Low Code and the Future of Supply Chain Management
Low-Code No-Code
As the term suggests, low-code no-code is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach which either requires no coding at all or a very generic level of coding. Such a platform enables non-IT workers to develop business applications without drilling down the path of coding. With a few drag and drops and by writing a few functions, an individual is able to deploy a fully functional application. Microsoft Power Apps, Salesforce Platform, Quickbase, Glide etc. are some of the examples of low-code no-code platforms. A few clicks here and there and within minutes or even seconds, desired process results are achieved. Thus, making the process not only efficient but also structured.
In the next section, I have discussed in short about citizen developers and how business management enthusiasts are getting their hands on low-code development to digitize the business operations.
Citizen Development
The term ‘Citizen Developer’ refers to a non-IT background employee who develops applications and solution sets which have a scope either limited to the individual or complete organization. Citizen developers usually do not fall under the IT shed but are more of a hybrid background which combines operational and software background. This means, to digitize a process, a citizen developer needs to possess process knowledge, operational knowledge and a basic idea about the software functionality.
Businesses off-loading IT services can be befitted by employing citizen developers. Reduced operational and capital expenses, resource expenses and training costs are some of the added benefits of implementing no-code solutions.
Below, I have visualized a generic approach towards solution development using low-code no-code concept.
Applications in Supply Chain Management
It would not be wrong to imply that no code concept is a branch of supply chain 4.0. For most of the full-scale businesses, going digital means implementing ERP solutions. This either comprises of complete ERP package or modules of ERP system based on requirement and functionality. The key drawbacks of traditional ERP systems are the lack of flexibility, long times associated with designing, installation and training & deployment and costs. A no code solution can make it possible to overcome these drawbacks. This point is elaborated under the advantages section later.
Some of the applications of no-code low-code in the field of Supply Chain Management are:
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Inventory Planning: Stock planning, maintaining (inbound and outbound),monitoring, re-ordering etc.
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Order Management: Order creation, Purchase Order (PO) generation, order monitoring, order closing.
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Supplier Management: Vendor comparison and selection, vendor data management (portals) etc.
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End-to-End Tracking: Applications to track the processes from start to end. E.g., Monitoring a Purchase Requisition to Purchase Order cycle, logistics tracking etc.
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SCM Analytics: Analyzing the big data in supply chain management enabling managers and C-board to take key decisions, analyze business performance, monitor lead times etc.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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Highly flexible to meet changing business needs.
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Low Op-EX and Cap-EX.
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Integration of more than one no-code low-code solutions has the power to mimic an ERP environment.
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Compatibility with Arificial Intelligence (AI).
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Leveraging citizen developers over standalone IT workforce.
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Rapid development.
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Less training costs.
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Less complex nature (From end user’s perspective).
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Not suitable for large corporations with complex operations.
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Functional Limitations.
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When talking about application development, citizen developers might not be familier to UI-UX designing. Besides, a citizen developer has certain limitations such as lack of coding knowledge.
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Limited flexibility in comparison to traditional coding.
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To conclude; no-code low-code platform holds a great potential to introduce radical change in business processes and would help organizations achieve their goal of making supply chains robust.