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Are you ready to optimize your business processes with a composable app platform? With these 12 tips, you can ensure a successful start.
An organization grows over time and business processes develop with it or new ones are being added. The whole thing works. But it is often no longer so clear exactly which processes are involved, which ones are essential and which ones can actually be missed. Accurately documenting and assessing this - perhaps with an experienced consultant - is a crucial first step in renewing important software systems.
Nowadays, every business process has its own IT support, from office applications to complex customized solutions. The overview of exactly which applications are in use, who manages them and how well those applications connect is not always clear to many organizations. Mapping the application landscape is always wise, but certainly when switching to a new platform.
Every organization has data, data about internal processes, but also data from suppliers and customers. In some organizations, this data is stuck in silos of business units and can be difficult or impossible to share with other units that need to access or benefit from it. From the outset, it is essential to ask questions such as: “What do we want with data?” and “How can we unlock that data?”
The inventory of business processes, applications and data sources provides a clear picture of the organization as it currently operates. Perhaps this will immediately lead to a conclusion that improvement is possible. Using external expertise can help design better streamlining often offers insight into higher efficiency and cost savings.
Once a solid architecture has been set up for the business processes, it's time to take a fresh look at how IT support is organized. A composable app platform offers the possibility to combine the benefits of a standard package with the benefits of customization. By putting together an application using thousands of proven standard components, you can usually cover 80 percent of functionality. For the other 20 percent, you can efficiently develop or modify new components, for example with a model-driven, low-code software development platform. So check whether the platform of your choice has sufficient standard components in the catalog to fill in a large part of the desired functionality.
What desired functionalities cannot be covered with the standard components? Do new components need to be added or can standard components be modified? Many Novulo customers have the experience that a large part of the business processes (> 80%) can be set up quickly with the standard components. However, there are also processes that are unique to an organization or industry. It is important to determine at an early stage how this can be provided.
Start by combining the standard modules to form the core of the application. Use your own team or get help from the platform provider. Often, a working application can be assembled from hundreds of components in a very short time.
If it's necessary to build new components or modify existing ones, work with a team that can develop prototypes quickly. In addition to technical and organizational team members, make sure that 'the business' is also adequately represented.
When the development work takes place in-house, make sure that team members are well trained. How does the architecture work? What conditions must the interfaces meet? A composable app platform works so well because unnecessary dependencies and conflicts are prevented by strict adherence to architecture and interface requirements. In addition, this method increases the reusability of a new component to be built.
Demonstrate prototypes to end users at a very early stage. Take feedback with you to arrive at the right component in a number of iterations. Actively involving end users in the construction process ensures that the functionalities optimally match the business process upon delivery. In addition, this approach facilitates the acceptance of a new way of working.
The modular design of the new system makes it possible to transfer business processes in phases, even before all functionalities are available. Take the time to familiarize end users with the new environment with introductory courses and on-the-job training. After the new system has successfully gone live, the old one can be switched off and the license terminated. Application rationalization is one of the major savings options that are possible with a composable app platform.
Which other business processes can connect to the basis of the composable app platform is a follow-up question that always needs to be asked. Is it possible to further simplify management and licensing costs by incorporating them into the composable architecture? Scenario planning can also be used to see which components may interfere with changing market conditions. Look for alternatives in the catalog or sort through the construction of replacement components.
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