In 2017, Business Users Gain Control of Enterprise Software

The year 2016 brought significant advances in the tech world. Low-code/no-code development platforms started to boom, IoT made its mark in niche areas, and a power shift in enterprise software began. The year 2017 will bring a wave of companies focusing on improving their overall business process management (BPM). Here are a couple of trends to watch out for in 2017.

Automation drives customization for businesses – Businesses today are dynamically adapting to market changes. With the advent of no-code and low-code systems, businesses are finding it possible to configure and update their business systems, such as contract management or service desk, to their unique requirements in real time.  They are shifting away from platforms that require extensive custom coding, which are costly to deploy and maintain. These new systems can now be configured in as much time as people take to build their Facebook page. Today, the resulting systems are primarily operated by humans. But highly optimized automation driven by artificial intelligence and deep learning is starting to evolve.

The Internet of Things starts to truly be an internet – Today, we don’t see a true internet of things. In 2016 we saw a set of connections and loosely connected devices emerge. There are a number of personal health tracker wearable devices in the market, but they’re not driving your recurring grocery list, for example. To date, IoT is making traction in niche areas and services, such as driving (Waze), dating (Tinder) and ride sharing (Uber). It has yet to develop as the unified web that it may someday become. In 2017, we expect IoT to expand out of the niche areas and bring more value to its users and buyers by connecting them together.   

Overall, these predictions represent steps toward improving BPM within organizations. Businesses no longer rely solely on analysts to get feedback and recommendations for BPM services. The “democratization” of information and product reviews will help them find the right solution faster and with less risk. Low-code/no-code systems will help businesses be more efficient because they can be configured by staff who really understand the business, rather than external consultants. As IoT expands and interconnects, it will help businesses become more efficient in developing and delivering products and services to their customers. The new year will see enterprises and smaller companies equipping themselves to better adapt to changes in their markets.