Empowering teams to solve problems: A practical guide to low code innovation

It usually starts with a sticky note on a desk or a spreadsheet with too many tabs. A process that’s frustrating, repetitive, and clearly broken, but fixing it feels like more trouble than it’s worth.

Ask around and you’ll hear the same reply: “We’ve always done it this way.” Not because it’s perfect, but because the alternative is calling in IT, waiting weeks, maybe months, and probably spending more than the problem’s worth.

Low-code platforms are challenging all of that. Not by replacing your IT team, but by putting simple, powerful tools into the hands of the people who understand the problem best, the people feeling the friction daily.

Let’s talk about what that really means for your business, your team, and your bottom line.

What low-code actually means

Low-code isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a way of building apps, automations, and data dashboards with minimal coding, or in many cases, none at all.

Think of it as drag-and-drop problem-solving. Instead of asking a developer to write custom code from scratch, someone in finance or operations can string together prebuilt components to build the tools they need, a workflow, a form, or even a full app.

Microsoft’s Power Platform is one of the leading low-code ecosystems. It brings together Power Apps (to build custom business apps), Power Automate (to create workflows and automate repetitive tasks), and Power BI (for analytics and dashboards). There’s also Power Pages for low-code website creation and Copilot capabilities woven in to guide users along the way.

But let’s not get too hung up on product names. What matters is how these tools unlock value inside your organisation.

The rise of the citizen developer

Chances are, you already have a citizen developer on your team.

They’re not in IT. But they’re naturally curious, good with Excel, a bit of a fixer. Give them a business challenge and they’ll probably build a clever workaround for it. Except now, they don’t just have to use spreadsheets and email hacks, they’ve got actual tools that let them build proper solutions.

Take a few simple examples:

• A holiday request app that automatically checks leave balances and gets manager signoff.
• An invoice tracking system that pulls data from multiple places and flags when something needs chasing.
• A sales dashboard that updates automatically rather than relying on emailed reports.

These tools aren’t just convenient. They take away wasted effort, reduce errors, and give teams control over their own processes.

And when people can fix the things that get in their way, they’re not just solving problems, they’re building momentum. That cultural shift is huge.

Here's the catch

Most people don’t have hours to spare learning new tools. And even if they do, there’s a risk that well-meaning spreadsheets-turned-apps start popping up all over the place with no oversight. That’s how you end up replacing IT backlogs with a jigsaw of half-finished solutions.

This is where working with a managed service provider makes all the difference.

The right MSP doesn’t need to take over. Instead, they help channel this energy productively, building quick wins, creating templates, and offering the support to make sure low-code development fits in with your broader IT goals.

What the right partnership looks like

Working with a service partner familiar with Microsoft Power Platform bridges the gap between enthusiasm and execution.

Think of it in layers. At the most practical level, they can:

• Recommend which processes are ideal candidates for automation or low-code redesign.
• Build out secure, production-ready apps and workflows that integrate with your systems.
• Establish data governance and security standards so you avoid the classic shadow-IT problem.
• Teach your internal champions just enough to adapt and extend basic apps themselves.

You retain control, but you’re tapping into hard-won expertise to move faster, avoid pitfalls, and improve outcomes.

This model is perfect for businesses that don’t have full-time development teams but still want to innovate. It’s also a great option when internal IT is overstretched, and tactical improvements keep getting bumped down the list.

From quick fixes to business transformation

It typically starts small: digitising a manual process, streamlining a task, removing manual data entry. But over time, low-code solutions can start stacking up into a powerful internal toolkit.

Instead of people working around broken systems, they’re improving them. That adds up to better consistency, happier teams, and more visibility across the business.

And it’s not just internal benefits. When your customers notice things getting faster, smoother, and more responsive, the impact deepens.

We’ve seen businesses take what started as a simple leave request app and expand it into a full HR self-service portal. Or turn a proof-of-concept Power BI dashboard into their primary reporting suite, replacing hours of spreadsheet merging each month.

The point is: this isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about creating space for the work that really matters, and giving your teams the tools to focus on it.

A safer way to move fast

Without the right oversight, even low-code apps can create risk, from messy data usage to duplicated effort or inconsistent rules. But done right, low-code is a safer, smarter path to innovation.

That’s the power of formal low-code governance and guidance. Your service partner helps make sure everyone’s working safely, avoiding data duplication, and connecting to trusted sources.

And when it’s time to scale an app or integrate it with another part of your business, they’re already on hand to help.

Low-code shouldn’t mean no rules. It means the right rules, with the guardrails in place to keep progress moving without compromise.

Ready to try it for yourself?

If something in your business has felt needlessly difficult for some time, a process nobody wants to touch, a report that takes hours but only gets skimmed, a form that’s always missing information, chances are, it’s ripe for rethinking.

Low-code tools mean you don’t have to wait on a product release or an enterprise rollout. Tools like Microsoft Power Platform bring real change within reach, and an experienced service provider can help make it stick.

Big transformation often starts with small steps. And sometimes, all it takes is the right partnership to get moving. OneAdvanced's relationship with Microsoft goes back over 30 years, over which our Modern Workplace experts have helped numerous organisations digitally transform and embrace a better way of working. Get in touch with our team today to see how we can help!