Championing Low-Code in the Enterprise Systems Group

Introduction

The optimal low-code champion within an Enterprise Systems Group should be a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Senior IT Director, supported by Business Transformation Leaders and Business Technologists. This strategic leadership approach ensures successful low-code adoption across enterprise computing solutions, AI enterprise solutions, and digital transformation initiatives.

Primary Champions: Executive Leadership

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) as the Strategic Champion

CTOs are ideally positioned to champion low-code initiatives within Enterprise Systems Groups. As technological visionaries, CTOs can align low-code platforms with the organization’s strategic objectives to enhance operational efficiency and innovation. The CTO’s role involves:

Strategic Vision and Alignment

Integrating low-code platforms into the broader enterprise architecture
Balancing governance with agility to maximize low-code potential
Ensuring low-code initiatives support digital transformation goals
Championing the use of platforms by showcasing benefits to IT departments and business units

And Organizational Change Management

Introducing low-code requires a shift in traditional IT culture, focusing on empowerment across all organizational levels
Organizing workshops and training sessions to demonstrate platform capabilities and encourage widespread adoption
Managing the transition from traditional development methodologies to low-code approaches

Business Transformation Directors

Business Transformation Leaders serve as critical champions for low-code adoption within Enterprise Systems Groups. These leaders possess the unique combination of strategic thinking, executional capabilities, and deep understanding of business transformation principles necessary for successful low-code implementation.

Key Responsibilities include

Leading planning, execution, and governance of low-code transformation initiatives
Analyzing existing processes and designing improved workflows using low-code solutions
Designing and leading change management strategies that drive adoption and minimize resistance
Providing guidance and support to project teams throughout the transformation journey

Supporting Champions – Specialized Roles

Business Technologists as Bridge Champions

Business Technologists represent a critical supporting role within Enterprise Systems Groups for low-code championing. These professionals combine business acumen with technology understanding, serving as bridges between business objectives and technical implementation. Their expertise spans technology strategy, digital transformation, software development, data analysis, and IT project management.

Bridge the gap between business and technology by understanding both domains
Drive innovation through emerging technologies integrated with low-code platforms
Enable data-driven decision-making through analytics capabilities
Enhance organizational agility and adaptability to changing market conditions

Enterprise Architects as Governance Champions

Enterprise Architects play an evolving but crucial role in low-code championing. Rather than focusing solely on technical oversight, they now provide strategic guidance and governance frameworks. Their responsibilities include strategic architecture leadership:

Developing comprehensive integration architectures for low-code applications
Ensuring applications align with enterprise security requirements and compliance standards
Creating governance frameworks that balance innovation with risk management
Addressing non-functional requirements including security, scalability, and availability

Citizen Developers as Grassroots Champions

Citizen Developers serve as grassroots champions within Enterprise Systems Groups. These business process experts build workflows without extensive coding knowledge on platforms sanctioned and supported by IT. Their role includes innovation and adoption.

a) Demonstrating practical applications of low-code solutions

b) Creating departmental solutions that showcase low-code value

c) Facilitating collaboration between IT and business units

d) Serving as advocates for low-code adoption within their departments

Strategic Framework for Low-Code Championship

Digital Transformation Context

Low-code champions must operate within the broader context of digital transformation initiatives. Research indicates that approximately 75% of enterprise IT executives view low-code development platforms as playing a major role in digital customer engagement, digital process automation, and overall digital transformation efforts3.

Key Success Factors include securing active and visible leadership support, integrating technical and people sides of digital transformation, building coalitions of sponsorship across the organization, communicating transformation benefits effectively.

AI Enterprise Solutions Integration

The convergence of AI and low-code development is transforming how enterprises approach innovation. Low-code champions must understand how AI-powered platforms enable organizations to implement sophisticated AI solutions without requiring extensive expertise in machine learning or data science.

Strategic Implications:

83% of organizations believe combining AI with low-code could accelerate innovation
AI-powered low-code platforms report 52% improvement in integration quality
Organizations achieve 68% improvement in resource utilization with cloud-based low-code platforms

Enterprise Computing Solutions Modernization

Low-code champions must address the modernization of legacy enterprise systems while maintaining operational continuity.

This involves Core System Extension and Modernization (e.g. Integrating new functionalities into existing ERP, CRM, and data platforms, optimizing workflows and enhancing user experiences, ensuring seamless compatibility with evolving business requirements) and Applications Landscape Transformation (e.g. revamping outdated interfaces and improving data integration, getting shadow IT under control through governed low-code platforms, establishing modular components that provide flexibility for future adaptation.

Implementation Success Model

Center of Excellence Approach

Successful low-code championship often involves establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE). This organizational structure provides governance and innovation balance e.g. championing new technology adoption while maintaining enterprise standards, providing impetus for innovations in AI, RPA, and other emerging technologies, acting as a catalyst for reduced time-to-market initiatives, empowering citizen development while ensuring proper oversight.

Multi-Layered Leadership Structure

The most effective low-code championship model involves multiple organizational levels.

Executive Layer: CTO/IT Director providing strategic vision and resource allocation
Management Layer: Business Transformation Leaders managing implementation and change
Technical Layer: Enterprise Architects ensuring governance and integration
Operational Layer: Business Technologists and Citizen Developers driving adoption and innovation

This multi-layered approach ensures that low-code initiatives receive appropriate executive support while maintaining practical implementation capabilities and grassroots adoption momentum. The combination of strategic leadership, operational expertise, and user advocacy creates the optimal environment for successful low-code transformation within Enterprise Systems Groups.