Francis Rants w/ Andy: Software Pricing

In this episode, Burley Kawasaki, VP of Product at Creatio, shares insights on how AI is transforming low-code platforms, the importance of governance in AI deployment, and the evolving strategies for enterprise AI adoption.Key TopicsAI integration in low-code platformsGovernance and control in AI deploymentDecentralized AI development and AI twinPlatform and control plane architecture for AIEnterprise AI adoption strategiesKeywordsAI, low-code, platform, governance, enterprise, automation, no-code, AI twin, Creatio, digital transformationChapters00:00Introduction to the episode and guest Burley Kawasaki01:57Burley Kawasaki's journey and role at Creatio04:02The evolution of AI in low-code platforms06:51AI in regulated industries like banking and finance09:52The importance of a control plane for AI governance13:04Creatio's platform approach and AI Studio15:55The role of models and orchestration in AI processes19:09Scaling AI development and the importance of governance22:08Decentralized AI ideation and AI twin concept24:05Key changes for organizations adopting AI platforms26:04Future licensing models and platform adoption strategies

In this episode, we explore the future of AI-driven software development with Raza Dawood from Engineering Eleven. We discuss the challenges of vibe coding, the importance of discipline in AI deployment, and how enterprise can leverage AI safely and effectively.Key TopicsChallenges of vibe coding in enterpriseImportance of discipline in AI deploymentEngineering Eleven's approach to agentic SDLCCost implications of AI models and optimizationRole of governance and safety in AI developmentAutomation and its impact on enterprise scalingBalancing creativity and discipline in AI codingFuture of citizen developers with AIRisks of rogue AI and how to mitigateThe evolution of low-code and AI integration

Sonali Sharma, author of The 90% Code - Rewriting Power For the AI Era discusses the urgent challenges and opportunities of AI, governance, and ethics. Sonali explores how collective intelligence can reshape organizations and address the risks of techno-feudalism and the hero model.Key TopicsAI trust and collective intelligenceThe hero model and its limitationsTechno-feudalism and digital concentrationEthical foresight and indigenous governance principlesVelocity of technological change versus linear governanceThe importance of systemic change over individual heroismThe impact of AI on democracy and power structuresStrategies for building ethical and resilient organizations

In this episode, David Eberle, CEO of Typewise, shares his journey from traditional management consulting to pioneering AI-driven customer service solutions. Julie Ask discusses the evolving role of AI in customer experience and the strategic importance for organizations to adapt quickly.Key TopicsDavid Eberle's journey from management consulting to AI entrepreneurshipThe evolution of customer service technology from chatbots to autonomous AI agentsThe importance of integrating AI into customer experience for competitive advantageChallenges in scaling AI in contact centers including data silos and staff trainingThe role of CIOs and IT in orchestrating AI infrastructure and governanceThe impact of ChatGPT and generative AI on enterprise AI strategies

In this episode, John Rymer and Rick Greenwald explore the real value of AI in business, distinguishing between operational efficiency and strategic advantage, and debunking common misconceptions about AI's capabilities.Key TopicsThe two ways IT systems deliver value: operational efficiency and strategic advantageThe impact of AI hype and market expectationsAI as a tool for operational efficiency and its limitationsAI's role in strategic advantage and innovationThe importance of asking the right questions when using AI for business reimaginationThe distinction between AI research and AI application in businessThe non-deterministic nature of AI and its implications for decision-makingThe evolution of AI from a revolutionary to an evolutionary technologyThe importance of critical thinking skills in leveraging AI effectivelyThe risks of over-relying on AI for competitive advantage

In this episode, Chris Condo shares his journey from software engineering at Microsoft to becoming a key voice in AI's impact on engineering and organizational change. We explore how AI is transforming software development, the evolving role of engineers, and the systemic changes needed for successful AI adoption.Key TopicsChris Condo's background at Microsoft and ForresterImpact of AI on software engineering and organizational changeAdoption levels of AI in organizations and best practicesSkills engineers need for AI successSystemic change required for AI integrationReimagining Agile practices for AI-driven development

In this episode, Val Huber discusses the evolution of rules-based systems, the impact of AI on business logic, and how Gen AI Logic is transforming application development through context engineering and executable models.Key TopicsThe evolution of rules-based systems and their automationThe impact of AI on generating business logic and rulesThe concept of context engineering and its role in AI trainingDifferences between rules and procedural code in AI applicationsHow APIs serve as logic containers in AI-driven architectures

This episode explores the evolving landscape of software pricing, the impact of AI and platform models, and how CIOs can navigate this complex environment. Experts Francis Carden and Andy Bartels share insights on future trends, pricing models, and strategic considerations.Key TopicsThe shift from perpetual licenses to SaaS and platform modelsThe challenges and opportunities of token-based and usage-based pricingThe impact of AI and large language models on software costsThe importance of economic analysis and risk management in software investmentsThe role of platform vendors and models in reducing technical debt

In this episode, John Rymer and Rob Koplowitz sit down with Dave Marcus to discuss his hands-on evaluation of the fast-moving world of vibe coding, low-code, and process automation platforms.Dave explains why he chose a CRM-style application as his test case: it had a realistic data model, a third-party integration with Microsoft SharePoint, and a workflow component that would reveal how these tools handle real business complexity rather than simplistic demo apps.A major theme of the conversation is the difference between prompt-driven development and visual tooling. Dave found that while prompting could generate surprisingly functional applications, the experience often became frustrating when he needed to adjust layout, test changes, or understand dependencies. Visual tooling, when available, often helped—but some platforms treated it as secondary or immature compared to prompting.The discussion also digs into a critical enterprise concern: maintainability. John and Rob push Dave on what happens when applications need to evolve over time due to changing business, regulatory, security, and workflow requirements. Dave emphasizes that model-based systems still matter because they make dependencies, workflows, and governance visible in ways code-heavy systems often do not.Another key takeaway is workflow orchestration. Dave argues that workflow is not just a diagram—it is part of the application’s operational logic and must be understandable to domain experts, not just developers. He notes that some pure vibe coding tools bury workflow in code, while some process-centric platforms add complexity that may be more than needed for simpler applications.In the end, Dave’s conclusion is nuanced: there is no single winner. Different platforms are better suited to different use cases, and the market is evolving too quickly for simplistic “replace everything” narratives to hold up.Key takeawaysA realistic evaluation needs a real application, not a toy demo.Prompting can produce functional apps, but visual refinement and testing remain important.Workflow and dependency visibility are essential for enterprise maintainability.No single platform category is best for every scenario.The market is evolving quickly, so these tools must be reassessed continuously.

Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of low-code platforms, AI integration, and citizen development, featuring insights from Jeff Kuo of Ragic. Discover how organizations globally are transforming their workflows, overcoming challenges with AI-driven tools, and embedding citizen developers into their operational fabric.Key Topics:Jeff Kuo’s journey from academic research to leading Ragic's platform development.The concept of citizen development and its practical applications in manufacturing and hospitality.How low-code platforms like Ragic support complex enterprise needs without traditional coding.The impact of AI on democratizing application creation and reducing learning curves.Strategies for managing risk, privacy, and governance in AI-assisted development environments.Cultural differences in application building, especially between Western and Asian markets.The future role of AI in enabling non-technical users to design and deploy systems seamlessly.