How to Bridge the IT-Business Gap and Why Does It Matter?

Many organisations sit on brilliant ideas yet struggle to turn them into working software. On one side, business teams understand customer needs and market shifts; on the other, IT teams own the technical expertise to build robust applications. The result? A mismatch of expectations that delays product launches, ramps up costs and fosters frustration on both sides. 

This disconnect, also known as the IT-business gap, creates stalled projects, missed opportunities and growing backlogs. So, how can you close that divide without sacrificing governance or quality? The answer lies in a new breed of enterprise low-code development platforms designed specifically to unite business and IT. 

What Causes the IT-Business Gap?

Before diving deep into the solutions, we first need to understand the friction points: 

• Jargon Barriers: Business users speak in outcomes (“faster approvals”), while IT thinks in technical specs.
• Lengthy Queues: Requests enter a backlog, often taking weeks before IT even begins.
• Visibility Void: Once development starts, business stakeholders rarely see progress until launch.
• Rigid Pipelines: IT balances new features alongside maintenance, security patches and infrastructure upgrades.
• Complex Development Tools: Traditional environments demand coding skills most business users don’t have.
• Shadow IT Risks: Frustrated teams often turn to spreadsheets, unapproved SaaS tools, or custom macros, creating compliance headaches.
• Governance Blind Spots: Even if users can hack together a solution, it rarely meets security or scalability standards. 
  

The problem isn’t lack of ideas, it’s lack of enablement. Business users need intuitive tools, reusable frameworks, and safety nets so they can innovate without derailing enterprise standards. 

How Can a Low-code Application Platform Change the Game? 

Before looking at any particular low-code application platform, we must consider what a low-code application platform (LCAP) truly offers. It hands them a safe, scalable, and intuitive environment where ideas can turn into working applications in weeks, all while IT retains oversight. 

Instead of waiting for IT, business users can: 

1. Visual Development: Drag-and-drop components replace most hand-coding.
2. Rapid Prototyping: Working models emerge in days, not months.
3. Governance Baked-in: Built-in controls ensure compliance.
4. Simpler Integrations: Access live integrations with ERPs, CRMs, or IoT platforms.  
   

Meanwhile, IT governs roles, reviews deployments, and manages infrastructure. The result? A collaborative model where IT empowers business users instead of blocking them. 

What Exactly is a Low-code Application Platform?  

Imagine a toolbox where:

• Modules (forms, dashboard components, maps, integrations) are ready-made.
• Visual Editors let you assemble workflows like a flowchart.
• Connectors link to ERPs, CRMs or databases with minimal setup. 

That’s a low-code application platform. And Devum™ elevates this concept with enterprise-grade features: 

• App Studio for intuitive visual design of app pages.
• Domain Services Builder to model business entities and logic.
• Solution Test Automation to maintain quality with minimal effort.
• Workflow Builder for drag-and-drop automation of business processes.
• Domain Modeller to define entities, relationships and rules visually.
• Data Hub for consolidating and transforming data sources.
• Offline-first Architecture so remote teams stay productive.
• 3D Digital Twin and Map-based Interfaces for advanced visualisation.
• Microservices Architecture for true scalability.
• Single Sign-on and Multi-tenancy for enterprise deployment.
• Flexible Cloud Options so you can deploy on your preferred infrastructure. 

All of this sits alongside robust governance ensuring only approved apps go live. In short, Devum™ isn’t just about faster builds, it’s about enabling complex, mission-critical solutions at scale. 

How Does Devum Empower Business Users? 

Every organisation has a wealth of ideas sitting untapped. Business users, whether they’re HR managers, supply chain leads, finance controllers, or field operators – see problems every day and often know exactly what could make things better. But here’s the challenge: they rarely have the technical skills or the time to turn those ideas into software. 

Traditionally, the only path forward is to pass requirements to IT, where projects enter long backlogs. Weeks become months, priorities shift, and many of those ideas die before they see daylight. The result? Frustrated business teams, overburdened IT departments, and a widening gap between innovation potential and delivery reality. 

This is the IT-business gap, a bottleneck that slows down digital transformation across industries. Bridging this gap doesn’t mean business users should become coders or IT should surrender governance. It means giving business users the tools to build and iterate safely within an enterprise framework. 

That’s exactly where Devum™ comes in.

Devum Capabilities That Empower Business Users 

Let’s break down the core Devum capabilities that make this possible:

1. App Studio for Intuitive Design

Devum App Studio is where business users bring ideas to life. With a drag-and-drop interface, they can create responsive app pages, embed charts, add forms, include maps, and build user journeys, without needing to write front-end code. 

Think of it as PowerPoint meets enterprise software design: accessible to non-technical users but robust enough to scale.   

2. Workflow Builder for Business Process Automation 

Processes like leave approvals, purchase requests, or compliance checks often live in emails or spreadsheets. With Devum Workflow Builder, business analysts can drag and connect steps into a visual flowchart. Each block represents logic, conditions, or actions, turning what used to be a manual chain into an automated workflow. 

This removes ambiguity and reduces endless back-and-forth between business and IT. 

3. Domain Modeller for Real-world Data Structures

Applications only work well if they reflect the real-world structure of the business. Devum Domain Modeller allows users to visually define entities, attributes, and relationships. For example, a logistics manager could model “Warehouse,” “Shipment,” and “Inventory” as connected objects without writing a line of SQL. 

The outcome: business logic and data models are accurate, reusable, and consistent across applications. 

4. Domain Services for Reusable Logic  

Once business entities are modelled, Devum lets you expose them as Domain Services. This means a rule or calculation created once, say, “Delivery ETA = Dispatch Date + Transit Time”, can be reused across multiple applications. 

Business users avoid duplication, and IT ensures standardisation.  

5. Microservices Framework for Scalability   

Behind the scenes, every Devum application runs on a Microservices Framework. This means each component (authentication, data service, integration, workflow) is modular, fault-tolerant, and independently scalable. 

For business users, the technical complexity is invisible. They get the flexibility to build quickly, while IT gains the assurance that every app is production-grade. 

6. KPI Builder for Business-centric Dashboards  

Business users don’t just want apps, they want insights. With Devum KPI Builder, users can create dashboards, set performance indicators, and track results without waiting on BI teams. 

Whether it’s monitoring cycle time for approvals, order fulfilment rates, or compliance status, KPIs are embedded directly into the apps that drive those processes. . 

7. Devum Dev Bot for AI-Powered Assistance  

Getting started on a new application can feel daunting for business users. The Devum Dev Bot is a built-in generative AI assistant designed to make those first steps easier. 

Today, its primary role is to help users quickly create schemas and app pages, reducing the time it takes to set up the foundation of an application. Instead of manually defining every element, users can rely on the Dev Bot to generate structures they can then refine and expand. 

While it currently focusses on these core tasks, the Dev Bot sets the stage for a future where AI can play an even bigger role in guiding app development across the entire lifecycle. 

8. Devum Console for Streamlined DevOps   

The Devum Console is designed to make app operations and platform management effortless. Acting as a self-service portal, it brings together everything from deployment to scaling into a single, unified interface. 

With the Console, teams can:

• Onboard and provision new apps or environments quickly.
• Deploy applications seamlessly across development, testing, and production.
• Control and monitor resources with real-time visibility into usage and performance.
• Manage servers and infrastructure without juggling external tools.
• Expand and extend the platform as business demands grow.
• Track logs and events to troubleshoot issues faster. 

By streamlining deployment, monitoring, provisioning, and scaling, the Devum Console ensures organisations have complete control to keep apps secure, reliable, and production-ready while making DevOps processes far more efficient.  

9. Self-Service Templates for Faster Adoption

Not every app needs to be built from scratch. Devum comes with a library of pre-built templates, from approval workflows to mobile data-capture forms that business users can pick, customise, and deploy in minutes. 

These templates offer three big advantages:

• Avoid reinventing the wheel – Every template is pre-tested and production-ready.
• Ensure consistency – Designs follow IT-curated standards for security, UI, and data models.
• Accelerate time to value – Reusing proven templates can shrink development time by up to 50%. 

This way, business users get the speed they want, while IT retains the governance it needs – striking the right balance between agility and control. 

10. Seamless Integrations with Enterprise Systems   

One of the biggest hurdles in app development is connecting new solutions with the systems organisations already rely on. Devum removes this barrier by supporting a wide range of connectivity protocols from traditional standards like sFTP, REST, etc., to modern event-driven protocols like MQTT. 

Paired with Devum’s Microservices Framework and Domain Services, this means business users can: 

• Pull live data directly into their apps without building custom APIs.
• Automate workflows that span multiple systems, from ERP and CRM to IoT devices.
• Stay future-ready by plugging in new services or platforms as needs evolve. 

Instead of integration being a roadblock, Devum makes it a foundation for building connected, data-rich applications. 

11. Offline-first Capabilities for Remote Teams    

Not every workplace has stable connectivity. Whether it’s a mine site, a warehouse, or a delivery route, business users often need apps that work even when the network doesn’t. 

Devum is designed with offline-first architecture, which means:  

• Data capture continues uninterrupted on mobile and tablet devices, even without internet.
• Automatic syncing ensures that once a connection is restored, all records are updated securely.
• Consistent user experience keeps teams productive regardless of geography. 

For business users, this means confidence that the apps they build will function reliably in real-world conditions, not just in an office with Wi-Fi.  

What Controls Keep IT in the Driving Seat? 

Empowering business users would be reckless without robust oversight. Devum embeds governance deeply into every stage of the application lifecycle. 

How Does Role-based Access Protect Your Apps? 

IT teams can define granular permission models that go well beyond simple “read/write”:   

• Custom user roles aligned to your organisation’s hierarchy (Field Operator, Business Analyst, Power User, System Administrator).
• Environment segmentation (development, testing, production) so only authorised personnel can promote changes.
• Data-level security ensuring users see only relevant records and fields. 
  

These controls reduce unauthorised changes and prevent data exposure—critical when citizen developers build mission-critical workflows. 

Why Are Approval Workflows Crucial for Compliance? 

Devum’s approval engine makes sure every citizen-built app passes through IT’s governance gates:    

• Multi-stage review: Configure approval chains (e.g. Operations Lead → Security Team → Compliance Officer).
• Automated policy checks: Pre-deployment scans flag unsecured APIs or unencrypted data transfers.
• Audit trails & notifications: Every change, comment and decision is logged immutably, with alerts to keep stakeholders informed. 
  

By codifying governance into the platform, Devum prevents rogue deployments, enforces regulatory standards and creates a clear audit trail for internal or external reviews. 

How Do Enterprise Integrations Remain Secure? 

Connecting enterprise systems is powerful but it also raises security concerns. Every new integration point can become an attack vector if not designed carefully. With Devum, integrations don’t just work seamlessly; they also remain secure by design. 

Here’s how: 

• Role-based Access Control (RBAC) and SSO: Every integration is governed by granular, policy-driven access rules. Through Single Sign-On (SSO) and session token management, Devum ensures that only authorised users and services can access connected systems.
• Cloud Security and Web Firewall: Integrations running across cloud or hybrid environments are protected by enterprise-grade firewalls and trusted hosting partners. This prevents malicious traffic and safeguards application and data flows.
• SAST and DAST Integration: Devum embeds Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST) into its CI/CD pipelines. This means vulnerabilities in APIs, connectors, or workflows are detected early, before they can be exploited.
• Encryption and Certificates: All data moving between integrated systems is protected with end-to-end encryption (SSL/TLS). Whether in transit or at rest, sensitive business information stays confidential.
• External VAPT and Compliance: Devum undergoes frequent external Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing (VAPT) aligned with ISO/IEC 27001 standards. This ensures integrations stay compliant with the most stringent enterprise security requirements.
  

In short, Devum doesn’t just simplify integrations with support for protocols like REST, sFTP, or MQTT, it wraps them in enterprise-grade security, giving IT teams confidence while empowering business users. 

How Much Faster Can You Prototype with Low-code?  

How Do You Move from Silos to Synergy?  

Ready to apply these lessons in your own organisation? Follow this roadmap:  

1. Start small: Prototype a single process (e.g. invoice approvals) in Devum.
2. Invite stakeholders: Gather business owners, IT leads and end-users in one workshop.
3. Gather early feedback: Demo working prototypes within days, not weeks.
4. Scale templates: Convert proven workflows into reusable modules for other teams.
5. Embed governance: Use Devum’s approval pipelines and role-based controls as standard.

By embedding collaboration and oversight into every phase, you’ll turn IT-business friction into continuous innovation.

Final Question: Are You Ready to Bridge the Gap?  

The IT-business divide no longer has to be an immovable barrier. With Devum’s enterprise low-code development platform, you can empower business users, speed delivery and maintain rigorous governance, all in one shared environment.