The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK has successfully transitioned its services to the cloud using low-code applications, aligning with the public sector’s ‘Cloud First’ approach. This strategy aims to enhance the efficiency and affordability of IT systems across various government departments. The CPS’s journey serves as a salient example of how adopting low-code platforms can drive digital transformation, improve processes, and deliver substantial operational benefits.
Overcoming Traditional Limitations
The CPS, traditionally reliant on paper-based processes and Excel spreadsheets, faced significant limitations due to tight budgets and a scarcity of IT talent. Their existing digital tools were plagued by performance issues and offered limited functionality, necessitating a reevaluation as part of the cloud transition. With more than 50 local applications, primarily built using a no-code approach, exhibiting subpar performance, the CPS saw an opportunity to upgrade these applications and host them in the cloud environment.
However, the CPS encountered a major hurdle: a lack of in-house development experience, as previous development efforts were typically outsourced. Liz Thomason, the Head of Software Engineering at CPS, acknowledged that they lacked the necessary tools, skills, and processes to support traditional development methods. This unique challenge highlighted the need for a transformative approach to achieve their digital goals, prompting the CPS to explore new avenues for both development and implementation.
Embracing Low-Code Platforms
The CPS turned to low-code platforms to address these challenges, leveraging tools that facilitated scalability and efficiency. The organization, which employs around 7,000 people focused on justice-related tasks, did not have the luxury of a large IT team. Initially, Thomason had only a pair of skilled developers, which eventually grew to nine specialists. She prioritized finding the right tools to deliver early value, quickly build team skills, and ensure new applications were secure, efficient, and cost-effective.
After a methodical search, Thomason and her team chose OutSystems, a low-code platform, complemented by a supportive package of customer success services for advice and upskilling. Within six months, the CPS launched its first application via OutSystems, designed to gather data for standard operating procedures. This app has since processed over a million records, demonstrating its immediate value. Thomason’s team also developed reusable features, such as integrations and authentication mechanisms, replaced legacy applications, and created smaller apps to enhance internal processes.
Significant Improvements and Internal Demand
The improvements were significant. The new applications featured more intuitive interfaces, streamlined and quicker data entry, and built-in reporting advancements, which equipped managers with real-time information – a notable boost to day-to-day operations. Thomason noted a shift where CPS personnel started requesting solutions modeled after the newly developed apps, reflecting increased internal demand and appreciation for the improved systems.
As the team’s confidence and skills grew, they successfully translated user needs into more complex solutions. One notable application developed was the Advocate Panel app, which streamlined the process for private barristers and solicitors to apply to CPS advocate panels. This app replaced a cumbersome, manual system that involved filling out numerous forms and managing substantial email exchanges between multiple stakeholders. The success of this application further exemplified the tangible benefits of adopting low-code solutions for intricate and critical processes.
Streamlining Processes with New Applications
Another recently developed application digitized witness expense claims, previously a paper-based process. According to a user survey, 89% of respondents found the new system easy or very easy to use, and 64% reported that the reimbursement time reduced from several weeks to roughly a day. This level of user satisfaction showcased the platform’s effective transformation of previously inefficient processes into user-friendly, streamlined systems.
Remarkably, these applications took an average of only four months to build. Thomason emphasized that low-code development allowed the team to focus on building development skills, while the platform’s maintenance was managed by the supplier, reducing traditional development overhead costs. A focus on reusable shared components and an agile mindset were critical to their success, allowing rapid prototyping and iteration according to user needs.
Future Plans and Strategic Systems
Looking ahead, the CPS aims to employ low code to build core strategic systems, not just peripheral applications. This includes the Future Casework Tools portfolio, encompassing the Case Management System, witness, and management information systems, and interfaced standalone applications. Thomason highlighted their user-centric approach, blending low-code front-end development and logic with data integration from various sources, ensuring that their systems remain adaptable and efficient.
The successful implementation of low-code platforms at CPS mirrors a broader expansion in the use of these tools. The low-code market is projected to reach $36.43 billion by 2027. Bradley Shimmin of Omdia Applied Intelligence noted that low code represents the latest step in the abstraction of coding for broader use, a trend ongoing for decades. These tools enable companies to optimize their operations and tackle new opportunities by building more software.
The Role of Generative AI and Future Prospects
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom has successfully embraced cloud technology by using low-code applications, in alignment with the public sector’s ‘Cloud First’ policy. This initiative is designed to boost the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IT systems across various governmental departments. By moving its services to the cloud, the CPS has become a prime example of how adopting low-code platforms can propel digital transformation. Low-code applications enable the creation of software using minimal hand-coding, making it easier and faster to develop and deploy new digital solutions. This method streamlines processes and results in significant operational improvements. Digital transformation, driven by cloud technology and low-code applications, allows organizations like the CPS to better meet their mission’s demands while reducing costs and enhancing productivity. The success of the CPS underscores the potential for cloud-based solutions to improve public sector services, demonstrating the tangible benefits of modernizing IT infrastructure through innovative approaches.