh Pattni What does it mean to work with an OutSystems partner? When you’re planning a software project, you want to look for a development team that has your project’s best interests at heart. You will need to stick to timescale and budget so that you can get your software either out to market at the right time, or set up and running internally to bring more efficiency to your business. And if you’re considering low code development options, such as OutSystems, partner developers may turn out to be the best match for your project. Why choose an Outsystems partner? There are lots of developers out there, although there is a growing shortage of expert developers, particularly if you think you need your project to be hand coded. This more traditional approach to developing software usually requires more developers and more time – and of course, that means more cost.  There are certainly projects where this is still your best option, but for many commercial software projects, you can look at working with a low code development team. Low code is a less time-consuming way to design and build your software, and it can handle a wide range of applications and complexities.  Learn more about Low Code vs. Traditional Development.  But this is your money and your time – so you want to be sure that you’re working with experts who not only understand the technology but have a track record of delivering great software on time and on budget. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to find a platform partner – a business that is trusted by the platform to deliver quality work. At ISB Global, we are an OutSystems partner, using it not just for commercial client applications, but as a pillar of our own software offering, Waste & Recycling One Waste Management Software. What does this mean for you? First, OutSystems is globally recognised as one of the leading low code platforms on the market. Working with developers for more than 20 years, it has a sound track record of delivering high quality solutions. ISB Global has a team of highly experienced OutSystems developers – they know what works well, and what doesn’t. We’ve chosen to work with OutSystems because we know it has the capability and flexibility we need to develop agile, scalable applications that help organisations perform at a higher level. The main benefits that this partnership between OutSystems & ISB Global provides are: Business innovation and application modernisation – because low code software development is faster, we can devote the right amount of time to experimenting, collaborating and iterating. This helps us to develop smarter software that improves user experience and software performance.  Process automation –  low code is a great solution for organisations that want to automate processes to gain efficiencies. OutSystems has easy-to-use visual workflow tools, and these allow us to set up automation for repetitive processes quickly and easily.   Development lifecycle support – OutSystems has been designed to support the entire development process, from initial strategy to version control. This results in smooth project management, more manageable project timescales and the ability to maintain the software after initial release.   Standardised system architecture – one of the things we love about being an OutSystems partner is the fact that the platform promotes best practices. The end result is consistent and maintainable application design and development. OutSystems’ support of non-proprietary technologies enables leveraging of existing technical infrastructure and integration. Security – this should be top of the list for any IT department or organisation investing in new technology. OutSystems prioritises the security and safety of the data held within it, through built-in features such as two-factor authentication, security controls, and data encryption, along with secure data transfer. Seamless integration – this is important across projects of all shapes and sizes. OutSystems has several out-of-the-box integrations, along with prebuilt tools that cater to multiple integration situations. This allows integrations to be rolled out faster, without extensive customised setup. If you think an OutSystems partner might be a good option for your next development project, contact us today to find out more about how we can work together. Contact us today to find out more. Recommended Posts​ How to choose a low code platform partner How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni If you have a technology project or digital transformation programme, you are probably considering a low code solution. Low code offers a range… Read More What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? Pritesh Pattni The demand for new and upgraded technology isn’t going anywhere. The human race continues to adopt new technologies to… Read More The OutSystems low code platform guide – an introduction The OutSystems low code platform guide – an introduction Pritesh Pattni If you’re considering using a low code solution for your next software project, you’ll want to know all about the various… Read More Where next? I’m an OutSystems Customer looking for Applications to accelerate my journey → I’m an OutSystems customer looking for patterns & features to accelerate my journey → I’m an OutSystems Customer using SAP and looking for an advanced integration engine → I’m an OutSystems customer and I need additional development support for my team →

The OutSystems low code platform guide – an introduction Pritesh Pattni If you’re considering using a low code solution for your next software project, you’ll want to know all about the various platforms and what they offer. Here, we’ll give an overview of the platform, why we’ve chosen to work with it, and how we use it. ISB Global is a proud OutSystems low code platform partner, using it on our own proprietary waste and recycling software solution as well as helping other organisations develop the applications they need to manage their processes more efficiently. What is OutSystems? Founded in 2001, OutSystems is one of the leading low code platforms. Businesses around the world use OutSystems to develop, digitise and automate processes, with minimal coding required.  Outsystems has more than 400,000 community members, around 350 partners, and customers in almost 90 countries. Why is OutSystems so successful? Founder and CEO, Paulo Rosado, says it’s because the company hasn’t changed its original vision – to enable every company to innovate through the power of software. With around 1500 employees, the company is constantly striving to offer developers and their customers the very best low code experience, allowing them to be innovative and creative without having to spend hundreds of hours hand coding. OutSystems describes its platform as ‘high performance low code’. It says: “This is the low code that enables you to develop serious applications with serious productivity fast – the kind that eliminates waste and overhead so professional developers can get on with the creative business of designing and deploying uniqueness.” Learn the benefits of Low Code vs. Traditional Development Why did we choose OutSystems? Low code platform choices are many and varied. Many of the biggest names in IT and software offer a low code solution – and they are among many more dedicated low code offerings. So, with all this market choice, why did we choose OutSystems? ISB Global’s founder and CEO, Chris Williams says: “OutSystems is an advanced application platform designed to accelerate the development of software applications. It does this while delivering unrivalled levels of flexibility and efficiency. For ISB Global, this means we are able to develop and manage software in a faster, more efficient and cost-effective way. And these benefits can be passed on to our customers in the form of better service at a lower price.” OutSystems is one of three partners that we use for our flagship software, Waste & Recycling One. Alongside global technology leaders SAP and Amazon Web Services, OutSystems gives us an easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain, flexible way to build software for complex use cases.  Being an OutSystems Partner demonstrates that we have high levels of expertise and competence across the platform, and it also gives us access to the exclusive tools and resources that can help us to build successful projects with our clients. We also collaborate with other OutSystems low code platform partners, giving us access to a wide pool of creativity and innovation, contributing to our continual learning and development and allowing us to share our own expertise across the community.  To learn more about how OutSystems works and its benefits, take a look at the OutSystems low code platform website, where there’s a library of useful articles and information to get you started on your low code journey. If you’d like to find out more about how OutSystems low code could help deliver your project faster, with reduced costs and a quicker route to market, why not contact us for a chat today?  Or sign up for a free demo of the OutSystems platform in action. Recommended Posts​ How to choose a low code platform partner How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni If you have a technology project or digital transformation programme, you are probably considering a low code solution. Low code offers a range… Read More What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? What is low code technology? And why should you consider it? Pritesh Pattni The demand for new and upgraded technology isn’t going anywhere. The human race continues to adopt new technologies to… Read More What does it mean to work with an OutSystems Partner? What does it mean to work with an OutSystems Partner? Pritesh Pattni What does it mean to work with an OutSystems partner? When you’re planning a software project, you want to look for a development… Read More Where next? I’m an OutSystems Customer looking for Applications to accelerate my journey → I’m an OutSystems customer looking for patterns & features to accelerate my journey → I’m an OutSystems Customer using SAP and looking for an advanced integration engine → I’m an OutSystems customer and I need additional development support for my team →

7 types of technical debt and how to manage them Pritesh Pattni 7 types of technical debt and how to manage them Most organisations are in technical debt. Why? Because, in challenging economic times, IT budgets come under pressure, updates and new software purchases are delayed, and organisations are put in a position where they are trying to grow their businesses without quality tech underpinning that growth. Technical debt manifests itself in a number ways, depending on the type of organisation and the tech investment choices that have been made. In our blog, Recognising technical debt in your development approach, we referenced an academic paper that identified 13 types of technical debt. In this blog, we’ll concentrate on the 7 most common types of technical debt, and how, if you start to manage these areas, you can improve a number of key areas across your organisation. Technical debt #1: Code debt This is one of the most common types of technical debt. Code debt happens when software developers take shortcuts, leading to poorly-created or inefficient coding. This usually happens during a hard coding project, where tight deadlines, lack of experience or reduced team size can result in corners being cut. The resulting bugs or crashes, along with increased need for fixes and maintenance puts organisations in significant technical debt.  Technical debt #2: Architecture debt It’s not just the way applications are coded that incurs technical debt – it’s also the underlying architecture. This is an area that needs to be properly addressed as part of a software project, but is often where shortcuts are made in order to keep to project deadlines or release dates. And yet, just like a building project, without the right architecture, the software simply won’t be able to perform at the desired level. Poor architecture or design leads to an inability to scale the software when needed, and can end up costing a huge amount to fix in retrospect. Technical debt #3: Testing debt Testing is one of the most important parts of the software development process, and a comprehensive test approach should be built into a project plan to ensure that the software is reliably ready for release. Inadequate testing means that errors in the software are not identified, and therefore the software will be buggy, crash more often and even open the organisation up to security issues. Failing to test thoroughly will cause technical debt problems down the line. Technical debt #4: Dependency debt Failure to update existing software, or choosing not to move to new software when a third party vendor stops supporting a product, results in technical debt that can damage your organisation. This type of debt can leave your organisation open to cyber attack or other security challenges, and reduces your ability to deliver the most efficient service to your customers. Technical debt #5: People debt This issue manifests in a couple of ways. First, you may not have enough people on your team to run your project effectively. This means that the work gets spread too thinly. This, along with pressure to meet tight deadlines, means that your team may not be able to ensure that their work is the standard it should be. Secondly, cutting corners in recruitment, or not paying the market rate for coding expertise can mean that the people on your team simply don’t have the necessary skills to build the software you need. When this happens, your project suffers, your software is sub-standard and your people often leave, so you also have recruitment and retention issues. Technical debt #6: Process debt Successful software projects are based on robust processes. These processes are the framework of the project, giving it the structure it needs to progress on time and on budget. Where those processes are missing – or are ignored in favour of getting things done faster, or reducing costs, the software itself will suffer. This will lead to increase costs and increased downtime further down the line. Technical debt #7: Documentation debt Documentation might not be the most exciting part of a software development project, but it is essential. Documentation contains all the know-how within the project, helping others to manage it in the future, and saving hours of time spent searching for relevant resources. On too many projects, however, documentation is seen as a ‘could-have’ rather than a ‘must-have’. So it is often incomplete or inaccurate. In the long term, this causes technical debt that racks up costs in terms of time and finances. What happens when you manage your technical debt? There are some significant business benefits to tackling your technical debt. Leaving your debt to increase simply isn’t an option. By identifying your top areas of technical debt and starting to address them sooner rather than later, you can make a range of critical improvements: Improve your security vulnerability Reduce long-term maintenance costs Become more innovative Boost your competitive advantage Allocate resources more effectively Increase flexibility and scalability Deliver better customer service Shorten time to market Improve retention and team morale   How can a low code approach help? Low code is a good way to address technical debt. It’s a faster, more accurate and more efficient way to create new applications, or transfer current processes from inflexible software like Excel to something that adds measurable value to your organisation. Using low code significantly reduces technical debt, and provides organisations with the scalability and flexibility they need to operate effectively and grow strategically. At ISB Global Smart Solutions, we are a long-term partner with OutSystems – one of the longest-standing and most comprehensive low code platforms on the market. If you’re concerned about your technical debt, why not get in touch to see how we can help?   Recommended Posts​ How to choose a low code platform partner How to choose a low code platform partner Pritesh Pattni If you have a technology project or digital transformation programme, you are probably considering a low code solution. Low code offers a