TechVets The Podcast: The Low Code Boom

TechVets The Podcast: The Low Code Boom

Meredyth Grant

In this show it’s all about low code developments and how companies like Pega Systems are working with the MOD to upskill military personnel and deliver digital transformation across the armed forces. 

Joining us for this podcast is Australia-based Pega Client Success Manager and British Army veteran Mark Clayden and Ken Stilwell, Chief Operating Officer at Pega who joins us from the States. We also have James Murphy, CEO at TechVets.

Listen now:

TechVets The Podcast and Pega talk the low code boom

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Interviewees: 

  • James Murphy, CEO TechVets 
  • Mark Clayden, Senior Client Success Manager Pega Australia
  • Ken Stillwell, COO and CFO Pega

Synopsis:

Pega, a low-code digital transformation specialist, begin the podcast by introducing their Pega Academy and the partnership that exists between Pega and TechVets in allowing veterans to improve their systems understanding, helping them when looking for a technical job in the private sector. Ken talks about the role of a Business Architect who acts as a ‘translator’ between the user of a system and the designer through an understanding of how systems operate but perhaps lacking the technical know-how of a senior system architect.

Through Pega Academy, the company offer certifications ranging from lower technical knowledge such as a systems administrator to a senior coder. Low code is the perfect solution for a Business Architect as it allows them to understand systems, without knowing how to code themselves.

The conversation turns to how low code can benefit military organisations. As the environment evolves, and the role of a system must change or become a legacy system, a low code solution offers the ability to continually adapt the system, as opposed to having to use a legacy system and then heavily invest in replacing the entire application. Mark points out the need for this adaptive, automated approach is lost in the bureaucracy of military organisations, as well as that the benefits of low code in automation and adaptation are evident from his work with military organisations, it is important to note that a low code approach works across the private sector as well.

James highlights that the Ministry of Defence is a vast institution with a diverse number of operations, and as a result bureaucracy will always be evident in the military, but there is a push towards increasing technical roles within the military as even standard Private deals with many processes and systems. The fact that at every level of the military understands systems means that they possess the soft skills to learn low code and set themselves up for a future career earning from £50k – £80k.

Ken from Pega then talks about why veterans make the perfect hire. He points to the point James had just made about everyone in the military now has an understanding of systems. In addition, the soft skills they are taught in discipline and adherence to protocol give them an understanding of the importance of consistency and automating systems to reduce resources used. Their rich set of experience from serving makes veterans an excellent pool of candidates for positions that, as Ken points out, are always in high demand.

Ken then outlines how Pega Academy began its life as an internal resource for training staff, which then grew to include training for clients and partners, who have begun to build teams of experts in the Pega system. The Academy then evolved to include different levels of certification, which clients can see internally to analyse weaknesses, and can also find other partners too who work can be outsourced to. This transparent system does include privacy for those organisations not willing to share their skill level with other Pega system users.

What is Low Code?

Low code allows a user to build complex systems without the need to write long code. This allows for applications to become more agile as more users can make updates easily, also helping to improve automation of systems.

How are Pega Systems and TechVets working together?

  • Pega are a partner of TechVets, who through their Pega Academy, help to train ex-service personnel in low code skills to improve their technical systems skills, increasing career prospects.
  • Pega Academy offers certifications in a range of different technical abilities to help those working in Business Architect roles to show understanding of systems without being able to code themselves.
  • The systematic approach of the military provides servicemen at all levels with the soft skills to work well in the digital industry.
  • Pega users can see the skill level of employees as well as other companies when looking for a partner. 

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