Web marketing and digitalized services have become the need of the hour as they enable businesses to offer better support and grab the attention of existing and potential customers more effectively. It’s because of these services, businesses of all sizes are launching their own business applications to reach more people and boost their revenues. However, for the smooth functioning of these applications, businesses need to ensure a high-quality application development cycle. Application development is a complex and comprehensive process. Earlier, there were only two ways to create new information systems – custom app development and purchasing readymade applications.
- Custom application development is suitable for meeting business-specific requirements. However, the process often demands a reliable and dedicated development team, expertise, budget, time, and effort. Partnering with an enterprise app development company can help businesses build, introduce, and market products on time.
- Purchasing readymade applications is a budget-friendly option and facilitates faster delivery. However, prebuilt or off-the-shelf applications may or may not meet all business-specific requirements or desired functions.
The third option that has recently revolutionized the application development process is low-code or no-code development (LC/NC). Businesses and developers who want to fast-track digital transformation and shorten coding procedures choose to go with low-code or no-code development.
According to Gartner, the need for enterprise app development is expected to grow at least 5x faster than internal IT departments’ capacity to deliver them. The Low-code or No-code approach speeds up the software development cycle by enabling involvement, automation, collaboration, and feasibility.
If you’re looking to go forward with LC/NC methodology for your business mobile app, you can hire mobile app developers from us to build powerful mobile apps.
An Introduction to Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
The LC/NC methodology has emerged as one of the most popular, faster, and easier alternatives for the software development cycle. According to Gartner, 65% of software development will be low-code by 2024.
Low-code or No-code platforms are typically visual application development environments on the cloud where you can build and modify applications with little or no coding experience. Developers of various levels of expertise or even a layman can simply drag and drop components, connect them, and build a web or mobile application seamlessly. App components can be tested repeatedly and rearranged until they work in the desired manner.
Traditionally, the software development cycle demanded high coding skills, which led to long waiting times for new application developments and updates, as this task was limited to professional app developers.
By flattening the learning curve significantly, LC/NC platforms have resulted in the emergence of citizen developers or non-technical people. This further enables departments to collaborate with IT experts to make sure that the right technology is in place and reduce the workload on the IT department.
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Pros and Cons of Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Pros of LC/NC Platforms
One of the most essential elements of enterprise app development in this digital era is how quickly you can respond to the changing market conditions. Low-code or No-code accelerates the application development cycle in numerous ways. Here are some of the advantages of using this methodology in web and mobile app development services and solutions:
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Simple and Easy Interface
Traditionally used programming languages are quite difficult to comprehend and demand higher levels of expertise. This makes code debugging a time-taking and expensive affair. LC/NC platforms have a user-friendly interface that helps developers easily identify mistakes in the app and rectify them.
An easy-to-use interface makes development more accessible even outside IT departments, which leads to more involvement. According to Gartner’s predictions, by 2024, 80% of technology products and services will be established by non-technical professionals.
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Low/No Coding
The minimal coding requirements of LC/NC platforms enable non-technical users to quickly learn to use the platforms, and organizations can effectively utilize their existing skillset. Users can build or customize apps by employing prebuilt templates, widgets, and plugins.
LC/NC modules not only allow citizen developers to build their own applications but also relieve professional developers from the stress of writing codes line by line. This makes their tasks much easier.
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Greater Agility and Faster Deployment
The Low-code or No-code approach expedites the productivity of IT teams by making the overall app development process faster. An enterprise app development company should incorporate this methodology into its web or mobile app development services and solutions.
The simple and easy interface increases the possibility of more involvement in the development cycle which facilitates faster deployment. LC/NC platforms can reduce the application development time by 90%.
Cons of LC/NC Platforms
No doubt Low-code/No-code platforms ensure faster software development, however, before you hire mobile app developers or web app developers, consider these limitations of these platforms.
Customization and Integration Limitations
- Different platforms come with different customization options. Low-code platforms depend on out-of-the-box functionalities which make the development process more restricted. While some platforms allow you to make necessary alterations using the underlying code, others offer limited customization options only.
- Heavy dependence on these platforms also supports integration with in-house or third-party services. Hence, a business may not achieve its business-specific functionalities every time.
Security Concerns
- As there’s a lack of control over the source code, LC/NC platforms depend largely on platform providers to deal with any security flaws which are identified. So, if these platform providers liquidate, new security updates won’t be released and businesses won’t be able to fix any issues.
- Furthermore, data and systems might be at risk as they are exposed to platform providers. Also, other departments can also adopt low-code tools and build their own shadow IT, thereby creating security risks.
Vendor Lock-ins
- One of the major concerns about low-code/no-code software is vendor lock-ins. Some platforms make use of open code and frameworks, which allow applications to be maintained even outside the platforms.
- However, vendors lock their users into their software in multiple ways, such as including convoluted code or setting limitations on editing and customization if they stop using the tool. Today, nearly 37% of organizations are majorly concerned about the risk of vendor lock-in.
Common LC/NC Use Cases
The benefit of the dynamic nature of low-code or no-code is evident from the organizational perspective. Other than IT teams, every department can leverage the benefits of LC/NC platforms. Here are some common LC/NC use cases by business functions.
Human Resources
As LC/NC apps are user-friendly and easily built, they provide scalable, affordable, and convenient HR automation. Moreover, several HR processes can be optimized, such as filtration of candidates, recruitment, performance evaluation, or even developing training programs as per the specific needs.
Manufacturing
Low-code/No-code helps make the most of Internet of Things (IoT) networks and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). It can be employed to make business operations seamless and efficient by modeling or automating processes, from handling raw materials to packaging finished products to shipping.
Finance and Accounting
LC.NC applications can significantly save time for finance and accounting teams. Businesses or financial firms can map workflows, analyze profits and expenses, automate reporting and approvals, and build portals to guide their business clients through various procedures.
Things to Consider
Whether the pros of LC/NC platforms outweigh the limitations or not depends majorly on your business requirements. While many businesses are taking a leap towards low-or-no-code methodologies, coding is still unmatched when it comes to performance optimization and personalization.
An enterprise app development company generally practices standard development for applications that need vast functionalities, strict governance, and deployment to unique architectures or environments. However, LC/NC techniques remain preferable for faster app deployment.
Businesses and IT developers can make the most out of both options based on the circumstances. As a leading mobile app development company, we offer a comprehensive range of iOS and Android app development services incorporating all the possible technological innovations such as LC/NC techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Low-Code Application Platforms?
An enterprise low-code application platform offers faster app development and deployment using LC/NC techniques such as declarative, model-driven app design and development together with the one-click deployment of apps.
2. What is the difference between low code and no code?
Low-code software is meant for developers. These platforms demand technical knowledge and enable professional coders to work faster. On the other hand, No-code platforms are aimed at target business users with little to no coding experience.
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