Quick Base s Third Annual Report State of Business Apps 2017: The Future of Problem Solving Fall 2017 1
contents Executive Summary Survey Demographics Deep Dive Who s Solving Business Problems with No-code Apps? What Business Challenges Are Driving These Problem Solvers? What Is the Impact on Their Careers? What Role Does IT Play in the Process? What Is the Outlook for the Next 12 Months? Conclusion About Quick Base 03 05 06 06 09 10 11 14 16 17 2
Executive Summary Change is the only constant, and organizations must continually adapt their business processes to keep up. To solve problems in innovative ways, every worker must be empowered to contribute his or her diverse skills and knowledge, taking advantage of technology where possible. The idea that anyone can solve business challenges with technology is not a new concept. What has changed though, is the rich diversity of gender, age and job function represented by the next generation of workers who are addressing frustrations over the need for better visibility, control and accountability relating to business data and processes. They do so by creating or customizing solutions based on applications that do not require coding. In our first two annual reports in 2015-2016, we explored the state of citizen development. We revealed the growing trend of business team members who were building applications (with varying degrees of help from IT) to solve their own challenges. In addition to providing solutions better aligned with user needs they were also able to deliver them sooner than traditional solutions built solely by professional developers. In this third annual report, we ll meet the expanding universe of people who are taking the initiative to solve problems by creating and updating solutions based on no-code applications. Understanding differences in worker demographics, environments and behaviors drives a greater awareness for how to empower workers to use their skills and knowledge to solve unique problems with modern solutions ones that can be quickly and easily updated as business and customer needs dictate. 3
Key Findings Problem solving in the workplace is best done by subject matter experts who are closest to the work. Unlike traditional and low-code app building which are heavily dependent on the limited number of men with expensive, professional development skills, no-code app building eliminates gender, age and departmental barriers and creates a culture of problem solving with full participation by Gen X and Millennials, men and women. Aggregating many diverse perspectives results in optimal solutions for the organization. All problem solvers in the workplace recognize the same top challenges that business professionals face in managing teams, projects and processes. These include the need to: get workers to follow standard processes; automate a multitude of manual tasks and workflows which waste resources; and replace the chaotic mess of paper, emails, spreadsheets and desktop databases with a better, more efficient way to track and share information across teams and departments. Problem solvers use optimized no-code applications to alleviate the stress and pain felt by workers using tools that are generic point solutions that lack the customizability and integration with other corporate systems needed to keep up with constant changes in business data and process needs. Taking the initiative to create their own solutions is a win-win situation for problem solvers and their organizations. Those involved in the creation and customization of no-code applications often find themselves recognized for the value they bring to their organizations. Some earn promotions as a direct result of their work, while others make a name for themselves in new positions by using their no-code application knowledge and skills. This provides the ability to lead or support high- performing teams that are tied closely to objectives, can demonstrate progress and accountability toward corporate goals, and deliver value on schedule and on point. Unlike in the past when IT departments owned technology solution selection and application development processes, they increasingly embrace collaboration with business professionals who participate in the creation and customization of solutions with no-code applications. With business workers focusing on the forms and reports for tracking their data and business logic for automating workflows based on evolving business needs, IT can focus on contributing oversight and specific technical expertise in the areas of security and integration with other corporate systems. The specific roles and responsibilities of business and IT professionals may vary based on requirements relating to industry, use case, data sensitivity and integration. Overall, this partnership has proven to work best in creating Project Management and Business Analytics and other applications that require frequent changes for optimal value. Over the next 12 months, organizations expect steady growth in the culture of problem solving in response to the faster pace of business and the greater need for business agility to solve an unending stream of challenges. As a result, both the number of problem solvers creating and updating no-code applications and the volume of these applications are expected to grow. A common theme for new applications will be solutions that help workers stay connected to corporate data and processes throughout the work day, regardless of their locations, while remaining in compliance with corporate policies and guidelines which reduce risk. 4
Survey Demographics We conducted two separate surveys for this year s report. In May-June of 2017, we surveyed 231 customer organizations in connection with the Quick Base EMPOWER 2017 conference in Boston, MA. These organizations represent 115,000 Quick Base application builders and users across 30+ industries. In April-May of 2017, we surveyed 782 noncustomer organizations that use traditional and low-code (e.g. Appian, Microsoft SharePoint, Salesforce, ServiceNow) application development platforms, business point solutions or productivity tools for tracking people, projects and processes. These organizations represent application builders and users across 30+ industries. 79+21+B 36+26+38+B 26+74+B 17+27+56+B Respondents Organization Size Respondents Organization Size Builder 79% Small (<100 employees) 36% Builder 26% Small (<100 employees) 17% Users 21% Mid Sized (100-999 employees) 26% Users 74% Mid Sized (100-999 employees) 27% Large (>1000 employees) 38% Large (>1000 employees) 56% Respondents in both surveys were asked about their age to determine which generation they represent: Millennial (18-36), Gen X (37-52) or Baby Boomer (53-71). 5
Who s Solving Business Problems with No-code Apps? People who create solutions with applications built using traditional or low-code application development platforms are nearly always men working as professional developers using coding languages, such as.net and Java, and scripting skills. They typically represent a very small portion of an organization s workforce. In contrast, those who create solutions using no-code application building platforms are often women (4 out of 10) who are subject matter experts on a business team. With women representing nearly half of the workforce on average, no-code applications represent an effective problemsolving tool of equal opportunity. Aggregating diverse perspectives results in optimal solutions for the organization. In organizations where only traditional or lowcode application development platforms are used, IT staff are typically the only ones building applications. By contrast, in organizations where no-code application building is embraced, the majority of people involved in creating or updating applications (7 out of 10) are business professionals or teams who problem solve for themselves, their departments, or their entire organizations. Quick Base (No-code) vs. Low-code & Traditional Platforms GENDER DEPARTMENT 6
No-code applications are especially empowering for Millennials and Gen Xers, who now dominate the workforce. These workers grew up with computer technology and are very comfortable using it to get their work done more efficiently. In general, no-code solutions attract those with business oriented skills, which often include Excel or database expertise. Fewer than 2 out of 10 people creating no-code applications have coding or scripting skills, compared to 8-9 out of 10 people developing applications on traditional platforms and 6 out of 10 people building applications using low-code platforms. skills generations MILLENIAL 43 % 23 % 25 % GEN X 43 % 50 % 47 % QUICK BASE LOW-CODE TRADITIONAL BABY BOOMER 14 % 27 % QUICK BASE LOW-CODE TRADITIONAL QUICK BASE LOW-CODE 27 % TRADITIONAL QUICK BASE LOW-CODE TRADITIONAL 7
How Quick Base Builders Got Started Problem solving with no-code applications can happen quickly or over time. Most workers become involved as a means of addressing a problem that is not easily or quickly solved through existing IT development channels. They start building the applications that function as business solutions. While this is generally true, 3 out of 10 Millennials and Gen Xers ease their way into creating applications by first modifying existing no-code apps to suit their needs at a particular time. As users of no-code applications, they learn about the potential of adapting existing forms, reports and workflow automations first before identifying problems that could be solved by creating entirely new solutions. Overall, it s the combination of quick and easy creation and iteration that attracts people, especially younger problem solvers, to nocode application building. Millennials and Gen Xers are more inclined than Boomers to find ways of improving on, rather than accepting as is, other people s solutions. They recognize that the traditional approach which involves spending months to develop applications that meet all requirements on day one is a thing of the past. They look to improve business agility by focusing on day two and beyond, with applications that can evolve quickly. BOOMER MILLENNIAL Started building right away 80 % Started customizing apps as a user 16 % Started building right away 45 % Started customizing apps as a user 32 % Started building right away 53 % Started customizing apps as a user 29 % 8
What Business Challenges are Driving These Problem Solvers? All problem solvers face a common set of top business challenges relating to managing teams, projects and processes. They seek solutions to alleviate the stress and pain felt by workers using generic point solutions that lack the customizability and integration with other corporate systems needed to keep up with constant changes in business data and process needs. All acknowledge that organizations struggle with getting people to follow standard processes because they lack effective mechanisms for enforcing those standards. No-code business applications quickly fill the gap by providing standard forms for capturing and reporting data for both workers and managers. Organizations are also challenged by a multitude of inefficient, error prone manual processes that waste resources and often stay that way because they generally require advanced tools and expertise to automate. No-code business applications can provide the necessary framework and business logic to more easily automate how processes are initiated and managed with all the required data entries, approvals and notifications. Besides finding ways to better manage business processes, organizations also face barriers that limit the ability to share information across teams and departments. Many workers resort to paper forms, spreadsheets and emails which not only makes for inefficient communications, but they can also be inaccurate and unreliable. Problem solvers recognize that the forms, reports and dashboards that can be created and customized within no-code applications are capable of simplifying access to the latest and most up-todate information. What Are the Top Benefits of Problem Solving with No-Code Applications? Problem solving with no-code applications produces many benefits for organizations. Delivering apps that better fit user needs is the top benefit according to 7 out of 10 organizations while 6 out of 10 point to the faster speed at which applications can be created and changed. Improving collaboration between business and IT is another top benefit according to 2 out of 10 organizations. TOP BUSINESS PROBLEMS TO SOLVE REGARDLESS OF PLATFORM 9
What is the Impact on Their Careers? How people choose to respond to challenges in the workplace says a lot about who they are. When faced with challenges in the workplace, people choose one of two responses. There is the option to do nothing and hope that someone else solves the problem. But what if everyone waits for someone else to act? The solution might be delayed or never arrive. What if the person who eventually does come forward isn t close enough to the problem? The solution might end up being less effective than it could be, or more difficult to use. This in turn could slow or halt adoption, and the opportunity to make a direct and positive difference in the way work gets done could be lost. The second response is to take the initiative and find a solution. When faced with problems, people involved with no-code applications are empowered to take the initiative and create or customize their own solutions. The benefits of this choice are that the person acting understands the problem and can move quickly to drive immediate and positive results. This results in a win-win situation for problem solvers and their organizations. Most receive recognition for the value that they contribute to their organizations through these actions, which can provide plenty of leadership opportunities and even fast-track a career. In addition, 1-2 out of 10 people who learn how to solve problem with no-code applications make a name for themselves in new positions by using these skills to address new challenges. These problem solvers are able to lead or support high-performing teams that are tied closely to corporate objectives, can demonstrate progress and accountability toward corporate goals, and deliver value on schedule and point. Quick Base App Builders Received increased recognition of value Leveraged app building skills in new role Earned a promotion Received increased recognition of value Leveraged app building skills in new role Earned a promotion Gen Xers are most likely to be acknowledged for actively seeking solutions to problems, with 7 out of 10 receiving recognition. Among Millennials, nearly 3 out 10 earn a promotion as a direct result of their problem solving because they have demonstrated leadership qualities in their willingness and ability to take ownership over problems and find appropriate solutions. Received increased recognition of value Leveraged app building skills in new role Earned a promotion 10
What Role Does IT Play in the Process? Business people actively solving problems with their own technology solutions invites a response from IT. In the past, IT owned technology solution selection and often demonstrated a knee jerk reaction that discouraged any such activities from occurring independently and outside of IT. Today, IT departments are increasingly recognizing that business teams can be trusted to solve many business-related challenges using technology, ideally by partnering with IT. As result, business people involved in creating nocode applications often receive support from IT in organizations of all sizes, with the highest levels of support seen in small to mid-sized firms. IT accepts the value contributed by business workers who focus on the forms and reports for tracking data and on the business logic for automating workflows to fit ever-changing business needs. IT support typically involves contributing specific technical expertise especially in the areas of data security and integration with other corporate systems. The specific roles and responsibilities of IT and business professionals may vary based on industry, use case, and data. To secure even more support for no-code application building from IT, there are several steps that business teams can take. The top recommendation is to collaborate with IT on training for business professionals on how to build applications. Experienced developers from central or business unit IT can contribute by sharing their knowledge and skills relating to how to create applications that are well designed and of low risk to the organization. A second way to gain more support is for IT to oversee the application building process. This gives IT the opportunity to provide input, review and test to ensure that applications are designed and built well and work as intended. A third recommendation, especially relevant for applications requiring access to sensitive information in systems of record, is for IT to retain ownership and responsibility for all data integration. This approach allows business people to determine what data is needed, while IT retains control over determining how data feeds from other systems are created and managed. IT SUPPORT FOR QUICK BASE BUILDERS VARIES BY ORG SIZE 11
How Quick Base App Builders Gain IT Support A key reason why IT supports business involvement with no-code applications is that it provides a conduit for business teams and departments to solve their own data accessibility and process challenges. While IT departments consider the building and maintenance of high priority tier 1 and 2 applications (such as ERP) their responsibility, they are less possessive about who creates and updates the many tier 3+ applications that business teams want and need to get their work done productively and efficiently. Although IT departments will support off-the-shelf software or SaaS, they are often unable to dedicate much if any of their limited developer resources toward creating and maintaining custom solutions that suit the unique and ever-changing needs of each business team or department. As a result, when business teams willingly take the lead in creating and updating their own no-code applications, with help from IT as needed, the engagement is often seen in a positive and collaborative light. TOP WAYS TO GAIN MORE IT SUPPORT This partnership between IT and business has proven to work best with business-focused applications that typically involve capturing, tracking, sharing, analyzing and reporting data as well as managing and automating processes and that require frequent changes for optimal value. The top 5 use cases for no-code applications are: Project Management, Business Analytics, Process Management, Asset Management and Contact Management. TOP USE CASES FOR QUICK BASE APPS 12
How Do They Prefer to Get the Job Done? More than half of the people involved in creating no-code applications prefer to work alone or with their immediate team members. They know what they need because they are closest to the work, and no-code applications don t require the involvement of professional developers. Others look to IT for assistance to help facilitate the success of their no-code application adoption and creation efforts. Regardless of age, 3 out of 10 choose this approach. A smaller group seeks help from external consultants who offer expertise and resources unavailable inside the organization. This range of collaboration options between business professionals and professional developers is only possible when both groups have a single platform that everyone can use with confidence and speed. Quick Base App Builders Business team builds on its own Business team relies on help from external consultants Business team relies on help from IT Other 13
What is the Outlook for the Next 12 Months? Over the next 12 months, organizations expect steady growth in the culture of problem solving in response to the faster pace of business and the greater need for business agility to solve an unending stream of challenges. As a result, both the abundance of nocode applications and the number of people solving problems with them are expected to grow. Currently, the volumes of applications and the people involved in their creation varies by size of organization. Enterprises with more than 1000 employee have 174 people creating 422 applications for 1,144 users on average. Mid-sized firms with 100-999 employees have 10 people creating 158 applications for 162 users on average. Small firms with less than 100 employees have 3 people creating 11 apps for 29 users on average. Over the next 12 months, problem solving with no-code applications will continue to flourish. Enterprises expect 100-120 new applications while mid-sized firms expect 10-20 new applications, and small firms expect 1-5 new applications. This represents double-digit growth in the quantity of applications in use for many organizations. Overall, the number of people creating no-code applications is expected to increase in nearly 6 out of 10 organizations as more business professionals discover the benefits of this unique problemsolving approach and the positive impact it can have on their teams, organizations and careers. A common theme for new no-code applications will be solutions that help workers stay connected, and our statistics back it up. 8 out of 10 people want access to a variety of corporate data sources. 7 out of 10 people want to stay connected to corporate data and processes throughout the work day, regardless of their location. Their organizations will insist that these workers remain in compliance with corporate policies and guidelines which reduce risk. Having the ability to enter and view data on a smart phone is a leading indicator of this demand for always-on connectivity. Access to the information necessary to make insightful and informed decisions will lead more business people to get involved in the creation and customization of no-code applications. QUICK BASE BUILDERS WANT TO STAY CONNECTED 14
NUMBER OF EXPECTED NEW QUICK BASE APPS CHANGE IN NUMBER OF QUICK BASE APP BUILDERS 15
conclusion More than ever, an organization s success depends on contributions from every worker. When business challenges arise, people who are natural problem solvers and are the subject matter experts closest to the work, are in the best position to create innovative solutions that benefit their organizations and themselves. Unlike traditional and low-code application development platforms which are only viable in the hands of professional developers with coding and scripting skills, no-code applications eliminate gender, age and corporate barriers by allowing anyone to create and customize solutions. With support from IT, business professionals have the power to elevate their organizations and their careers by helping business teams get work done with more efficient data tracking, reporting, analysis and sharing as well as optimized process management and automation. With workers seeking always-on connectivity and access to corporate data, look for growth in the numbers of new no-code applications and the people involved in creating and customizing them in 2018. 16
About Quick Base Quick Base provides a cloud-based platform that empowers problem solvers to quickly turn ideas for better ways to work into apps that make their organizations more efficient. For nearly 20 years, people of all technical backgrounds have been using the Quick Base platform to create solutions that streamline processes, capture real-time data, and improve company operations, all while working in concert with existing IT systems. Based in Cambridge, MA and a former division of Intuit, Quick Base has a 6,000+ customer universe of appenabled businesses that spans all industries and company sizes, and includes more than half of the Fortune 100. Request a call from one of our Solution Consultants: www.quickbase.com/contact-us