5 considerations to help power innovation success with no-code

If you or members on your team are doing tasks manually that are highly repetitive and can benefit from being standardized, then no-code is a great technology to evaluate. No-code empowers users to create solutions without having to rely on developers to write complex code in languages like Java, HTML, or C++. This technology is customizable and enables you to reduce time-to-market, bridge communication gaps, and minimize legacy maintenance. Here are 5 key considerations which can help ensure you deliver the most value from no-code technology: 

1. Understanding what you need 

As the platform technology approach lets you decide what to automate, it’s worth taking some time to establish what you want to do first and what will deliver the most value. 

An exercise we suggest is looking at the ‘100% dilemma’. This dilemma arises when you try to incorporate 100% of the desired features in the first iteration of your tool, which can lead to difficulty in assimilating learnings from your first version and having the ability to iterate based on your true needs and requirements. Instead, try and focus on achieving 70% of what you need – where the critical benefits lie. Focus on the features that matter most, and work from there. 

It’s also important to avoid overly complicated use cases early on. Establish tasks and processes which are relatively simple, but time consuming when completed manually. This way, you can display substantive results far more quickly and have a tool that can scale. 

2. Understanding how the tech fits with what you have 

Getting to grips with what technology you already have – and how it would ‘work together’ with your new tech – is fundamental. 

You may have existing point solutions for use cases which you are planning to build in a no-code platform for greater customizability and other benefits. Work out early on when those contracts expire and when you would need a replacement in place, and you can quickly save more money by slimming down your tech stack and adopting a platform approach.

For aspects of your tech stack which you intend to keep, work out where they form parts of processes and workflows, and how you could integrate those tools with your new no-code solutions. Integration is a very effective way to achieve ‘quick wins’, enabling you to streamline processes even further, and avoid manual tasks moving things between different digital systems. 

When reviewing a vendor, ask them how they integrate with others. What API’s do they offer? Do these integrations come out of the box? Are there costs associated? How difficult is it to add an integration that is not included out of the box? Asking these questions, you’ll be able to tell very quickly whether the vendor is flexible enough to join the cohesive fabric, and what content constitutes your tech stack. Neota offers a number of building blocks that allows for quick and easy connections between various systems. DocuSign is a highly trusted & widely used eSignature software that can be connected to Neota within minutes. This software manages every aspect of transaction from preparing and sending documents to signing and managing them. Customers such as Wesfarmers are using this type of integration to automate their NDA processes as well as other high volume and repetitive contract processes. 

3. Establish how you are measuring success 

What are your key aims and key metrics in your innovation strategy? It’s important to establish your KPIs and share those with your new vendor. It will help them understand your expectations, and allow them to help work towards hitting those goals. Alignment with your vendor can hugely help in being successful. 

Once your metrics for return on investment are established, work out which use cases will help you get there quickly, and how you can continue to scale your solutions. Again, speaking to your vendor about best practices and making use of their experience can be very useful. 

4. Involving your team 

Your team, especially those who currently conduct the manual processes being automated, are a key asset when it comes to planning your no-code journey. Speak to the end users of the proposed solutions, listen to their challenges and ask them what they want out of their tech stack. Even after you’ve deployed one or a few tools, engage the end users to help continue iterative improvements to make your tools deliver as much value as possible. 

You should also find your internal no-code champions – individuals who will be using the platform, the end users, and the people who will showcase the value internally. This process can be helped by assembling a motivated team interested in technology who can provide feedback and help produce effective decision-making. 

5. Establishing how the vendor will support you 

Finally, make sure you ask questions of your prospective no-code vendor around the support they provide and how they will be helping you. At Neota, we often talk about ‘the people and the platform’ – the people helping you implement the tech and truly understanding your aims and objectives are as important as the technology itself. 

Support goes much further than a helpdesk for when you run into issues: what does the vendor’s onboarding program look like? Is a broader consultation service included in the subscription? How often is the vendor willing to engage with you? Having an experienced vendor help guide you and help you achieve your aims is invaluable, and is likely to help you deliver greater value from day one. 

Adopting any new technology comes with risks and challenges, but if you evaluate your decision using these 5 steps, you will be taking steps to ensure you are getting the greatest benefit from no-code.

Watch the on-demand webinar: ‘No-code, No Problem: How to Incorporate a No-code Platform into Your Tech Stack’