Low Down on Low-Code

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and Dave Marcus engage with Adam Seligman from Workato, discussing the evolution of AI platforms, the importance of data integration, and the challenges organizations face in implementing AI solutions. They explore Adam's journey through the tech industry, the significance of measuring AI success through business outcomes, and the necessary organizational shifts to fully leverage AI capabilities. The conversation emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to AI deployment, focusing on transformative processes rather than mere productivity gains. Adam dives into Workato MCP, a secure highly governed approach to safely harnessing the power of MCP.TakeawaysThe AI application platform race is rapidly evolving.Data integration and orchestration are critical for organizations.Adam Seligman's journey highlights the importance of understanding diverse developer needs.AI's potential lies in transforming business processes, not just enhancing productivity.Organizations should focus on measurable business outcomes when implementing AI.The transition from pilot projects to production requires careful governance and risk management.Vibe coding platforms can enhance the development of enterprise applications.A clear evaluation set is essential for assessing AI project success.IT departments must ensure that various systems work together seamlessly.The industry must learn from past mistakes to avoid pitfalls in AI deployment.

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and Rick Greenwald discuss the governance of AI in enterprises, focusing on a new research project conducted in collaboration with Microsoft. They explore the risks associated with AI, the importance of a structured governance framework, and the need for centers of excellence to effectively implement AI technologies. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of understanding both the potential benefits and risks of AI, advocating for a balanced approach to its deployment in business environments.Takeaways-AI governance is crucial for enterprise success.-The foundations of AI pose significant risks that must be managed-Outlawing AI leads to unregulated use.-Proper governance can mitigate AI risks.-Data security is paramount in AI governance.-The VRPP framework helps assess AI value and risk.-Centers of excellence are vital for AI implementation.-Understanding AI's non-deterministic nature is essential.-Rigor in AI projects is necessary to avoid pitfalls.-Collaboration with established firms like Microsoft enhances governance. 

In this episode, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Alex Landis, a founding member of the FinOps Foundation, to explore the evolving landscape of FinOps and its integration with emerging technologies. The conversation delves into the definition of FinOps, its significance across various industries, the challenges of data management, and the impact of AI on financial operations. Alex shares insights on governance, best practices, and the future of FinOps, emphasizing the importance of making informed investments and leveraging technology for better communication and efficiency.TakeawaysFinOps is essential for managing cloud costs effectively.Understanding platform operations is crucial for financial performance.AI presents both opportunities and challenges for FinOps professionals.Data management in FinOps is complex and requires sophisticated tools.Governance in AI usage is critical to avoid unnecessary spending.The role of FinOps is growing as companies invest more in technology.Effective communication between finance and engineering is vital.Automation can significantly improve forecasting processes.Empowering teams to self-serve with data tools enhances efficiency.The FinOps Foundation is a valuable resource for best practices.

In this episode of the podcast, the discussion revolves around the evolving landscape of low-code development, the impact of AI, and the role of systems integrators like Virtusa. Greg Price shares his extensive experience in IT and low-code, emphasizing the importance of process design, managing technical debt, and navigating vendor lock-in. The conversation highlights the need for a pragmatic approach to technology adoption, the significance of orchestration in business processes, and the future of low-code in conjunction with AI capabilities.TakeawaysLow-code development is gaining traction due to AI advancements.Technical debt remains a significant challenge for organizations.The role of systems integrators is crucial in navigating low-code implementations.AI can accelerate development but requires careful management.Vendor lock-in concerns are leading to a preference for composable architectures.Process design and orchestration are essential for successful low-code applications.Organizations must focus on remediating technical and process debt.The future of low-code will involve deeper integration with AI technologies.Understanding business processes is key to effective low-code solutions.Innovation in low-code is driven by a combination of technology and human expertise.

In this episode of Lowdown on Lowcode, hosts Rob Koplowitz and Dave Marcus engage with Marshall Sied from Ashling Partners to explore the evolving landscape of low code, digital process automation, and AI. They discuss the importance of education, governance, and orchestration in automation projects, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies. Marshall shares insights from his extensive experience in the consulting space, emphasizing the need for organizations to focus on value realization and continuous deployment methodologies. The conversation also touches on the significance of experimentation and the future of applications in a rapidly changing technological environment.TakeawaysMarshall Sied emphasizes the importance of education in automation.Organizations are increasingly conflicted about AI and automation.Value realization is crucial for successful automation projects.Continuous deployment methodologies are essential for achieving value.Governance is critical in managing automation technologies.Experimentation is encouraged in the current automation landscape.Orchestration is becoming a key focus for automation companies.Capability mapping should precede tool mapping in technology selection.Organizations need to be cautious with low-code and AI technologies.The future of applications will involve more productization and composability.

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, hosts Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Kari Moeller to explore the intersection of process optimization and AI. They discuss the importance of documentation and modeling in managing changes brought by AI, the need to reimagine business processes, and the role of technology in achieving desired outcomes. Kari shares her insights on consulting, the challenges of data management, and how organizations can leverage AI as a digital assistant to enhance their operations. The conversation emphasizes the critical need for organizations to understand their technology landscape and align their strategies with clear outcomes.TakeawaysThe intersection of process and technology is crucial for optimization.Documentation and modeling are essential for managing AI changes.AI should be viewed as a digital assistant, not a replacement for human roles.Organizations must start with outcomes to drive effective change.Understanding the technology landscape is vital for successful implementation.Data quality is more important than quantity in decision-making.Reimagining processes can lead to significant improvements in efficiency.AI can amplify both good and bad processes, necessitating careful management.Consulting practices should focus on empowering business users with data.Future customers will be those who experience the processes firsthand.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Nick Cawthon from Gauge to explore the evolving landscape of design and application development. They discuss Nick's journey into design, the current flux in the industry, the impact of AI on user experience, and the importance of understanding user needs in 2025. The conversation emphasizes the human element in design and the necessity for collaboration between designers and developers, highlighting tools like Figma that facilitate this relationship.TakeawaysNick Cawthon's journey into design began with a childhood experience of flow state.The design industry is currently experiencing significant changes and flux.AI is reshaping user experience, making it more about emotions than interfaces.Designers must focus on qualitative research to understand user emotions.Efficiency in design must not compromise the effectiveness of user experience.Understanding user experience in 2025 requires a holistic approach.The relationship between designers and developers is evolving positively.Tools like Figma are crucial for collaboration in design and development.Mitigating risks in design is essential to avoid dead-on-arrival products.The human element in design remains irreplaceable despite technological advancements.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low Code, hosts Dave Marcus and John Rymer engage with Massimo Pezzini, a veteran in the field of integration and orchestration. They discuss the evolution of orchestration as a foundational need for modern business applications, the challenges of data synchronization, and the convergence of integration and orchestration technologies. The conversation also touches on the importance of governance in distributed systems and the growing role of AI in enhancing business processes. Massimo shares insights on how organizations can effectively navigate these challenges and leverage technology for better outcomes.TakeawaysOrchestration is broader than just workflow; it automates end-to-end business processes.Integration and orchestration are increasingly becoming integrated disciplines.Governance is essential for effective orchestration and cannot be an afterthought.AI can significantly enhance business processes when integrated effectively.Organizations should have a unified integration team to address various integration challenges.Mid-size organizations tend to favor integrated platforms due to skill limitations.The complexity of integration challenges varies, requiring different technological solutions.Trust in AI is growing as organizations find well-defined use cases for its application.Data integration and application integration are complementary and should be considered together.The trend is towards platforms that offer a comprehensive suite of services for application development.

This conversation explores the state of low-code technology in India, highlighting its growth, challenges, and the impact of AI on its adoption. The discussion features insights from Abhishek Anant Garg, an analyst at QKS Group, who shares his perspective on the low-code landscape, particularly focusing on the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the challenges faced by Indian vendors in competing with established players in the global market. The conversation also delves into the adoption of low-code by professional developers and its implications for industrial organizations.TakeawaysIndia is a service-based economy with a growing low-code market.SMEs are leading the adoption of low-code technologies in India.Indian vendors like Zoho and Kissflow cater effectively to SMEs.Low-code helps organizations achieve rapid prototyping and automation.AI is expected to significantly boost low-code adoption in India.Governance and maturity in low-code practices are still developing.Professional developers are complementing their work with low-code tools.Industrial organizations are slowly adopting low-code for operational efficiency.Citizen development is in its early stages in India.The partnership between IT service firms and low-code vendors is crucial for growth.

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, hosts Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Colin Teubner and Larson Thune from NavLabs to explore the intersection of low-code development and Agile methodologies. They discuss the journeys of Colin and Larson to NavLabs, the challenges of citizen development, the role of product owners, and the impact of AI on low-code development. The conversation emphasizes the importance of testing ideas, gathering requirements, and leveraging Agile practices in low-code environments.TakeawaysLow-code platforms are evolving and becoming more powerful.Agile practices can be adapted to low-code development.The role of product owners is critical in low-code projects.Citizen development has its challenges and misconceptions.AI can enhance productivity but requires quality inputs.Testing ideas in small batches can lead to better outcomes.Effective communication is key in Agile and low-code environments.Training and coaching can significantly improve Agile adoption.The future of development may involve more AI integration.Understanding user feedback is essential for successful projects.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low-Code, John Rymer and Rick Greenwald engage with Antigoni Kourou, CEO of NEKOD, to explore the critical topic of governance in low-code and citizen development. Antigoni shares her journey from engineering to governance, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with control. The conversation delves into the challenges of data management, the role of AI in citizen development, and best practices for establishing effective governance frameworks. Antigoni advocates for an adaptive governance model that evolves with organizational maturity and risk appetite, highlighting the need for collaboration between business and IT.TakeawaysGovernance is essential for successful citizen development.Antigoni Kourou emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation and control.Organizations must identify individuals willing to digitalize processes.Choosing the right platform is crucial for enabling innovation.Processes must be established to guide citizen developers.Data governance is a significant challenge for enterprises.AI can aid in governance but also introduces new risks.An adaptive governance model can cater to different organizational needs.Collaboration between business and IT is vital for effective governance.Governance frameworks should evolve with organizational maturity.

In this episode, Francis Carden and Dave Marcus engage with Shaun Leisegang from Tecala to explore the evolving landscape of Low-Code and automation. They discuss Shaun's journey in IT, the methodologies for implementing automation, the significance of orchestration and governance in AI, and the future of services transitioning into software. The conversation emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to new technologies while ensuring responsible and effective implementation.TakeawaysLow-Code is a transformative approach to software development.Automation methodologies help businesses identify where to start.AI agents represent the next evolution of automation.Orchestration is crucial for integrating various automation tools.Governance should be prioritized in AI implementations.Businesses must adapt to new technologies to remain competitive.The future will see a shift from services to software.Collaboration between humans and AI agents is essential.Understanding the unique strengths of different technologies is key.Building responsible AI agents is critical for trust and effectiveness.

Writer CMO Diego Lomanto joins Dave Marcus and Rob Koplowitz for a discussion on the coming application landscape. As Agents continue to mature and provide greater and greater value, it's clear that business applications will evolve into something very different from today. Who will provide the market with this new class of applications? It could be traditional enterprise vendors, but moments like this are ripe for disruptors. Diego discusses Writer's focus on the enterprise, the critical differentiation offered by private LLMs, and provides examples of Writer agents driving value in the most regulated, mission-critical environments today. 

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer discuss the evolving landscape of low-code application development, particularly in light of the rise of AI and its implications for SaaS. They explore various vendor perspectives, the challenges of integration and orchestration, and the shift towards process automation. The conversation highlights the strengths and weaknesses of established players like Microsoft, Pega, ServiceNow, Camunda, OutSystems, Mendix, Workato, and UiPath, as well as newer entrants in the market like Writer. The episode concludes with insights into their upcoming research report on the AI Application Platform Race.

In this episode of Low Down on Low-Code, hosts Rob Koplowitz and Dave Marcus engage with Daniel Meyer from Camunda to explore the intersection of low-code development, AI, and process automation. They discuss Daniel's journey to Camunda, the evolving role of AI in business processes, and the importance of BPMN in managing complex workflows. The conversation also touches on the future of open-source software, the integration of RPA and IDP technologies, and the concept of the autonomous enterprise, highlighting how organizations can leverage these advancements to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.TakeawaysDaniel Meyer shares his journey from sound engineering to process automation.AI is viewed through the lens of automation at Camunda.The evolution from manual processes to task automation is crucial.Measuring productivity gains is essential but not the end goal.Personalization of customer experiences will define future success.BPMN serves as a bridge between business and IT.Dynamic execution patterns in BPMN can accommodate AI decision-making.Robust orchestration is necessary for integrating various technologies.The definition of applications is shifting towards unstructured interactions.The future of business processes will be more autonomous and proactive.

In this episode, Angela Stewart discusses the transformative impact of AI on business development and citizen development. She shares her journey from a business background to a tech-focused role, emphasizing the importance of creativity and governance in AI implementation. Angela highlights success stories of AI applications, the evolution of ideation to production, and the risks associated with AI development, particularly in regulated industries. The conversation concludes with insights on the future of work and the necessity for creativity in leveraging AI technologies.Takeaways-AI has revolutionized application development processes.-Citizen development empowers business users to create solutions.-Governance is essential in managing AI implementations.-Creativity will be a key skill in the future workforce.-AI can significantly reduce the time from ideation to production.-Tech debt remains a critical concern in AI development.-Successful AI applications can emerge from simple ideas.-The role of business analysts is evolving with AI tools.-AI can enhance productivity by automating administrative tasks.-Collaboration between business and tech teams is crucial for success.

We've all heard it: software applications in the future will be completely different. Ok, how? We pulled in an old friend and colleague to dive into  the question. Julie Ask of Julie Ask Advisory joins Low Down on Low-Code with Rob Koplowitz, John Rymer and Andy Bartels to discuss. The old friends and colleagues dive into the topic of what the future of applications will look like with more AI, copilots and agents. The four attempt to separate the hype from reality and provide some crunchy advise on where to place your bets now and in the future. 

In this episode of the Low Down on Low-Code podcast, hosts John Rymer and Ryan Duguid engage with Nathan Rose, a functional architect and Microsoft MVP, to explore the evolving landscape of low-code and no-code development. They discuss Nathan's journey into the low-code space, the role of AI and agents in automation, the skills required to work with these technologies, and the importance of governance and manageability. The conversation also addresses the fears surrounding AI and the future of low-code professionals in a rapidly changing environment.Takeaways-Nathan Rose has 15 years of experience in low-code.-Functional architects focus on user needs rather than technical coding.-AI is a significant theme in low-code development.-Deterministic automation is effective for known processes.-Stop catastrophizing about AI; it's an opportunity.-Hands-on experience with AI can lead to new opportunities.-Governance in AI and low-code is crucial to prevent issues.-The future of low-code professionals may require new skills.-Domain expertise will remain valuable in the age of AI.-AI will change the landscape of many jobs, creating new opportunities.

In this episode of Lowdown on Low-Code, Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer engage with Richard Riley, General Manager of Low-Code Marketing at Microsoft, discussing the evolution and impact of the Power Platform. They explore Richard's journey to Microsoft, the role of citizen developers, the integration of AI in low-code development, and the importance of governance and community in successful low-code adoption. The conversation also touches on the future of SaaS and the potential of agents in transforming business processes.TakeawaysPower Platform has evolved significantly over the years.Citizen developers play a crucial role in low-code adoption.AI is reducing barriers for non-technical users to engage with low-code tools.Community support is essential for low-code success.Governance is necessary to manage risks associated with low-code development.The future of SaaS may lean towards custom development with low-code solutions.Agents will transform how businesses automate processes.Low-code tools should be accessible to a broad audience.Training and change management are vital for low-code adoption.The integration of AI will enhance the capabilities of low-code platforms.

Francis Carden and Rob Koplowitz host Pega Chief of Launchpad, John Huehn. Launchpad is a radical departure from Pega's traditional business and holds the promise to upend ISV software development. The group discusses the transformative potential of low-code platforms, and how that can now extend to the ISV market. John, a key figure at Pega, shares his journey from the telecom industry to leading customer service innovations and now spearheading Launchpad.They explore the integration of AI in this space, the implications for private equity, VCs and self-funded ISV approaches, and the future landscape of software development.TakeawaysLow-code platforms are revolutionizing application development.Pega's Launchpad offers an end-to-end solution for SaaS.AI integration is crucial for modern software development.The shift from traditional coding to low-code is significant.Private equity sees potential in low-code solutions.Companies can focus on unique IP rather than infrastructure.Launchpad simplifies the development process for software providers.The future of software is about delivering outcomes efficiently.Low-code enables faster time-to-market for applications.Understanding the model is key to leveraging low-code effectively.