The Benefits of Using a Low Code Development Platform

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The Benefits of Using a Low Code Development Platform

Did you know that the first programming language was developed in 1883? This first development was a very primitive form of coding. Over the years, coding became easier.

It still required extensive knowledge and education in order to create something useful for everyday people to use.

In today’s modern world now we have another option – low code development platforms. They were introduced to the world in 2016.

There are plenty of benefits to using low code because this development has allowed more people to design and manage processes without having to hand-code. Read on to learn the ins and outs of low code development, along with its benefits. 

Development Speed

With traditional app development, there are programmers writing every line of code manually. You can probably agree that anything done manually is often time-consuming. With a low code development platform, even the most tedious procedures are automated.

There are also intuitive drag-and-drop editors that a developer can use. These editors can create virtual models of an app’s business logic, user interface, and integrations. Thanks to these modern features, the dev time can be dramatically reduced from months to just a few weeks. 

Not only do companies save time, but they also save money. Plus, it is easier to manage simple development tasks more effectively.

Low code development platforms allow others to perform some simple tasks. This can be done without needing a Master’s degree in software development. 

Increased Business Agility

It is easier for a business to stay ahead of consumer demands and the latest automation trends. Since most low code platforms provide direct integrations with major vendors this is possible. This also enables the IT department to turn command lines, web services, and APIs into reusable building blocks. 

Thanks to this increase in business agility, there are more low code jobs available for those with less experience.

Less Need for Shadow IT

Thanks to low code, it is much easier for a business to deploy new applications and processes because IT can reduce the need for shadow IT. Unfortunately, a lot of times a business team will manage and implement software without consulting IT because they feel that IT takes too long. 

Low code helps reduce the need for shadow IT because now users within the business can monitor and execute processes, while coders focus on assembling and developing applications. 

Reduced CapEx/OpEx

Buying a new piece of software used to be a lot faster than trying to develop an in-house solution. Nowadays, thanks to low code development instead of having to purchase a new tool in order to coordinate SAP jobs, the IT department can use a low code platform to assemble the processes the business needs without wasting a lot of time. 

IT has the ability to build the processes with fewer resources and in less time because they no longer have to spend weeks researching, testing, and writing new scripts. 

Rapid Iterations

There are tools that low code platforms provide that help developers edit existing processes quickly and faster. An example is when a company has to pass changes down to lower positions within the company, this can quickly happen with documentation and revision histories. 

Automate More in Less Time

With the right DevOps tools, a low code platform has the ability to accelerate the development speed for end-to-end processes. Plus it can speed up task automation. For example, templates can be used to develop new processes, or workflow automations can be kicked off based on business events or IT events.

Also, flow control along with variables makes it easier to manage data across different platforms. API accessibility and prebuilt integrations help make it possible for a business to automate pretty much any part of their digital business process. 

Improved Productivity

Since IT is able to accomplish a lot more in less time, their productivity levels automatically increase. The development process is streamlined and the use of automation increases with low code platforms. 

Also, low code apps have the ability to simplify the process life cycle because it includes tools that help reduce this time. For example, it has alerting and monitoring capabilities that help notify personnel whenever there is a risk of failure. 

Another example, is if a server is at capacity it knows to reroute certain processes which prevent delays or bottlenecks. 

Maintenance Is Easier

More traditional applications make maintenance and upgrading a much longer process. This is because developers have to manually add new features to maintain the programs, and they also have to manually fix any bugs within the programs. 

With low code programs, there are not as many bugs to deal with because the modules are pre-tested to work together with no issues. This allows new features to be added without having to worry about compatibility. 

Legacy Integration

If you currently have multiple legacy systems in place in your organization you can probably agree that they scare workers away. Most people don’t want to touch legacy integration because of how complicated they are. This is a major bonus because legacy systems are not only complicated, but they are also expensive to maintain, and they tend to increase a businesses technical debt. 

With low code platforms, a company can develop legacy integrations that eventually help the organization completely migrate away from current legacy systems. 

Improved Success Rate

Another benefit of low code is that the success rate is a lot higher than the traditional manual coding approach. Before, development teams had to gather all the requirements from the users and then build the application based on those requirements. 

If the communication is not clear or constant, this is the slowest way of doing things and can take months from beginning to end. Low code, on the other hand, allows developers to mock up an application fairly quickly and receive feedback from users that are testing it in real time without taking weeks and months to further develop the application or program. 

Change Is Easier

Having a fluid business landscape has almost become a necessity with modern needs from users. With a low code development platform, changing apps and adapting them to business needs makes the process of change a lot easier. Long gone are the days of requiring complex coding, so when you need to make an immediate change you can get it done.

Another bonus is that costs will automatically go down when a company has the ability to build more apps in less amount of time. This also reduces a company’s need to hire more developers and reduces hiring and pay costs.

A business does not have to spend as much money on a new developer with extensive knowledge if they are opting for low code platforms. 

Low Code vs No Code

Many times, low code and no code capabilities are packaged together within the same platform. An example of this is that a low code automation solution will give you the integrations and the tools needed to design a process without the need to write custom scripts, so this equates to no-code. 

But keep in mind that the same solution can provide a scripting environment where IT has the ability to integrate existing or new code, so there is still the option for low code if desired.

The main difference between no-code and low code is the intention for who will be using the platform. Will it be used by someone with development skills or by someone that is non-technical? 

If your company has a non-IT team, then a 100% no-code platform is best. This will provide prebuilt actions that can easily be done by anyone that knows how to read. Keep in mind that no-code means less customization than coding or even low-coding options. 

Future of Low Code

More than likely, low code is the future because modern computing is founded in abstraction. For example, binary is abstracted into languages, languages are then abstracted into commonly used operating systems and into GUIs. 

Low code platforms, then, abstract coding that connects those databases, enterprise applications, and operating systems. The need for those integrations to be abstracted is going to continue growing as IT environments become even more complex in the future. 

It is believed that by the year 2024, “three-quarters of large enterprises will be using at least four low code development tools for both IT application development and citizen development initiatives.” Also, by that same year, the same report states that low code application development will be responsible for more than “65% of application development activity.”

More organizations are adopting new technologies. They are making sure they adapt to the increase in customer expectations and to the quickly changing markets.

Meeting these organization needs, means that IT departments have to quickly develop and iterate applications and processes. The best way to accomplish these demands is via low code. 

Features of Low Code Development

Now that we went over the main benefits that come with adapting low-code platforms, let’s chat about the most common features. This will give you an idea of what to expect when you first start playing around with low code platforms. 

Out-Of-The-Box Functionality

The need to create key components for applications from the start are automatically removed with the out-of-the-box software that low code platforms bring to the table. There are some low code systems that even provide customer facing app components like sales process management or service management without the need to install or do anything extra. 

Scalability

Low code systems allow a company to scale at a much faster rate. Applications can be quickly created to accommodate a sudden rise in users. For example, if your application goes from accommodating 20 users it can also scale to accommodate twenty thousand users.

Visual Modeling Tools

Low code platforms have visual modeling features that use built in modules to help everyone see details in a way that they understand vs using a ton of confusing coding. Thanks to these templates and visual tools it takes a lot less time to create any applications for a business.

Security

One thing you want to look at before you finalize your decision on which low code platform to use in your organization, is its security levels. You want to make sure there is enough protection to secure all of the applications your employees are creating and also enough protection for the entire platform as a whole.

Drag-And-Drop Interface

Any low code platform will have a drag and drop functionality. This is one of the most valuable functions that make production 10 times easier for people that are not very technical. 

This convenient feature is great for both novice developers and technical developers with years of manual coding experience. 

Types of Low Code Platforms

There are different low code platforms and each one is best suited for different tasks. The five categories include process, mobile first, general purpose, request handling, and database. 

Most companies will only need general purpose platforms to meet their needs. General purpose replaced platforms like Java and .NET.

Feeling Like a Low Code Platform Pro?

Now that you have learned everything there is to know about low code development platforms, you can make an informed decision if this is the best thing for your business to adapt. More than likely, you are seeing the benefits of moving forward with implementing this change. 

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