Unpacking Low-Code
The past few years have exposed critical flaws in ageing IT infrastructures, accelerating the need for digital transformation. Furthermore, there is a growing expectation to provide seamless digital services in a technology-driven world.
Organizations looking to drive their self-sufficiency, and address specific needs, are therefore seeking ways to create their own solutions. Having the capability to create in-house software is therefore increasingly desirable, and the demand more noticeable. A Gartner presentation suggested that IT teams may be expected to create a brand-new solution every 8 weeks. However, certain IT woes can make this unrealistic. This includes ageing legacy systems, a scarcity of skilled developers, and a disparity between IT and management.
To overcome these challenges and create their own solutions, many organizations are embracing low-code development platforms. In this article, we’ll explore low-code’s place in the future of development.
What is Low-Code and No-Code?
In brief, low-code refers to visual software tools that let users create applications with reduced hand coding. Graphical interfaces and drag-and-drop components accelerate development, and increase accessibility. The streamlined experience means that more people can build applications, while professional developers could expect to develop a fully-fledged solution in just days.
Low-code is sometimes used interchangeably with no-code, yet there is a distinction. Low-code reduces the amount of code required, while no-code removes it entirely. This means that even those without a coding background — sometimes referred to as “citizen developers” — can start building their own applications. The drawback to no-code is that it tends to be more limited in scope, and the level of customization and scalability comparably restrictive.
Fortunately, business leaders do not need to choose between no-code and low-code, with Plant an App offering a hybrid approach. With both at your disposal, you typically have greater choice when looking to build solutions, leverage the skills of your teams, and modernize outdated legacy systems.
Solving Problems Through Low-Code
A hybrid low-code platform can build a multitude of applications — especially if that platform allows developers to plug in their own code, and draw on advanced API capabilities. From external facing portals to data analytics, organizations from various sectors can bolster their custom development. Let’s consider why this is.
Decreased Development Time
Forrester has valued low-code development platforms to be up to 10 times faster than traditional methods — other sources say even higher. What is certain though, is that the visual nature of low-code means developers can build and deploy applications faster. Modular tools and pre-built templates help remove the repetition of hand coding, helping to accelerate delivery.
Low-code also goes hand-in-hand with automation, which is increasingly being adopted to enhance development productivity, as well as reducing the number of mistakes and human-errors that happen during routine tasks.
Agile, Integrated and Scalable
The ability to rapidly develop applications allows organizations to react quickly, matching their operations to changing markets, continuously evolving customer requirements, and sudden regulatory thresholds. And while other SaaS solutions often work in silos, the right low-code platform can perform as a fully connected enabler of software development. In fact, Plant an App’s advanced API suite quickly lets developers integrate with third-party software and wider digital communities.
When partnered with cloud-native low-code platforms, organizations have more headroom to scale in line with their growth, with increased deployment and data storage options.
Out of all the ways of creating data-driven digital experiences, this is the most straightforward, approachable way of doing it. Moreover, it creates a structure that is flexible, extensible — there is no constraint to doing further development.
— Jim Everett, Development and Innovation, University of Strathclyde
Empowering People
Although low-code platforms can be highly sophisticated, they will have their limitations in certain areas. Custom coding continues to be a core part of application building, and Forbes has even stated that “the future model of the software development process won’t be complete without developers.”
Rather than making developers obsolete, low-code is a tool that can save them time, and augment their regular coding practices. Flexible platforms allow developers to plug-in their custom code, adding scripting to the top of builds created using low-code.
In addition to empowering developers, low-code platforms enable non-technical users to create their very own applications. This democratizes the development of software for a larger category of people, with some solutions not requiring a single line of code. It is therefore also easier to onboard new employees, and draw upon a wider pool of talent when developing applications.
A Collaborative Workplace
A single development process, one that can be understood by both citizen and professional developers alike, can help bridge differences in technical knowledge. Graphical representations are easier to reference than complex coding languages, and more meaningful discussions can be had regarding the way an application is shaping up.
Sometimes though, barriers to collaboration can be physical. A Gartner survey revealed that 41% of employees will work remotely at least some of the time after the pandemic, with many adjusting to a hybrid work pattern. With low-code however, different users are able work simultaneously on a single module, even if they are operating in different parts of the world.
Greater Transparency Across Teams
When business users are given the means to create their own in-house solutions, they are less likely to outsource software without IT’s knowledge — also known as “Shadow IT.” Rather than simply leaving business-users to their own devices though, IT teams can set user permissions and administrator controls, monitoring application development from a platform-based view. This helps make collaborative development secure and transparent, mitigating the risk of security breaches and data loss.
Evaluating a Low-Code Platform
If partnering with a low-code platform, one of your first questions should be who will be using it, and what they plan to develop. Some platforms will still require skilled developers, while others will be too simplistic to build enterprise-grade applications with. For this reason, platforms that offer both no-code and low-code functionality may be the safest, most versatile option. Additionally, vendors that offer transparent price points (and an included list of features) can make it easier to ascertain a platform’s value proposition.
It is also important to know if a low-code platform is able to integrate with your existing systems, along with other third-party software that you may wish to connect with going forward. A platform should be able to accommodate your upward curve as a business, such as introducing more users, or upscaling functionality.
Consider choosing vendors that demonstrate they have a long-term strategy and a constantly evolving platform. This could include regular updates, a growing asset library, or opportunities to speak with product experts. Platforms with active communities that share resources and knowledge can also be a good indicator of success.
Migration And Modernization
Modernizing legacy systems can be a complex process. Often heavily entrenched in an organization's architecture, replacing them could be a serious investment. However, cloud-native low-code offers organizations the ability to upgrade legacy systems on a gradual basis, with three different core migration paths offering more options and flexibility.
No matter which path you choose, adopting a low-code platform is an apt way of future-proofing your business. While legacy architectures can quickly become a hindrance, low-code doesn’t share the same risk of becoming obsolete. A low-code platform does not have to completely replace existing systems either; they can often work effectively alongside other architectures, and be used where necessary.
Final Thoughts
Where traditional development methods are too slow or cumbersome to keep up with a high demand for new software, low-code presents an opportunity to rapidly create in-house solutions. Developers are empowered to do more with their time, and organizations can draw on a wider range of talent across the board.
Disclaimer
I’m Founder and CEO at Plant an App, which is a comprehensive application development platform, where low-code and no-code combine to bolster traditional programming. Both business users and professional developers are empowered to create sophisticated software, faster and without friction. Built upon a decade of development knowledge — and fueled by a community of passionate low-code developers — Plant an App has helped a host of organizations upgrade their digital services. And with the most flexible pricing options of any low-code platform, our partners can choose exactly what software capabilities they want, with no hidden costs.
For more information, please visit www.plantanapp.com, or take a look at our in-depth white paper to gain a deeper knowledge of low-code.
