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Winsoft International - Exclusive Claris Representative > Top 10 challenges for developers in the manufacturing and industrial sectors

Top 10 challenges for developers

Manufacturing & industrial sectors

The manufacturing and industrial sectors are undergoing a rapid digital transformation, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer demands. While these advancements offer significant opportunities, they also present a unique set of challenges for developers.

Low-code platforms offer powerful tools to address these challenges, helping developers streamline processes, improve operational efficiency, and remain agile in an evolving landscape.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 obstacles developers encounter and how low-code can help them.

1. Domain-specific knowledge

Manufacturing processes and regulatory standards vary widely across sectors. Misaligned solutions can hinder efficiency and potentially lead to costly errors.

To create effective solutions that seamlessly integrate into the production environment, developers must gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific requirements and adapt to these nuances.

Low-code platforms enable collaboration with industry experts, allowing developers to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the sector’s specificities and incorporate feedback directly from end-users during the build process.

 

Rapid prototyping and iteration also allow developers to remain agile and quickly adapt to specific industry requirements.

2. Complexity of operational processes

Each sector has intricate workflows that developers need to accommodate so that applications enhance efficiency without disrupting critical processes and ongoing operations.

This complexity requires them to design solutions that accommodate unique processes while remaining flexible for future changes as manufacturing techniques evolve.

Low-code platforms provide developers with highly customizable workflows and modules that can be adapted to each operation’s needs.

This flexibility allows them to build scalable applications that streamline complex processes without disrupting existing operations.

3. Rapid technological advancements

Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) have rapidly transformed the industry, creating both opportunities and challenges. Falling behind on the latest technologies could mean missed opportunities for innovation, negatively impacting efficiency and the business’s overall competitiveness.

Developers must keep pace with these advancements and stay current with evolving technologies. To remain relevant, they need to understand how to best leverage them within the constraints of existing manufacturing environments.

By lowering the technical barrier to entry, low-code platforms allow developers to build future-ready applications that leverage the latest advancements, enabling manufacturers to stay competitive.

4. Data integration

Integrating data from various sources, including legacy systems and IoT devices, is a significant hurdle.

Developers must navigate these complexities when building new applications or integrating with existing systems. They must ensure seamless data exchange between old and new systems to avoid data silos and enhance operational visibility.

Low-code platforms often provide pre-built connectors, APIs, and integration tools that facilitate seamless data exchange and integration from various sources.

The integration features reduce the need for manual coding and accelerate the data unification process.

5. Data quality and consistency

Manufacturing environments rely on data from various sources, including IoT devices, ERP systems, and manual inputs. However, managing and standardizing data from disparate sources can be challenging. If data isn’t consistent or accurate, it can lead to inaccurate insights, affecting decision-making and operational performance.

Developers must implement rigorous data validation processes and develop systems to handle real-time data streams while maintaining consistency.

Low-code platforms include built-in validation rules and real-time synchronization to ensure data accuracy across sources.

With low-code, developers can maintain data consistency, helping to ensure reliable insights that support informed decision-making.

6. Real-time processing

Real-time data access is essential in manufacturing to allow for quick, data-driven decision-making. However, handling and analyzing large data volumes from multiple sources in real time presents a technical challenge.

Developers need to design applications that can handle the demands of real-time processing while maintaining low latency and high performance.

Low-code platforms help developers build low-latency applications that can trigger actions based on real-time events and handle real-time analytics, giving manufacturers the ability to make timely decisions based on accurate data.

7. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a significant concern for manufacturers who handle sensitive data and rely on critical infrastructure. A cyberattack can disrupt production, compromise safety, and damage a company’s reputation.

Developers must implement strong security measures to safeguard data and protect both the physical and digital aspects of manufacturing systems.

Low-code platforms have robust security protocols built-in, such as encryption, access controls, and user authentication features.

Regular updates and compliance with security standards also ensure that applications built on low-code platforms are resilient to cyber threats, protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data.

8. Security and compliance

In addition to cybersecurity, compliance with industry regulations presents a unique challenge. Manufacturing environments often deal with sensitive data, including proprietary designs, trade secrets, and customer information, which require stringent protection measures. Non-compliance can result in legal penalties and loss of trust among customers.

Developers need to design applications that meet both security and industry-specific regulations to protect data privacy and avoid costly penalties.

With built-in security features, data governance capabilities, and the ability to integrate with existing systems, low-code can help organizations achieve and maintain compliance standards efficiently and cost-effectively.

9. Scalability and performance

Manufacturing companies need systems that can scale and adapt to changing demands. Whether responding to seasonal fluctuations in production or expanding operations, the systems must handle increasing workloads and adapt to changing business needs without sacrificing performance.

Developers must balance scalability with performance to ensure the system remains responsive under heavy loads and as the activity grows.

Low-code platforms support modular design, enabling applications to expand over time without sacrificing performance.

They allow developers to design systems that can scale to accommodate growing data volumes and user demands.

10. User Experience

Creating user-friendly interfaces for both technical and non-technical users is critical. Complicated or cumbersome user interfaces can lead to underutilization, frustration, and decreased productivity.

Developers must invest time in creating intuitive interfaces that facilitate easy adoption. They need to focus on simplicity, clarity, and accessibility, ensuring that operators can navigate applications with minimal disruption to their workflow.

With low-code platforms, developers can create visually appealing, easy-to-navigate apps that simplify complex workflows, making technology accessible even to users with limited digital expertise.

They can also help create mobile-friendly applications, enabling workers to access critical information and perform tasks on the go, further enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.

For developers in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, these ten challenges underscore the importance of a balanced approach that incorporates technical expertise, industry knowledge, and user-centered design.

By addressing these challenges effectively and leveraging low-code platforms, developers can create powerful, efficient, and secure applications that streamline manufacturing operations, enable innovation, and ultimately support the competitiveness of industrial businesses in a fast-evolving market.

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