The current pandemic had a devastating impact on many sectors, forcing many to either shut down operations indefinitely or rebuild in order to adapt to the changing landscape. The government sector had to bear the greatest burden to be the pillar that holds a country together. Many governments were suddenly faced with the challenge of continuing to provide public services while reducing in-person engagement and managing a remote workforce – an approach less explored by the public sector. 

As a result of the digital disruption, employees who had grown accustomed to legacy tools, patchwork solutions, and multi-year manual or semi-manual processes faced challenges. During the crisis, "low-code" solutions assisted governments in regaining control, increasing innovation, and even saving time. As people return to work, governments must determine how to continue operations during the pandemic; the mix of remote and on-site workplaces continues to pose challenges that low-code solutions are addressing. 

Why low code is suitable for govt sector  

In the past, governments have placed a greater emphasis on manual labour and paperwork than on technology. This limited the scope for process automation, leading to inefficiencies and protracted delays. Government organisations increasingly struggle to ensure service continuity, with a growing percentage of distant workers and fewer in-person interactions because of the COVID-19 epidemic. The shift to remote work, the explosive growth in demand for digital citizen services, and the requirement for greater inter-agency coordination to guarantee timely and efficient service delivery have all increased the necessity for remote collaboration, communication, and streamlining operations. Operational paradigms and citizen expectations consequently underwent a protracted transition. Therefore, it was crucial to establish a system that could be customised and create an atmosphere for people to perform, be scalable in remote situations, and be secure enough for the IT infrastructure. 

Low-code application platforms were expected to continue being the largest part of the low-code development technology market in 2022, growing by 65 per cent from 2020 to reach $5.8 billion, according to Gartner research. As more and more industries use low-code technology, it is anticipated that this growth will continue. 

Understanding why Government IT is different for low-code 

Government organisations are more risk-averse than the private sector when it comes to technology, and they typically adopt new tools slowly. Due to the nature of sensitive and critical data in the government's possession, government users must ensure cybersecurity is at the top of their minds. Low-code solutions give IT teams the ability to promote a security-conscious organisational culture. Most users who want to create low-code solutions are aware of the need for security and IT consultation and thoroughly vet and validate low-code vendors before implementing their solutions. 

Low-code solutions serve as a springboard for digital innovation, empowering the public sector to stay current on best practices and respond quickly to citizens' requirements. Low-code platforms enable government employees to supply new capabilities swiftly and easily on demand without relying on overburdened development teams. In effect, individuals who have the best understanding of the public's needs are the ones who can assist in the development of systems to meet those demands. As a result, governments are increasingly turning to low-code development platforms to speed up innovation and deliver important citizen services. 

Governments can use the growing popularity of mobile development in low-code software to ensure that their solutions are accessible to as many citizens as possible via the most practical communication channels, whether those are SMS, mobile web, or the internet. 

Low-Code is making the change - the way forward 

It was anticipated that the epidemic would strain the executive branch, the hospital system, and other crucial services, possibly leading to their failure. However, with the aid of low-code solutions, a number of industries have been able to get over the difficulties caused by decades-old out-of-date practices and staff lacking in technical knowledge.  

Several businesses employed low-code platforms during the epidemic to swiftly create and launch new apps. When COVID-19 was a global threat, the necessity to immunise front-line employees before citizens necessitated good communication and transparency to facilitate operations. In an effort to streamline, accelerate, and simplify the process, the government started using low-code alternatives to bring in vaccination applications. This made it simpler to connect with larger populations. In addition, it enabled governments to obtain accurate information on the immunisation status and make informed choices regarding it.  

Additionally, the use of cloud technology to store papers, schedule meetings, and communicate with the public and staff may enable the implementation of a streamlined and effective approach to resolving the issue without the need for a physical workspace. As a result, governments that were previously reliant on antiquated methods can reinvent themselves and better serve their citizens with the help of low-code technologies and solutions.