Fast implementation of individual requirements – low-code in the production environment

Low-code in the production environment

With their holistic understanding of digitalization, highly specialized companies such as the AZO Group have long been implementing automation solutions at various levels. However, in order to be flexible enough to meet the needs of individual business units and not overburden existing IT capacities, the support of the low-code platform Simplifier has now been used for the first time for application development. Within a very short time, the application was implemented in co-working between the IT department and Simplifier – a big plus in terms of flexibility and agility in day-to-day operations.

Many tasks, but limited human resources

AZO is an expert in automated raw material handling and therefore in a process that is as extensive as it is complex. Physical raw material analysis, engineering, process engineering, plant engineering, control technology, automation and digitalization: these are all areas of expertise of the globally active group of companies – and the need for efficient workflows, dynamic processes and digital solutions for operational organization is just as diverse. It therefore makes sense to also consider the use of low-code technology in application development in order to be able to cover all internal company requirements even faster.

But can low-code be used so easily?

Low-code development was tried out at AZO as part of a test case for loading and packaging documentation. The existing programming solution was to be replaced by a more appealing, self-generated and flexibly scalable application that could also be seamlessly integrated into the existing SAP ecosystem.

And indeed, after some research in the provider market, they found what they were looking for and were able to use Simplifier as a suitable platform for implementation surprisingly quickly and easily. The important connection to SAP was also no obstacle for the AZO team – everything worked without having to train individual employees as citizen developers in advance. This effort would not have been an option for the raw materials handling specialist.

The first step makes you want more

Even though the first in-house application was still being fine-tuned for some time: The experience of being able to independently and, above all, quickly implement applications as required was an important step in the right direction for the AZO Group. For example, whereas previously it was necessary to decide whether to use the planned application for iOS or Android devices, with Simplifier both worlds worked right from the start. Above all, however, the user interface could be easily adapted to the individual use of the app, such as for use in production, where employees no longer have to take off their gloves due to the larger control elements on the mobile screen. These and many other details generally increase the acceptance of new apps among the workforce.

Many ideas and many possibilities

The innovative dynamism of large medium-sized companies such as the AZO Group should not be slowed down by technological limits. And that is why low-code opens up new horizons here in particular, in order to meet the specific requirements of application development even faster, more efficiently and more sustainably in the future. Now that initial experiences with the side-by-side development of apps have been positive, further projects are already being considered – from redesigning the production cockpit to moving the spare parts catalog to the easily manageable and integrable Simplifier platform. And because the AZO Group already has concrete possible solutions for various applications literally in front of its eyes, creativity in the specialist departments is automatically picking up speed. Most Simplifier users no longer want to be deprived of this degree of innovative freedom.