Own your data,
Know your data,
Use your data.
Yara Alshehri
Digital Solutions Analyst
Upstream Digital & Computing Strategy Department
Saudi Aramco
In today’s fast-paced digital world, the ability to innovate swiftly and efficiently has become a critical success factor for businesses across industries. One of the most transformative trends driving this innovation is Citizen Development. This paradigm shift empowers non-IT employees to create and deploy applications using low-code or no-code platforms, bridging the gap between business needs and IT capabilities.
Citizen Developers are employees who, with the help of intuitive software tools, can build applications without needing extensive coding knowledge. These individuals often come from diverse backgrounds within the organization, including engineering, operations, safety, and finance. The common thread among them is their deep understanding of business processes and pain points, which positions them perfectly to create solutions that address specific organizational needs.
This movement democratizes software development, shifting some reliance away from overburdened IT departments and directly into the hands of those who experience the problems firsthand. With platforms like Apple’s Swift Playgrounds, Google’s App Maker, and Microsoft PowerApps, employees can quickly develop applications that streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance productivity.
Additionally, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) serves as a prime example of a Citizen Development platform. RPA platforms allow users to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks by configuring software robots, reducing reliance on traditional IT support and accelerating operational efficiency. For instance, in the Oil & Gas industry, RPA can be employed to monitor pipeline data where sensors continuously feed information into a central system. RPA bots can then analyze this data, detect anomalies indicating potential leaks or pressure issues, and promptly alert human operators. This integration not only improves response times but also enhances overall safety and operational efficiency.
Why Now?
Advances in technology are re-shaping the role of the traditional IT professional. At first glance, it seems as though major AI players are simplifying computer usage to the point where programmers might become obsolete. Is IT actually putting IT out of business? Although this perspective might sound sarcastic or ironic, the reality is that advancements in technology have led to the creation of tools that make data analysis and application development remarkably straightforward. Regardless of one’s technical expertise, having access to data is now the key to leveraging these powerful new tools.
A Movement Gaining Momentum!
Citizen Development is becoming increasingly popular as enterprises recognize its potential to accelerate innovation and solve business challenges. This approach allows businesses to benefit from faster development cycles and more tailored solutions, thereby enhancing overall efficiency. Leadership teams are increasingly backing Citizen Development, seeing its value in driving productivity higher across various departments.
The advent of low-code and no-code platforms is the technological foundation making this movement possible, providing easy access to powerful development tools. For Citizen Development to thrive, it is crucial for organizations to implement structured programs and guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and security. Employees feel more empowered as they take ownership of their tools and solutions, leading to increased job satisfaction and engagement.
Empowering Data Management through Citizen Development!
Citizen Development empowers end users to directly engage with their data, allowing them to identify and address issues promptly. As they take ownership of their data, they can resolve any discrepancies, thereby enhancing the overall data quality within the organization—a significant benefit of democratizing computing.
Furthermore, Citizen Development has positive side effects for organizations. It draws user attention to data, and in doing so encourages users to focus on relevant, high value data. By actively using the data for analysis, users can determine which data is crucial and ensure it is collected in a timely manner. The people who are collecting data are the same as the ones analyzing and using it. This leads to improved data collection methods and the retirement of obsolete data, resulting in more representative, streamlined and efficient databases.
A Win-Win Situation:
Embracing a Sustainable Future with Citizen Development
It is not often that one comes across opportunities where everyone benefits. Citizen Development, however, counters the trends and exemplifies a case where all gain. It offers benefits for all parties involved: users gain empowerment and the ability to perform insightful analyses, management benefits from streamlined processes driven by data-driven solutions, and IT employees experience reduced workloads and fewer backlog requests.
Citizen Development not only improves immediate data practices but also lays the foundation for sustainable growth. By empowering users to innovate and optimize workflows, organizations create a culture of agility and responsiveness. This proactive approach ensures that data-driven decisions continue to drive success and resilience in an ever-evolving landscape. This exciting journey is just beginning. Enable, Engage, and Embrace the future with Citizen Development!