How to Maintain Quality When Scaling Citizen Developer Automations
We no longer live in a world where only IT teams automate. Thanks to the proliferation of low-code automation solutions, the business users who use them — frequently referred to as citizen developers — now have the ability to build some of these apps and workflows themselves.
This trend is changing the economics of scaling innovation in organisations. Analysts, in fact, predict that 70% of new business applications will be developed in low-code or no-code tools by 2025. That’s tremendous growth, and it illustrates why it is so important to maintain quality on such projects.
Meanwhile, organisations continue to make heavy use of RPA development services to automate even more complex, enterprise-wide processes. The true magic comes, though, when you have both the power of professional automation knowledge alongside the strength of citizen developers in the organisation.
Challenges of Scaling Citizen Developer Automations in Enterprises
Automating at scale sounds amazing, but it also carries risks:
- Shadow IT – These are basically non-approved applications that are stealthily brought in.
- Varying standards – all departments are building differently.
- Maintenance problems – Some of the automations that mainly stop working when a system changes.
- Security worries – apps that don’t have the correct access controls.
Without effective government, what begins as a cost-saving strategy can collapse into chaos. This is why many companies rely on an established RPA service provider or business automation consulting firm to help navigate the journey.
How to Scale Without Losing Quality
- Put Governance First
Think of governance as the guardrails that keep innovation from flying off a cliff. In many cases, a Center of Excellence (CoE) is the most effective and efficient approach. It establishes standards for creating, testing and along with approving automations. You can ensure all of this with good citizen development governance tools:
- There’s always an owner of any app or workflow.
- Access controls secure the sensitive data.
- High-risk automations are reviewed extra carefully before they go live.
This balance allows citizen developers to have freedom without sacrificing enterprise security.
2. Choose the Right Platforms
Not all tools are made the same. The best citizen developer platforms facilitate simplicity of use while addressing security and oversight. Microsoft Power Apps, OutSystems, and along with Quickbase are good for enterprises. Zapier and Airtable, meanwhile, are just the ticket for lightweight and speed automations.
If you’re evaluating options, do a citizen developer automation to identify which tool can support your scale, governance requirements and integrations. And if in doubt, hire automation experts or consider citizen developer consulting to help you make that call.
3. Mix Citizen Developers with Professional Experts
Citizen developers provide creativity and speed, but they also depend on guidance. When you match our pros with professional RPA developers for hire, you're guaranteed that each automation will be enterprise-ready. With this hybrid approach, we can get hot stuff on the business side married with reliability on the technical side.
Several firms are now providing enterprise citizen development services that bridge the gap between self-service and oversight by experts. It’s a well-tested method for both maintaining quality and expanding rapidly.
4. Track Metrics That Matter
What you measure gets better. To maintain quality, track:
- Number of automations created.
- Error rates and downtime.
- ROIs in hours saved or expenditures spared.
Research also reveals that businesses trust using RPA development services as it can provide a cumulative ROI of 200–300% in the very first year itself. Now, imagine adding that sort of value to hundreds of smaller, well-governed automations authored by citizen developers. That's a real business transformation.
Real-World Case Studies on Citizen Developer Consulting and Automation
Take Zurich Insurance, for example. They went from less than 2,000 makers and 15,000 automated flows to more than 4,500 makers and 35,000 automated flows, but their success was only realised when they created a strong CoE and governance. Another is S&P Global Ratings, at which just a handful of citizen developers — one half-tutorial pushed by pros — rescued 8,000 hours every year. These cases prove that scaling is possible — provided quality comes first.
Key Takeaways for Businesses Using RPA Development Services
- You can begin with fortified governance through the citizen development governance tools.
- Choose very wisely among the above with the citizen developer platform comparison.
- Mix citizen energy with expert oversight via business automation consulting or RPA in business (small & medium) citizen development services.
- Maintaining high standards of quality. Partnering with a trusted RPA service provider will help keep quality at the top of your mind.
- Track all automations in real-time with metrics and dashboards.
Final Word: Scaling Citizen Developer Automations with RPA Service Providers
Citizen developers can accelerate the automation journey. But tackle without structure and to those creations can run out of control. When governance partners with the right platforms, expert guidance, and enabling, measurable KPIs, the result is getting the best of both worlds: speed and innovation without giving up quality.
Whether you’re already investing in RPA development services or simply considering low-code automation solutions, the direction ahead is evident: grow and take bold risks, but grow responsibly. That’s how you spin a citizen developer opportunity into enterprise-grade success.