Generative AI: The rise of the citizen developers in finance teams
ChatGPT image prompt: “Generate the image for the Generative AI: The rise of the citizen developers in finance teams” article.
By Felix Grevy
VP Open API & Connectivity • Product Group
Introduction
Kyriba offers various integration methods, including Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which necessitate either coding abilities or the use of low-code tools like iPaaS. Although coding demands particular expertise, generating code through prompts has become straightforward with tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, or Google’s Gemini. These resources can accelerate the workflow of seasoned developers or even be utilized by non-developers, making APIs more accessible than ever.
Thanks to the ability to generate code in natural language for tasks like data transformation and API calls, including those to Kyriba APIs, even individuals without Python skills, such as finance teams, can now utilize our APIs. They can automate tasks and streamline their routine manual processes, heralding the era of the citizen developer
The rise of the citizen developer
The rise of the "citizen developer" marks a significant shift in the landscape of technology development and utilization, particularly in specialized fields such as finance and IT. This term refers to non-technical individuals who, without formal programming training, creates applications, scripts, or tools to automate tasks, analyzes data, and solves complex problems within their domain of expertise. This trend is increasingly facilitated by platforms and tools that lower the barrier to entry for software development, including low-code/no-code platforms, integrative APIs, and, more recently, generative AI technologies like ChatGPT.
Empowering finance and IT teams
Finance and IT teams traditionally relied on specialized developers to build or customize software solutions, including data integration with systems like Kyriba. This process can be time-consuming and requires a deep understanding of both the technical and functional aspects of the business requirements. However, with the advent of technologies that support the citizen developer movement, these teams can now take a more active role in creating their solutions.
Generative AI as a catalyst
Generative AI, exemplified by models like ChatGPT, has the potential to transform this landscape even further. By enabling natural language processing capabilities, these AI models allow users to articulate their requirements in plain language and generate functional code snippets that can interact with systems like Kyriba's API. This democratization of coding means that tasks such as data integration, report generation, and workflow automation can now be performed directly by the end-users who understand the business needs best.
Implications of the citizen developer trend
Increased Efficiency and Innovation: By enabling those closest to the business challenges to develop solutions directly, organizations can solve problems more quickly and innovate more effectively.
Reduced IT Bottlenecks: Citizen development can alleviate the pressure on IT departments, freeing up specialized developers to focus on more complex and strategic projects.
Enhanced Collaboration: The gap between technical and non-technical teams narrows as finance professionals gain the ability to directly create and iterate on their tools, leading to better collaboration and understanding across departments.
Risks and Governance: With the empowerment of citizen developers comes the need for robust governance frameworks to ensure that code is secure, compliant, and aligned with organizational standards.
Conclusion
The concept of the citizen developer, particularly in the context of financial and IT teams integrating data into Kyriba, represents a significant shift towards a more inclusive, efficient, and innovative use of technology within organizations. As tools like generative AI continue to evolve, the potential for non-technical professionals to contribute to digital transformation efforts expands, heralding a new era of collaborative development and problem-solving.
This article will guide you through utilizing ChatGPT to generate, refine, and optimize code within Google Colaboratory notebooks, focusing on API use cases relevant to our industry.