Article
Low Code ERP: improving ROI and the sustainability of your information system
In an economic ecosystem where agility has become a condition for survival, digital transformation can no longer afford outdated deployment cycles. Yet the observation often remains the same: implementing an enterprise resource planning system (ERP) is perceived as a gigantic, risky, and costly undertaking.
The emergence of Low Code ERP platforms is radically changing the game. By enabling the configuration of complex business applications with minimal manual programming, this technology is becoming an essential growth lever for CIOs and executive management.
• Why the traditional ERP model is reaching the end of its cycle
For decades, choosing an ERP meant adapting to the constraints of rigid software. Every specific requirement demanded heavy developments, creating critical dependency on software vendors or consulting firms.
The trap of excessive customization
In a traditional project, “custom” developments often represent the largest share of the budget. These modifications, built with pure code, generate massive technical debt. With every update, the company must retest all its customizations, at the risk of paralyzing its system.
Inertia in the face of change
The modern market does not wait. Between evolving regulations, new customer expectations, and fluctuating supply chains, the market now evolves far faster than the update cycles of rigid software.
When a company must wait six months, or even a year, for a new validation workflow or a specific business rule to be integrated into its system, it is not only facing a technical delay: it is losing a critical competitive advantage. This latency creates a gap between the strategy decided at management level and the operational reality of the tool.
In this scenario, traditional ERP no longer fulfills its role as an enabler; it becomes a barrier to innovation and a bottleneck for growth. Instead of being the engine that propels the company toward new opportunities, it acts as an anchor that locks teams into outdated processes. To remain competitive, the ability to adapt your information system in “real time” is no longer a luxury,it is a vital necessity.
• Low Code: a revolution for the ROI of your IT projects
The shift to Low Code/No Code should not be seen as a simple technological upgrade, but as a true cultural revolution within the IT department. By leveraging visual modeling tools and a service-oriented architecture, companies can now build a tailor-made digital foundation, capable of evolving at the same pace as their ambitions.
1. A drastic reduction in time-to-market and real agility
The Low Code approach enables agile methodologies (such as Scrum or Kanban) to be sustainably embedded at the heart of ERP projects. Traditionally, deploying a major business feature depended on a “tunnel effect,” where end users only discovered the tool after months of development.
With Low Code, this cycle is broken: business departments gain access to functional, testable versions (MVPs) in just a few days. This speed of execution, once reserved for startups, becomes accessible to SMEs and mid-sized companies. We no longer speak of development cycles, but of continuous iteration cycles, making it possible to deliver complex projects in record time.
Development using AI tools is also made easier with a Low Code approach.
2. Control of total cost of ownership (TCO) and budget efficiency
One of the major profitability levers of an ERP lies in its TCO (total cost of ownership). In a traditional project, dependency on expert developers for every minor change drives costs up significantly. Low Code democratizes configuration.
By limiting the need for manual coding for standard processes, you reduce initial costs but also, most importantly, the costs of ongoing maintenance and evolution. Your internal resources, after a short training period on the platform, become autonomous in adjusting workflows or creating reports. The IT budget becomes more predictable and optimized, avoiding systematic financial overruns linked to endless external service engagements.
3. The end of technical debt and long-term sustainability of the information system
The architecture of next-generation platforms is based on the principle of abstraction. In simple terms, the system intelligently separates the technology layer (the platform engine) from the business layer (your customized processes).
In a traditional ERP, every modification to the source code becomes a threat to future updates. With Axelor’s Low Code approach, your processes modeled graphically remain intact, valid, and functional, even after a major core software update. This ensures long-term technological sustainability: you benefit from a system that remains high-performing, secure, and state-of-the-art, without having to rebuild your environment every five years.
• Axelor: the power of Low Code serving your business expertise
At Axelor, we understand that the tool must adapt to the company’s processes, not the other way around. Our hybrid platform is designed to offer total flexibility without sacrificing the functional power of an ERP with extensive features.
An integrated BPM platform for unlimited customization
At the heart of Axelor lies a highly powerful business process management (BPM) engine. It enables you to design your workflows directly within the interface. Whether automating a supply chain, managing complex sales cycles, or orchestrating human resources, everything is done visually.
More than 50 ready-to-use applications
Unlike general-purpose Low Code platforms, Axelor offers a complete library of integrated business applications:
- Sales management and CRM to boost your sales.
- Manufacturing management (MRP) for Industry 4.0.
- Accounting and finance for precise control and reporting.
- Project/business management for real-time collaboration.
Open Source: freedom as a core value
As a software vendor, Axelor promotes openness. Our open source model guarantees full transparency and eliminates vendor lock-in. You remain the owner of your data and processes, while benefiting from the constant innovation of a committed community and vendor.
• How to successfully transition to a Low Code ERP
The success of such a project relies on close collaboration between the IT department and business teams. Low Code encourages the emergence of citizen developers; employees who deeply understand their business and can now configure their daily work tools themselves.
By choosing Axelor, you are not just installing software; you are implementing a true innovation platform. You give your teams the ability to build the company of tomorrow: agile, connected, and highly efficient.
• FAQ: everything you need to know about Low Code ERP with Axelor
☉ Is Low Code suitable for large enterprises?
Absolutely. The Axelor platform is designed to be scalable. It supports both SMEs and large organizations that need to manage massive data volumes.
☉ Does Low Code replace developers?
No, it frees them from repetitive tasks. Developers can focus on high value-added features and complex integrations, while Low Code handles the interface and standard processes.
☉ How much time can be saved with Axelor?
On average, our customers report a 50% to 80% reduction in development time for customized modules compared to a traditional approach. Low Code/No Code also makes development with AI tools easier.
Want to see the power of Low Code in action?
Request a personalized Axelor demonstration and discover how we can accelerate your digital transformation