The Successful Integration of No-Code Platforms – Part 1: Management as a Key Factor
In today’s business world, where software and digitalization have become central competitive factors, no-code platforms are gaining increasing importance. They promise not only efficiency but also open up new avenues for collaboration between business units and IT. To realize this potential, one thing is essential: active and strategically minded management.
UNOY supports companies throughout this process – from strategic platform selection to employee enablement and integration into existing structures.
Shaping Digitalization Instead of Just Managing It
Companies that want to remain future-proof must initiate digital projects and develop new business models. According to Elshan et al. (2023), the significance of digital products now goes well beyond simple process automation – they improve services, create new value for existing customers, and enable entirely new offerings.
No-code platforms help overcome the classic hurdles of software development. They allow business units to create their own applications – closely aligned with practical needs and with significantly shorter development cycles.
In many of our projects at UNOY, we see how no-code approaches help companies translate internal knowledge into digital solutions more quickly – provided management establishes the necessary structure and orientation.
No-Code as a Leadership Task: Why Management Is Essential
Introducing a no-code platform is not just a technical decision; it is an organizational intervention. It transforms roles, processes, and responsibilities:
- Conscious platform selection: Choosing the right no-code tools must be strategically guided. Factors such as data security, interfaces, usability, and long-term viability should be evaluated jointly by IT and business units (Lingenhel, 2023).
- Defining frameworks and responsibilities: No-code can only be successful long term if management clearly distributes responsibilities – for training, support, and governance, for example.
With the UNOY Capability Framework, we help companies structure these management tasks systematically – including role models and implementation pathways for citizen development.
Change Management: Enablement as a Leadership Responsibility
No-code platforms change the way people work. Employees take on new roles, especially as citizen developers. This means transformation – and it requires support:
- Structuring training and advisory services: Without systematic enablement, the potential remains untapped. Companies need well-designed training concepts, internal coaching, and unified standards (Prinz et al., 2024).
- Ensuring appreciation and involvement: Citizen developers are not “light IT” but key figures in digital transformation. They need recognition, decision-making freedom, and clear development paths.
UNOY develops tailored enablement programs for companies – adapted to existing teams, prior experience, and strategic goals.
Selecting the Right People – Purposefully and Inclusively
Who is suited to become a citizen developer? Experience shows that employees with Excel, VBA, or process knowledge often have a strong foundation (Itäkylä, 2021). A structured selection process is essential:
- Identify and leverage technical experience
- Foster collaboration with IT
- Consider social competencies
UNOY uses a proven selection and qualification model that combines expertise, affinity, and communication skills in a meaningful way.
Thinking of IT as a Partner – Not a Gatekeeper
Even no-code requires technical foundations. Interfaces to ERP, CRM, or DMS must be available and accessible. This demands resources and prioritization by IT – and clear communication from management.
UNOY facilitates collaboration between business units and IT – and supports the development of realistic implementation roadmaps and interface strategies.
Conclusion: Leadership Means Enabling Digital Capability
The successful integration of no-code platforms doesn’t begin with a tool decision, but with a leadership decision. Those who empower, assign responsibility, and consciously shape change make no-code a true asset for innovation, efficiency, and new forms of collaboration.
Preview: Part 2 of Our Series
The next article will explore the role of IT – from providing technical infrastructure to ensuring governance and successfully collaborating with citizen developers.
UNOY supports companies on their journey to sustainable no-code adoption – strategic, practical, and technology-agnostic.
Whether it’s platform selection, employee qualification, or IT integration: We think enablement from start to success.
References
- Elshan, E., Dickhaut, E. & Ebel, P. (2023). No-Code as a Driver of Digital Transformation. Wirtschaftsinformatik & Management, 15(6), 6159–6165.
- Ghamesi, A. & Khamis, M. (2022). Digital Transformation and Customer Experience. Journal of Service Science, 11(2), 11–22.
- Lebens, M., Finnegan, P., Sørensen, C. & Shah, K. (2021). No-Code in SMEs: Opportunities and Challenges. Information Systems Research, 32(1), 103–110.
- Lingenhel, J. (2023). Introducing No-Code Platforms in Companies. Whitepaper, University of Vienna.
- Prinz, A., Constantze, M., Huber, L. & Leonhardt, C. (2024). Citizen Developer Enablement: Standards and Structures. In: Developing Digital Competencies, Springer Verlag.
- Itäkylä, T. (2021). Organizational Conditions for Citizen Development. Doctoral Thesis, University of Helsinki.
- Iho, J., Krejci, K. & Missonier, S. (2021). Building Citizen Developer Skills. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Transformation, 12–20.
