My Overview Of The Appian- Low Code/ No-Code Platform

In an economic age where your business needs to work smarter and more efficient, you might be thinking of either transforming or starting to implement a digital transformation strategy to take operations to the next level. There are so many buzzwords and tools out there that have a lot of potential to bring in a lot of ROI for the business, however at the hierarchy of any digital transformation is the idea of automation. A critical part of implementing automation tools is knowing the difference between them and how they can benefit operations. Using Robotic process automation (RPA) - LOW-CODE/NO-CODE solutions can help us create a powerhouse digital transformation for your business.

WHAT IS LOW-CODE/NO-CODE TECHNOLOGY?

Low-code is a software development approach that requires little to no coding in order to build applications and processes. A low-code development platform uses visual interfaces with simple logic and drag-and-drop features instead of extensive coding languages. These intuitive tools allow users with no formal knowledge of coding or software development to create applications for many purposes like mobile apps and business apps.

These platforms have become increasingly popular as a fast and easy alternative to traditional software development. Both professional developers and “citizen developers” (non-professional developers) can use a low-code platform to create apps of varying complexity to meet business demands for development, automate processes, and accelerate digital transformation.

SOME LOW-CODE PLATFORM FEATURES

VISUAL MODELING TOOLS

Creating apps using visual methods and models is faster than developing using code. Powered with visual modeling capabilities, low-code platforms use built-in components to represent any information in a form that is readable to anyone – from regular business users with no tech skills to professional developers.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX FUNCTIONALITY

Leading low-code systems provide OOTB (out-of-the-box) functionality, which eliminates the need to build core modules for apps from scratch. For example, some low-code platforms include modules for data management or modules for customer-facing apps, such as service management or sales processes management.

REUSABILITY

One major aspect of low-code development’s OOTB functionality is the usage of pre-configured modules and functionality for apps. These modules have common core functions needed for several apps, and they can be reused to develop different solutions more quickly. It’s essential that a low-code platform allows users to reuse prebuilt or newly-developed modules, plug-ins, and entire applications to develop necessary apps faster.

WHAT WE CAN CREATE USING LOW-CODE PLATFORMS:

Low-code platforms provide visual interfaces with drag-and-drop capabilities that allow users to build apps for different business tasks, from customer-facing applications to integrations with third-party solutions. Users can create several types of business applications, such as:

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT APPS:

Build any enterprise-grade app for different business tasks. These apps can be anything from customer-facing apps to complex business processes for more effective and personalized customer engagements.

BUSINESS PROCESSES:

Define workflows and build processes for tasks of any complexity to automate operations across several departments.

AI-BASES SOLUTIONS:

Build applications that use AI and machine-learning algorithms to process data effectively to minimize manual operations and accelerate efficiency.

AN INTRO TO APPIAN:

A low-code solution can be used to create a wide range of applications, from simple mobile apps to complex commercial systems. APPIAN, a low-code platform that may be utilized by any client, was introduced to me. Everyone, in my opinion, should use Appian to build end-to-end applications. The most significant advantage is that we can quickly create a website. They've also provided us with the most expressive mode. For both end-users and backend users, there are several options for making the website more appealing and user-friendly.

ABOUT THE RPA COURSEWORK:

With my somewhat experience with RPA using UI PATH, I decided to enroll in BUAN 6385-Robotic Process Automation in the spring of 2022. And well, this ended up being one of the best decisions I made this spring, and now I have gained experience working on multiple projects using Appian.

During the first month itself, I created a Vehicle Fleet Management Application. I was able to build bots for repetitive tasks and generate dynamic reports using Appian's charting feature. Using Appian's data visualization, we can filter and sort our data into a well-crafted visual tale. The most exciting component was participating in multiple hackathons sponsored by KPMG and AccelQ. My team was able to build a fully functional application for Employee Goals and Feedback in about two weeks, thanks to low code automation and Appian. We also had the opportunity to participate in the AccelQ (Another low-code/no-code platform) hackathon, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well as creative use of the Appian capability.

Overall I had an amazing experience working with Appian; I really liked the tool and enjoyed working with it. With this being said, I will continue to pursue my learning and experience with the Appian and the automated process in the future.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Gaurav Shekhar and Sagar Hagawane for being such amazing mentors and for their continued support and assistance throughout the semester.