Unleashing Efficiency: A Venture into Business Operations Automation with Low Code Tools

In our pursuit of enhancing operational efficiency and embracing automation, an experimental opportunity opened up in my organization to research and implement solutions using low code tools for internal business operations.

Tooling Decision

We extensively researched various low code tools. Among the contenders, including Zapier, Make, JetAdmin, Budibase, and Internal, Microsoft Power Platform was one of the front-runners for transforming our internal business operations.

As a Microsoft-centric organization, Power Platform's seamless integration and out-of-the-box compatibility with our existing apps were key factors in our decision-making process. Leveraging our established Microsoft infrastructure allowed us to harness the full potential of Microsoft Power Platform with fewer integration challenges or compatibility issues.

Furthermore, cost-effectiveness aligned favorably with our budget constraints, while the ability to assign precise security roles ensured a secure environment for our operations.

Join us on this exciting journey as we delve into the realm of Microsoft Power Platform, leveraging its power to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and unlock new possibilities for our organization.

Discoveries and Proof-of-Concept

The initial month of the initiative was about interviewing stakeholders in several departments to identify key problem spaces where efficiencies can be improved.

Initially, the Head of Technology set me off on the right path by providing me with an electronic version of 'The Mom Test' which was quite an eye-opener. Understanding the real problem and gathering requirements is in itself an art (and another article!).

After we figured that we have enough areas to look into, we formed a backlog of items. This then allowed me to start solutionizing the first initiative as a proof of concept: automating one of the integration of our internal business processes with Xero APIs.

A high-level design document was started to scope the requirements in further detail. I ventured into the realm of UI prototyping using Figma. This process helped to visually demonstrate the envisioned user interface and gather input from stakeholders. Their feedback proved invaluable, enabling me to refine the prototype and align it with their requirements and expectations.

With the prototype, flowcharts, and state transition diagrams as my guide, I embarked on the development journey, transforming it into a fully functional canvas app within Microsoft Power Platform. Power Automate flows were tied to most actions on the PowerApps, and some further thoughts went into managing errors with the flows and alerting any issues on a communication channel. Delivering the first proof of concept was indeed an immersive experience that broadened my skill set and provided a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end development lifecycle.

What this exercise proved was the markedly reduced cost of development both in terms of tooling and resourcing.

Accelerating Delivery and Evolving Expertise

As the months flew by, I found myself immersed in delivering a series of solutions for our internal team using Microsoft Power Platform. With each project, I noticed a significant increase in my delivery speed. Familiarity with the platform's features and functionalities played a pivotal role in this progress. While the first proof-of-concept took me about a month to implement, subsequent solutions took about two weeks to deliver.

During this time, I also had the privilege of continuously receiving invaluable advice and guidance from the Head of Technology. His expertise shed light on managing user interfaces through state diagrams, enabling me to optimize the UI design process and gain a deeper understanding of how to structure UI elements and manage their states efficiently.

In addition to technical guidance, the Head of UX provided me with invaluable insights on crafting a compelling user experience and a crash course on UI components. His expertise extended beyond the realm of tooling, focusing on the importance of word structure, tone, and creating a cohesive UI theme.

These valuable lessons from the experts broadened my perspective on user-centric design and enhanced the overall usability of the solutions I delivered.

Dispelling Misconceptions about Low Code

As my journey into the realm of low code tools, specifically Microsoft Power Platform, unfolded, I was able to debunk a couple of common misconceptions.

Firstly, it became evident that low code does not equate to no code. While these tools offer simplicity and abstraction, a basic understanding of coding concepts such as conditions, loops, and variables is essential for leveraging their full potential. Low code empowers users to streamline processes and automate tasks, but it still requires a foundational knowledge of coding principles.

Another misconception is the assumption that low code tools can inherently simplify solutions. The responsibility for simplification and optimization of the solution lies with the developer. Careful thought must be given to design flows, error monitoring, and providing a cohesive user experience. Low code tools serve as enablers for rapid development, but it is the developer's expertise and attention to detail that ultimately contribute to the creation of maintainable and efficient solutions.

One of the biggest challenges has been with debugging issues during development. While the documentation for low code tools is generally available and useful, they don't quite help narrow down the issues that a developer would face day-to-day. Understanding the nuances of the issues encountered with new tooling took some time. As I continued to encounter similar problems daily, I started documenting frequently encountered issues with exact links to solutions online. This helped my future self to increase the pace of delivery as I strengthened my understanding.

Conclusion

The journey into the world of low code tools, exemplified by my experience with Microsoft Power Platform for the past few months, has certainly highlighted the true nature of these powerful low-code tools. While low code offers an accessible and efficient approach to development, it is important to recognize that foundational knowledge of coding concepts is still necessary for implementing scalable and maintainable solutions. And above all, whether we are solving the right problems, for the right people, for the right reasons, at the right pace, with the right feedback loops is ultimately the deciding factor for the choice of tooling.