Do you need a better mousetrap ?

While I've never actually built a mousetrap, I like the quote...

Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door...  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The full quote is even more inspiring - with regard to 'location' ;

If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon or make a better mouse trap than his neighbors, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door...

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

In modern terms, the above quote could be a metaphor stating "if you can find a way to do something better, faster and/or quicker - then people will find you - no matter where you are"...

Initially, I thought of this in terms of the "modern workplace". But, I think it's much more than that - it can be viewed with a perspective of modern "life".

Over the last few years, we've seen the rise of many better mousetraps - you can call out Uber, Netflix, and AirBnB as a start. Taxis, Cinemas and Hotels - changed forever...

Each of these examples relate to the concepts of Online, Self-Service and Disruption (we've all experienced a lot of THAT lately).

The next evolution of 'disruption' is surely work-from-anywhere ? Mobile and/or remote workers ? Even more relevant today, with the current global situation, and isolation needs.

OK - why am I talking to you about 'mousetraps' ?

Well, as many of you know, I'm a developer at heart. I build things.

Not mousetraps, but software and custom apps/solutions - and have done so, for 20+ years.

I build 'things' to work with SharePoint, Office 365, Dynamics, and other platforms, including PowerApps, Flow, K2, Nintex, and the list goes on. 

And have built many custom apps with JavaScript, C#, React.JS and SQL.

And, let's not forget how many business apps we created with tools like InfoPath, SharePoint Designer workflows – and even Lotus Notes!

Although my dev efforts & projects worked well (in the end !), dev-work was often time-consuming and often technically challenging.

Sometimes, the final result was not as neat & tidy as I would have liked – and I've never mastered the issue of 'mobile' for these apps. 

In these challenging times we still need to develop apps & business solutions, but we need to do it faster – and the end result has to be mobile, with so many people working off-site & remote. 

So, at the risk of sounding like an 'infomercial', what if I told you that I've found a new way of building apps with a new toolset – faster, more productive, and a LOT easier for developing for mobile ?

Last year I became interested in OutSystems as a way to define database, logic and UI in a single platform, and release to mobile, either natively or in ‘Progressive Web Apps’. 

The concept of ‘low code’ is a practical way forward, with many compelling features & benefits. A better mousetrap - for custom business apps.

Rather than talking about it, let me show you… 

If you are keen to see it in action, send me a DM or add a comment below, telling me about something you might be grappling within your workplace.  

I am hosting a free online workshop at 10am on Tuesday 31 March, where you can see how it works – I get genuinely excited about the potential for many different business scenarios. 

Let's look at some modern+better tools for building apps, to help you build-a-path-to-your-door (to follow the analogy) - for customers, and employees alike.

For your custom business apps & solutions – across SharePoint + Office365 + beyond…