Low-code Public Sector:

Five Steps for Councils to Unlock the Rewards of Low-code

8th October 2024

by Mark Gannon

Low-code platforms can deliver a rapid return on investment for councils. But success isn’t guaranteed. It requires a fresh mindset and a collaborative approach.

Recently, we explored the advantages of low-code platforms rather than councils relying on IT vendors. We also looked at key questions to ask when selecting a low-code platform as part of your public sector digital strategy.

Now comes the question of how local authorities can get up and running quickly. What’s the best way to accelerate time-to-value? Here are five steps to follow:

Step 1: Define and communicate your strategy

There’s a danger that councils purchase low-code public sector platforms and then try to figure out where tools might be used. That’s a back-to-front approach.

Rather, local authority leaders should agree where low-code will fit in their overall business strategy as part of their digital transformation in the public sector. Low-code’s role is to remove friction, reduce failure demand, and improve flow across all council services. It has huge potential to super-charge a council’s public sector digital strategy. This should be established at the outset.

Step 2: Pick the right team for low-code public sector projects

After initial training, councils may decide to run low-code projects on their own, rely on delivery partners to support them, or simply use some mentoring at the start. It’s a matter of choice.

However, low-code team selection is more prescriptive. You’ll need the sponsorship of senior management and also involve your business analysts. What’s essential is that low-code projects are driven by subject matter experts, whether they’re working in education, social care, or transport.

They’ll understand the processes, the challenges and how citizens engage with services. They’ll also be the best judge of what ‘good’ looks like.

Step 3: Start simple and develop quickly in increments

Dozens of manual processes, business bottlenecks and out-of-reach data silos could be ripe for transformation with low-code. Whichever challenge you pick first, remember that low-code is an iterative approach to IT. It may demand a change in mindset.

Low-code is radically different to the ‘waterfall’ approach to IT development, where full specifications are captured at the start and a beta product surfaces months later. With low-code, development can move at blistering speed. You might work with others to connect processes on a whiteboard in the morning, and then create a simple working app in the afternoon.

Crucially, it’s OK to build a minimal viable product, show people right away and put their feedback to work. Your app doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, ironing out any wrinkles and adding more features as you go is a much faster way of working. And the end result will include all the fine tuning.

Your teams will be invested and ready to champion the digital services they’ve created as part of your public sector digital transformation.

Step 4: Embrace collaboration with low-code public sector experts

The best low-code platforms will give you a massive head start on your development journey by giving your access to scores of ready-made applications and integrations that are purpose-built for local government needs.

These digital services can be used to manage anything from street-light repairs and council tax enquiries to food hygiene inspections. Some pre-built apps may be perfect already, or simply require a few minor tweaks to meet your needs.

Netcall’s Citizen Hub solution and AppShare bring together 40+ councils and others working collaboratively as part of their public sector digital strategy. The generous nature of local government means that teams are only too willing to share many of the successful low-code apps they’ve created.

Step 5: Make innovation a habit

Low-code isn’t a one-and-done activity. Typically, it creates its own momentum. Very quickly, teams and colleagues from across councils get inspired and start to identify other compelling use cases to advance public sector digital transformation.

These might include ways to enhance omnichannel engagement for your contact centre, automation projects that could unlock cashable savings, or opportunities for business-ready AI.

Tewkesbury Borough Council is a great example:

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Transformation Team set out to improve licensing, planning, cemetery, mapping and member services. Within 18 months, their actions saved over £100,000 net of investment. They also increased capacity to drive service income – for example, a 35% revenue growth (more than £300,000) from garden waste over three years.

Discover more

Low-code public sector development requires fresh thinking from council teams. But the benefits are within easy reach when you adopt the right strategy, pick the right teams and choose easy-to-use technology for your digital transformation in the public sector.

For more advice on low-code for, explore our free guide:

You can also check out Liberty Create, our low-code platform, which has achieved a 98% satisfaction score from Netcall customers.