A lot of pressure is being put on most IT departments to create and launch software applications quickly to meet customers' needs. Due to a backlog of operations and maintenance work and a lack of skilled resources, new software development is frequently put on hold or delayed. Organizations must provide their existing developers with tools and platforms because developers of all stripes are expected to produce more applications in less time than ever before. Low-code platforms make application development simpler, faster, and less expensive than traditional methods. This makes them particularly appealing to IT departments. Low-code and no-code applications are becoming the preferred technology in the digital workplace. Assembly and integration will replace application development as the primary focus. By 2025, 70% of new enterprise apps will be built using low-code or no-code technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020, according to a recent Gartner study.
What is Low-Code?
Low-code is a software development approach that requires little to no coding to build applications and processes. Utilizing intuitive graphical tools and embedded functionalities, low-code application design and development reduces traditional (or pro-code) writing requirements. While low-code development provides an enhanced and simplified experience that enables users to begin creating quickly, pro-code writing is still a component of the development process.
What is No-Code?
An approach which doesn’t require any coding or knowledge of programming languages to designing and using applications. Unlike low-code, no-code permits non-technical business users to develop applications without writing a single line of code. This method offers a similar user experience to low-code.
Low Code Vs No-Code?
The amount of coding expertise required by the user is the primary distinction between low-code and no-code development platforms. Users of low-code development platforms (LCDPs) must possess some fundamental coding skills in order to create and integrate complex applications, whereas users of no-code development platforms (NCDPs) need not possess any prior knowledge of programming. Numerous platforms provide both low-code and no-code
tools because the workforce of the majority of businesses possesses a diverse set of technical skills.
Who Uses Low-Code/No-Code Platforms?
Low-code platforms are used by experienced developers to speed up the software development process. These platforms can also be used by citizen developers, or corporate professionals with elementary coding skills, to design applications. Cross-platform support, built-in security procedures, and third-party connectors are aspects that the majority of low-code platforms provide.
No-code platforms enable non-IT developers to create departmental functional apps. A no-code platform must be tested by citizen developers to ensure that it has all the capabilities necessary to meet their business requirements.
Organizations can become more adaptable and better able to respond to changing markets by adopting the low-code citizen developer trend. Here are some ways your non-IT staff can use LCNC and citizen development to your advantage for businesses planning to invest:
Are Low-Code/No-Code Tools Actually Useful?
When it comes to low-code and no-code solutions, there are many obvious benefits, but there are also many drawbacks to consider. Let's look at some of the first advantages and disadvantages that come to mind:
1. Low prices: When more applications can be made in less time, costs drop. However, this is only one aspect. Low-code development saves money on recruiting because it eliminates the need for additional developers. There is no longer a time limit; Now, tasks that used to take months to complete can be finished in days or even a few minutes. Now that new criteria can be easily integrated and faster transition speeds are possible, agility increases.
2. Issues with Integration: Integration issues would almost certainly arise in the future if a low-code solution was utilized. When it comes to vital business systems, you simply cannot afford to compromise speed for custom integration.
3. Absence of Getting it: You wouldn't be able to make a good API because you don't have much experience. Consequently, if you want to create something significant for your business, you will quickly run into a roadblock.
4. Time to Sell: In place of traditional hard coding, low-code creation enables us to develop our own software without the assistance of IT developers. It requires little hand-coding and makes application delivery simpler thanks to the support of pre-packaged templates, drag-and-drop software, and graphic design methods.
5. Ineffective Execution: Low code is referred to as effective because it saves time. However, it is only successful for a short period of time. Performance is not always considered when designing low-code systems. With a low-code development tool, you can only implement a limited number of functions. Once a low-code app is built, it's hard to add custom code or other necessary features.
6. Easy and Concise: Due to its simplicity, low code is easier to use and only requires a limited set of skills. So, you don't have to hire anyone and spend a lot of money doing it; however, you'll need custom code if you need a unique feature that doesn't exist. It may be much more expensive to combine custom code with low-code or no-code than to develop a completely unique solution from the ground up.
7. Security and privacy concerns: When using low-code or no-code, you frequently do not have control over data privacy or protection, and you do not have access to the source code, which makes it challenging to identify any potential flaws. It could be against a company's enforcement policies to use low-code solutions to create code that doesn't follow best practices. The stability of the resulting application is irrelevant.
8. Fragmentation: According to the Gartner magic quadrant for platforms, there are numerous low-code solutions available. As a result of the sheer number of platforms, there will always be fragmentation that needs to be consolidated over the next few years.
Although low-code programming greatly simplifies the lives of developers, it negatively impacts the user experience. With low-code arrangements, a plan drove or moderate arrangement turns out to be harder to accomplish. We as a whole know that focusing on usefulness over the client's requirements never turns out great.
Some of the LCNC Platforms
1. Appian- Appian is a low-code platform with native deployment tools and options for integrating with Jenkins and other DevOps tools.
2. Mendix- Mendix is a low-code software platform that offers tools for testing, building, and deploying applications. Mendix was established in 2005 and is utilized by over 4,000 businesses. Model-driven engineering (MDE), a development method that places an emphasis on abstract modeling, is the foundation of the platform.
3. Quickbase- Quickbase is a workflow-creation LCDP. It is ideal for assisting teams in reorganizing operations and locating solutions to bottlenecks. Quickbase is also available for no-code.
4. Zoho- Due to its customer relationship management (CRM) tool, Zoho Creator is a well-known Indian multinational technology company. However, for low-code and no-code development, Zoho Creator is a minimalist platform with user-friendly visual features. It has been in the business for a long time.
5. Kissflow- It describes itself as a "unified digital workplace" on its website. Workflow and process management are its main uses. Custom coding is unnecessary with a rule-based model, allowing you to add conditions to customize your workflow. Kissflow thrives on this fundamental of low-code development.
6. Salesforce Lightning- Salesforce is one more recognizable title for advertisers. Salesforce and HubSpot are frequently compared as competing for CRM platforms. On the other hand, Salesforce Lightning is a part-based application improvement structure. In this scenario, the components serve as low-code visual components for app development.
7. Microsoft Power Applications- Microsoft Power Applications is a help for building custom business applications, quick and without intricacy. The inclusion of pre-built artificial intelligence components makes the service's functionality impressive. With over 200 connectors for integrating disparate data and systems, extensibility is another appealing feature.
8. Nintex- Nintex is a low-code platform for automating workflows and process management. Nintex works to accelerate digital transformation within your organization. Automation tools can be essential to fostering growth in your business.
Is low-code no-code only for large enterprises?
No, that’s not correct.
Low-code and no-code apps are currently being used for complex and small-scale enterprise applications in organizations across the world.
The future of LCNC: a threat or an IT landscape transformation?
Some observers believe that the shift toward LCNC solutions by businesses may jeopardize the careers of software programmers. After the Covid pandemic, when businesses accelerated their digital transformation efforts but were unable to find sufficient talent, LCNC solutions gained popularity. Companies were encouraged to rely on LCNC platforms rather than regular IT vendors by this talent shortage. However, the fear of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) replacing human labor is comparable to the fear of LCNC stealing programming jobs. LCNC will free skilled programmers from repetitive coding functions and reorient them toward high-value roles, just as RPA would only free humans from the iterative and cumbersome work. Because non-technical cohorts can take on the role, LCNC can ease the pressure to hire digital talent in the short term. In addition, it promises to change the IT landscape in the long run by enabling business users to build apps with greater flexibility, speed, and productivity.
The digital world with less code but more revenues
The LCNC market is served by some Indian startups and technology companies, which receive almost 70% of their revenue from foreign sources. In fiscal 2021, LCNC software solutions brought in over $400 million in revenue for Indian startups, according to a recent NASSCOM report. By 2025, this revenue could reach approximately $4 billion, or 10% of the global market, if the right knobs are turned. Despite this, the domestic market stands to benefit greatly. LCNC arrangements are in such popular that Coforge has made a Focal point of Greatness for its LCNC practice. This center generates quick pilots for customer-specific scenarios and provides thought leadership. The majority of the 150 companies operating in the Indian LCNC market are bootstrapped startups. LCNC solutions have helped businesses save up to 65% on costs and 75% on development time.
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