1cloudconsultants.com - News #Low Code

How Low-Code and Responsible AI are Changing Digital Transformation

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:00:02 +0000

Digital transformation is one of the biggest buzzwords in business, but the reality is often less glamorous. Studies, including one from McKinsey, show that over 70% of these initiatives fail to meet their objectives. They don't crash and burn; they simply get stuck.

This isn't a surprise when you consider the four key challenges that hold businesses back:

Overwhelmed IT Teams: Everyone wants a new app, but IT departments are thinly staffed and lack the bandwidth to manage requests from every corner of the company.
Legacy Systems: These old, clunky systems are a constraint on innovation. They’re pushed to their limits until they break, creating a pain point for the entire organisation.
Disparate Systems: Critical information is trapped in silos. Your marketing system doesn’t talk to your sales system, and your leave planning doesn’t connect to your work planning.
Employee Resistance: Employees, who are "digitally savvy" in their personal lives, often resist adopting new tools at work, creating a major barrier to success.

So, how do you break free from these challenges?

The Power of Low-Code: Building Apps at the Speed of Business

Zoho Creator offers a powerful solution by putting the ability to build applications into the hands of more people. The vision is to "empower everyone to easily build powerful applications."

Zoho Creator does this by:

Visual Application Building: Users build apps in a visual manner, and the platform automatically generates the code. This is all about "productivity through abstractions," where developers are freed from the monotonous "boilerplate" code that eats up 90% of their time.
Build Once, Deploy Everywhere: An app built on Creator automatically works on all devices - web, mobile, and tablets - without any extra effort.

The demand for new applications is staggering. IDC predicts that over 500 million new custom apps will be needed by 2028 - more than all the apps built in the past 40 years combined. This is a demand that IT teams alone cannot meet.

Responsible AI: The Smart Way to Code

While AI tools like ChatGPT can write code at an incredible pace, which creates a significant drawback: they can generate "tons and tons of code," leading to what's called code bloat and technical debt. As Steve Jobs once said, "the best line of code is the one you never have to write." More code means more maintenance, more headaches, and hidden security vulnerabilities.

This is where "responsible AI" comes in. The future of development isn't about AI generating raw code; it's about the combination of AI + low-code.

In this model, the AI doesn't just create code - it understands the context. It gets the right tools and components from the low-code platform and assembles them. This gives you the speed of AI with the built-in guardrails of a platform. The apps are secure, scalable, and maintainable by design.

Beyond Creator: Zoho's Full Developer Suite

Zoho's developer tools extend far beyond Creator. Other notable solutions include:

Zoho Catalyst: A pro-code cloud platform for heavy computing and custom solutions.
Zoho Flow: An integration platform that connects over a thousand applications.
Zoho RPA: A robotic process automation tool for streamlining high-volume, repetitive tasks.
Zoho Q Engine: A unified test automation platform that writes test cases once and deploys them everywhere.

The overarching message is clear: Zoho is helping businesses overcome the hurdles of digital transformation. By combining the agility of low-code with a "responsible AI" approach, they are empowering organisations to build the apps they need, solve their biggest problems, and finally get their projects unstuck.

Zoho’s AI Strategy: Why Building Their Own ‘Engine’ Matters for Your Business

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:40:00 +0000

When you choose a software provider, how much ownership do you really have over the technology that powers your business?

It's a question that many companies are asking as they integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. While most simply plug into a third-party AI service or a massive open-source model, cloud software giant Zoho has taken a different path. The company decided to build its own proprietary AI models from the ground up, a strategy its global chief evangelist, Raju Vegesna, likens to car companies that build their own engines.

This unconventional approach, while requiring significant investment, gives Zoho unparalleled control over the privacy, performance, and long-term vision of its AI deployments.

Beyond a Single Model: Efficiency Through Specialisation

One of the most striking aspects of Zoho’s AI, named Zia, is that it isn’t a single, monolithic model designed for every task. Instead, it’s a collection of smaller, specialised language models. The system automatically routes a user’s query to the most suitable model based on its complexity.

For a simple query, Zia might use a smaller model with just a few billion parameters. For a more complex or demanding task, it can be routed to a larger, more powerful model. This intelligent routing ensures that Zoho uses only the amount of computational power necessary for any given task. The result? Significant cost savings and greater energy efficiency - a crucial benefit in a world where AI consumption is rapidly increasing.

As Vegesna noted, "You don’t need an LLM for anything; that will require a bunch of resources." This is a philosophy that prioritises solving a problem efficiently over using a sledgehammer for every task.

The Ultimate Promise: Privacy and Control

In a business landscape increasingly concerned with data security, one of the biggest benefits of Zoho's approach is privacy. By creating its own models, Zoho has complete control over the input and, therefore, can guarantee the output in terms of data privacy.

The company has a strong stance on not training its AI models on customer data. This is a critical distinction from many other AI providers who use user-generated data to refine their models. By controlling the entire process, Zoho can stand by its promise to respect customer data privacy, a promise that would be nearly impossible to make if they were relying on a model built and trained by someone else.

A Legacy of Ownership: The Philosophy Behind Deluge

This philosophy of building and owning core technology isn't new for Zoho. It's a principle that has been at the heart of the company for years, most notably with the creation of DELUGE.

What is Deluge?

DELUGE, which stands for "Data Enriched Language for the Universal Grid Environment," is Zoho's own proprietary scripting language. It is a powerful, low-code platform that allows businesses to automate workflows, create custom functions, and integrate different Zoho applications without needing a background in complex programming languages.

Where is Deluge used?

DELUGE is used throughout the Zoho ecosystem to provide a high level of customisation and automation. Examples include:

Zoho CRM: To automate lead scoring, send a personalised email based on a customer's action, or create a custom button that performs a specific task.
Zoho Creator: To build custom, business-specific applications from scratch, giving companies complete control over their internal software.
Zoho Flow: To create complex multi-step automations that connect Zoho apps with hundreds of third-party services.

The existence of DELUGE proves that Zoho has long understood the value of owning its core technology. It empowers businesses to take full ownership of their tech stack, just as building Zia allows Zoho to own the core of its AI.

The Business Takeaway

In an era where technology is the engine of a successful company, the level of ownership you have over that engine is paramount. Zoho’s commitment to building its own technology, from the custom scripting of DELUGE to the intelligent routing of its Zia AI models, is a testament to its long-term vision. It's a strategy built on the principles of control, efficiency, and a deep respect for customer privacy—all of which are essential for building a truly resilient and future-proof business.

Embrace the Future of Development: The State of Low Code 2024

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:47:23 +0000

Introduction to Low Code

The landscape of software development is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with low-code platforms emerging as a pivotal force. These platforms empower users to create applications with minimal hand-coding, streamlining the development process. Zoho's latest report, "The State of Low-Code 2024," offers an in-depth look at this dynamic industry, highlighting key trends, benefits, and future projections.

Download The Full Report

For a comprehensive understanding of the current low code landscape, future trends, and strategic insights, download the full "State of Low-Code 2024" report. This detailed study provides valuable data and expert analysis, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the future of software development.

Adoption is Progressing Rapidly

The adoption of low code solutions is accelerating across Europe. Companies are recognising the immense value of these platforms, which facilitate faster and more cost-effective development. In fact, the adoption rates are particularly high in the UK, where 93% of companies report utilizing low code to expedite their development processes. This trend underscores the platform's ability to help businesses adapt swiftly to market changes and maintain a competitive edge.

Focus on Cheaper and Faster Development

One of the most compelling advantages of low code platforms is their ability to reduce costs while speeding up development. Approximately 81% of surveyed companies acknowledge the cost-efficiency and budget adherence offered by low code solutions. This benefit is particularly pronounced in Spain, where 87% of companies report positive financial impacts. Predictable costs and high-quality outcomes further enhance the appeal of low code methods, ensuring efficient resource utilization and rapid prototyping.

Overcoming Customisation and Complexity Challenges

While low code platforms offer numerous benefits, they are not without challenges. Customisation and complexity remain significant hurdles for many organizations. Despite these challenges, companies are finding innovative ways to leverage low code solutions to their advantage. By empowering employees across various departments, low code platforms foster a collaborative environment where even those without deep programming knowledge can contribute to software development.

Future Outlook and Guidelines

Looking ahead, the future of low code development is bright. A staggering 81% of companies plan to expand their use of low code platforms to more departments, indicating a shift towards broader adoption beyond traditional IT functions. Additionally, 74% of companies emphasize the importance of incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their low code processes, particularly in the UK where 83% of companies see significant potential in AI-enhanced low code development.

Conclusion

The state of low code in 2024 is one of rapid growth and widespread adoption. As companies continue to embrace these platforms, they unlock new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. By addressing customization and complexity challenges, businesses can fully harness the power of low-code to drive their digital transformation efforts.