Public Sector Digital Transformation:
Essential FAQs on Low-code Platforms for Councils
16th October 2025
Delivering digital services in local government is rarely a one-time exercise. Services must be refined, extended and adjusted as needs change. Traditional systems make this difficult, locking councils into rigid designs.
Low-code platforms promise a more flexible approach. But only if they genuinely support ongoing service change.
Today, low-code development seems unstoppable. Forrester is predicting that the market for low-code and digital process automation will surge from $13.2 billion in 2023 to $30 billion in 2028. It reports that 87% of enterprise developers are using low-code platforms for at least some of their development work.
UK councils are benefiting too, as part of their public sector digital transformation. Low-code platforms enable them to improve workflows and roll out new digital services – without having to rely on third-party vendors – or spending out on programmers. The beauty of low-code is its ability to allow business analysts and other colleagues across councils to design, create, fine-tune and launch apps and other services quickly. We explored the advantages of low-code for public sector digital transformation in a recent blog.
Low-code as a delivery capability, not just a development tool
Low-code is often described as a faster way to build applications. For councils, its real value lies elsewhere: in the ability to evolve services continuously once they are live.
Local authority services rarely remain static. Processes change, eligibility rules are updated and demand patterns shift. Platforms that only support one-off builds quickly become constraints. A true low-code platform enables councils to:
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Adapt workflows without major redevelopment
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Reuse service components across teams and services
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Make changes in days or weeks rather than months
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Reduce reliance on suppliers for ongoing change
This shift – from building systems to enabling ongoing service change – is what makes low-code strategically important in local government. However, be aware that low-code platforms can vary enormously. Choosing one requires extra care.
Here are four important questions for councils to ask:
Q1: Is the platform truly low-code?
There’s a lot of hype and noise around low-code, which makes it harder for councils to see the key issues. IT vendors are keen to get a share of the market and may make bold claims about how their technology advances digital transformation in the public sector.
Be mindful that some vendors may have added low-code components to their existing solutions, or simply made services easier to configure. But these offerings don’t represent a full low-code application development platform.
Some councils discover this when they hit the limits of the technology. Then they go looking for a true low-code public sector platform all over again. Councils should look beyond configuration tools and assess whether a platform genuinely supports ongoing service change – not just initial delivery.
That’s why it’s worth finding a trusted partner, such as an experienced consultant, to help you to understand your objectives and support your decision-making.
They’ll identify the best low-code government platforms, which reflect the needs of councils and have high satisfaction scores.
Q2: What’s the total cost of ownership?
Transparent pricing is important, so you can avoid a plethora of extra charges. You’ll also want a platform that’s easy to use from day one. If a platform is difficult for your employees, then time, training and support can become a major overhead. And it may feel like an eternity before there’s any payback from your efforts.
Also, choose a low-code partner that understands the pressures on councils – and has values that align with your goals of delivering great services for the public good.
For example, Netcall has a single licence fee for councils with our easy-to-use low-code platform, Liberty Create. This gives you unlimited users and applications, with training included.
Q3: What’s the ROI and time-to-value likely to be?
The best low-code platforms can pay for themselves quickly. They’ll also help you to save money, year on year, as part of your public sector digital transformation. Typically, digital services will connect data silos, automate processes and improve experiences for staff and citizens.
Ideally, you’ll want a platform that comes with out-of-the-box apps, designed and used by other councils, that you can launch immediately or customise quickly. These digital services could cover everything from reporting abandoned cars or potholes, to contact centre dashboard, and modules for managing free school meals. For example, our AppShare brings together 40+ councils and others working collaboratively as part of their public sector digital strategy.
Having a low-code framework in place already is far easier than having to build your information and user architectures from scratch. As a result, you can stand up a proof-of-concept within days – or hours. The incremental nature of low-code means your apps are simple to create and refine repeatedly, so you develop something that’s spot-on quickly.
Crucially, low-code should let you gradually replace areas of costly legacy technology with your own, home-grown services. The more systems you replace, the more you save on licences.
Newcastle City Council is a great example:
Starting small with low-code and then extending its capabilities across services, Newcastle City Council is achieving £1 million in licence fee savings as part of its public sector digital transformation.
Q4: What difference will low-code make to employees?
Local authorities employ many great people who are doing a difficult job in challenging times. Losing staff who feel demoralised or fatigued can be an issue.
Top-quality low-code public sector platforms can help. They empower teams to fix day-to-day frustrations themselves. Suddenly, they’re no longer swamped by morale-sapping manual tasks or having to look at six different applications to find the answer to one question.
Low-code can be used to simplify and automates a host of routine tasks, freeing up employees for tasks where they can better use their talents.
Put simply, low-code isn’t simply about making life better for citizens; it can also transform the employee experience and help to increase staff retention.
Finding the right path
It’s important to invest in low-code public sector platforms with your business objectives in mind.
Low-code should not be viewed as another standalone IT purchase. For councils, it’s a delivery capability – one that determines how easily services can change, adapt and improve over time.
As demands evolve, platforms that support ongoing service change become far more valuable than systems designed for fixed requirements.
With low-code, you’re buying extra capabilities that will deliver on your public sector digital strategy. When unleashed, it’s a game-changer.
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Already, 40+ councils are using our low-code platform, Liberty Create and Citizen Hub – a solution that’s designed especially for local authorities
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Low-code is delivering on its promises too, with Netcall achieving a satisfaction score of 98% among our customers
About the author
Mark Gannon
Director of Client Solutions
Mark is Director of Client Solutions at Netcall and is on a mission to put the power of digital transformation into the hands of every public sector organisation. He's a former CIO and transformation specialist who worked for over 20 years in several local authorities, including Sheffield City Council, Nottingham City Council, Rotherham Council and Middlesbrough Council. Mark also spent time as a consultant, supporting organisations to take advantage of digital technology.