Multi-experience is a powerful term
In this blog post, we explain what multi-experience is all about in the context of low-code, which platform is the right one, which features it needs to have and what advantages an MXDP (multi-experience development platform) offers you and your company.
(Reading time: approx. 3 min.)
Due to the increasing use of a wide variety of end devices in digitally mapped processes, more and more wearables (such as smartwatches, fitness trackers etc.) are being used alongside smartphones and tablets – including within companies. This is accompanied by an increase in the use of various technologies such as voice-controlled assistants, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). As a result, there are more and more points of contact along the digital journey. This makes it all the more important for companies to take these touchpoints into account when developing applications in order to enable customers and employees to interact via these new interfaces. Keyword: multi-experience apps.
Companies are now relying on low-code platforms to create applications for a variety of reasons. Market researchers at Gartner predict that more than 65% of all corporate applications will be implemented using low- and no-code tools by 2024. There are now numerous providers on the market, but not every platform is suitable for multi-experience apps.
Which low-code platform is the right one?
The large selection seems tempting. Nevertheless, companies should evaluate in detail which platform is suitable for their particular application. After all, not everything that is described as low-code offers the comprehensive possibilities of a platform. Basically, low-code platforms combine the following four building blocks in a perfectly integrated “software as a service”:
- Drag & drop development of surfaces,
- Graphical modeling of (business) logics,
- Application generation and one-click deployment and
- Standardization, reuse & integration
However, many aspects of low-code can also be found in tools such as business process management (BPM), robotic process automation (RPA) or web applications. In these low-code paradigms, however, the technology is not used along the entire application lifecycle. Although these variants can therefore meet certain requirements and purposes, they lack flexibility and multi-experience.
The solution: Multi-Experience Development Platforms (MXDP)
This is where multi-experience development platforms (MXDP), such as Simplifier, come into play. True to the motto “multi-user, multi-integration, multi-device and multi-interaction”, these efficient development tools offer the comprehensive possibilities of a platform and therefore the desired flexibility and multi-experience, which is becoming increasingly important for application development.
- Multi-user: The simple integration of no- and low-coders into the application creation process expands the circle of developers and allows requirements to be implemented more quickly in the specialist departments themselves. But professional developers (pro coders) also get their money’s worth with an MXDP.
- Multi-integration: With an MXDP, the integration of SAP, non-SAP and IoT systems is straightforward. Standardized and configurable interfaces often simplify the connection to existing systems.
- Multi-device: Smartphone, tablet, smartwatch or data glasses – the applications created can be used with almost any device and operating system.
- Multi-interaction: The interaction options are also diverse. The user can interact with the app using new technologies such as AR, VR, 2D or 3D models.
According to Gartner, multi-experience was already an important technology trend last year. The analysts stated that by 2023, more than 25 percent of mobile apps, advanced web apps and conversational apps in large companies will be created or executed via an MXDP.
The advantages of an MXDP
MXDP enables the management of an application over its entire lifecycle (Application Lifecycle Management, ALM for short). This is because many areas of application development are not so trivial that they can be mapped using drag & drop functions or one-click actions alone. On the contrary: a look behind the scenes of a complete application lifecycle shows that certain tasks require the skills of a professional developer. By covering the entire lifecycle, an MXDP fully supports the IT governance of a company. MXDPs provide a standardized environment for communication and collaboration between IT teams with professional developers and the individual departments, optimizing the application development and deployment process.
Even for citizen developers without in-depth IT and programming knowledge, an MXDP serves as a practical tool for quickly creating customized apps that users can use via various digital touchpoints such as web, mobile, wearables, AR and VR. And, with the right choice of platform, even in the SAP Fiori environment. The task of IT here is primarily to provide ready-made design templates, app creation assistants or connectors and to ensure that the apps are compliant with IT governance. Without the support of the IT department in these areas, the specialist departments can only act to a limited extent. At the same time, IT retains control over the app builder teams, but also over the applications created. An MXDP therefore offers companies the flexibility and security in application creation that they need in the fast-moving digital age.
