Low code platform based Digital Transformation - Microsoft Power Apps & SWAT strategy

..let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances” – Art of War

Low code, no-code approach towards expedited systems transformation caught the attention of many CIOs. Some were quite swift in embracing this approach by creating a method that amalgamated the culture of the enterprise and the possibilities of the chosen platform. The strategy of adopting an enterprise systems transformation using the low-code approach without careful planning and orchestration resulted in dissatisfied business users and a less than desirable ROI. This is where MERP's experience and understanding of the platform can help customers realize the platform's full potential and create a high-impact success.?This article is an introduction and at the same time an introspection of some of the proven methodologies that helped many CIOs and other decision makers in successfully crafting a superior, effective, and high-impact IT strategy for enterprise systems modernization.

Why Low-Code/No-Code?

The excitement of the low-code/no-code platforms was primarily about how quickly a non-tech savvy business user could design, develop, and deploy a software application for their business needs. ?The business user community was overjoyed with the fact that a software application could be designed and developed by a business support specialist who holds very little appreciation for technology. The idea of creating or modifying a workflow process using a WYSIWYG editor created unprecedented excitement to business users. Intuitive and easy to assign user roles, flexibility of task assignations, delegating, and managing collaborations within the applications are only some of the advantageous features that these platforms offered. In line with technical advancements, these platforms also started supporting a good number of forward-looking features inclusive of AI/ML support and RPA automation abilities. These path breaking features enhanced the adoption of these platforms by the enterprise users. For government agencies where the majority of the business processes revolve around either communications or collaborations support systems, these platforms offer exceptional efficiencies.

What was the disconnect?

A fundamental lack of understanding of the low-code concepts and nomenclature created confusion and disappointment. The concept of configuration-based application development gave these business users a stretched out perspective of the platform and its abilities to deploy solutions in an unrealistic timeframe. Difference between Out of the box (OOTB) , configuration, and customization were not understood by the user champions who embraced this platform. OOTB – is the feature/capability that can be used as it is available in the system, configuration – that requires minor tweaking and tailoring of these features to support the application with the desired functionality, and customization – is the process of code development to support the functionalities that are not supported via OOTB or configuration options. Most often, the disconnect is where the user assumes that all entities, forms, and features can be used as it is and it magically fits into their unique business process. This understanding has to be level set along with the time required to do the discovery driven process mapping.

So, how do we do it (MERP Systems)?

Low Code SWAT. It is a strategy employed that combines the strengths of Agile processes and Test-Driven applications development. This approach will allow the decision makers to devise a method that is regulated to address various environmental scenarios including the cultural composition of the enterprise. Be it a modernization effort of a host of legacy applications, or selective upgrades of retirement-ready applications, or even a total overhaul of a massive application, Low Code SWAT offers a viable and successful path. In this process, applications development and modernization are accomplished by reviewing and analyzing test artifacts to build test conditions or test cases. The purpose of test analysis is to collect requirements and formulate test goals so that baseline test conditions can be established.

MERP’s Low Code SWAT strategy leverages the Microsoft Power Platform. This platform not only offers the features and capabilities but also provides a platform that can scale and extend seamlessly. ?Power BI offers business users a tool to create visually appealing, drill-down dashboards and Power Apps as a construct allows creation of functional rich model-driven apps, navigation and hyper-intuitive canvas apps, and custom pages that merges the functionality of both to offer a hybrid solution. Advancements in AI/ML can be incorporated using the Power Automate framework which is also a compelling alternative to Robotic Process Automation. Virtual agents and chat boats can be deployed rather conveniently using the Power Virtual Agents. Capability of the Dataverse platform to interact with ChatGPT offers possibilities that are untapped and under-explored in the marketplace.

Does it really work and if so, wow does it really work?

At the epicenter of this approach is a Low Code SWAT team. SWAT team is prepared to get into action instantly and retreat upon completion of the mission. Our SWAT team is led by a low code consulting practitioner who is ably supported by a Power Platform architect, a business systems specialist, -2 developers, and a quality assurance analyst in the initial cycle. This team can be further expanded or downsized based on the need and/or progress of the modernization cycle. The process approach comprises of three distinct segments. Discovery, Development, and Deployment. This D-3 approach is the process model perfected by MERP to create efficiency and effectiveness of application transformation. A quick summary of these steps are as follows:

Discovery: This is a very important stage in the entire life cycle of the modernization process. MERP will conduct a kickoff meeting after the contract initiation to begin team mobilization, administration, security and privacy, milestone schedule, review cycles, contract invoicing, and other program-related matters. This stage may also involve a rationalization step based on the size and complexity of the application cohort that needs to be transformed. We emphasize comprehending the requirements right by interviewing, validating, and re-confirming the captured requirements through detailed requirements artifacts. We develop an intimate understanding of the needs and create a plan to meet the requirements. This is where our exceptional expertise comes in handy to our customers. Our experienced Power Apps practitioners have a deep appreciation of the features, functions, capabilities, and limitations of the platform. This know-how will help us develop a project plan predicated on configuration vs. customization options. Also, MERP will perform the following activities as required:

1. Conduct discovery sessions with all stakeholders to gain a clear and shared knowledge of the customers’ business requirements and desired outcomes.
2. Create a comprehensive solution plan that will be executed as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
3. Ensure that appropriate infrastructure and orchestrate licensing to deploy the MVP.
4. Create a development plan that:

• Details use story capture and mapping in an agile manner using Azure DevOps
• Facilitates open communication through regular check-ins and collaborative sessions
• Establish an application lifecycle management plan using Azure DevOps

Development (OOTB/Configure/Customize): MERP will utilize Azure DevOps and the Agile SCRUM methodology for systems modernization and development. This approach will increase the interactions between the business stakeholders and MERP, aid in transparency with the business users, and will facilitate system adoption with the least amount of training. MERP architect and the development team map the requirements to a matrix that helps them to decide the OOTB/Configure/Customize options required to develop the system. The objective of this involved collaboration is to have the entire team get a 360-degree view of the entire project at any given point of time. MERP’s PM will conduct weekly meetings with the stakeholders to inform them of the project’s progress, ongoing activities, and project-related issues/concerns.?Application development will conform to customers’ information management policies, procedures, guidelines, release and deployment Management, IT Security, and Configuration Management.

Deployment: The final step is to deploy an approved release build to production using Azure DevOps leveraging production redundancy systems to enable zero-downtime deployments. MERP has developed a mature Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) system that uses Azure Repo and incorporates industry best practices such as Golden Dev and Hotfix Dev? to ensure timely addressing of critical bugs. Rigorous, comprehensive configuration management and automated testing pay off by ensuring all environments and systems perform as expected. Our expert team will set up the environment, releases, deployment tasks, and groups using the Azure DevOps Pipeline tool.

Summary:

Digital transformation aspirations often impede progress due to the misalignment of platform capability understanding and the desired future state. This is where MERP becomes the trusted partner to our customers. We understand the Power Platform, its infinite possibilities, its required design orchestration, capabilities including OOTB, configuration and customization trajectories, and most importantly planning the ALM using the Azure DevOps ecosystem components for continuous process support. If your organization takes this proven approach, you will create compelling success stories like many of our customers!

Contributing Author - Priya Vasireddy (Vice President, MERP Systems)

MERP Systems is a CMMI Level 3 appraised, Microsoft GOLD partner. With six (6) accelerator solutions published on Microsoft certified AppSource including a FOIA and Investigative Case Management system, MERP champions digital transformation services to a host of their customers including many US federal agencies, State & Local Government, and non-profit organizations.