Rapid, smooth, and continuous digital transformation has become necessary for enterprises across the board to stay competitive. In this regard, ‘low code no code’ (LCNC) platforms are proving to be a boon for organizations in overcoming the scarcity of skilled developers and accelerating productivity. Besides the constant need for innovation, the global shift towards remote work is another factor behind the recent surge in the adoption of these platforms. Gartner says the LCNC market will reach $37.2 billion by 2025. The figure reinforces that these platforms are revolutionizing how organizations approach software application development.
Business-critical benefits of LCNC
The allure of LCNC platforms lies in their ability to empower individuals with limited or no programming expertise to build software applications quickly with little assistance.
The allure of LCNC platforms lies in their ability to empower individuals with limited or no programming expertise to build software applications quickly with little assistance. Here are a few major reasons organizations are opting for LCNC platforms:
- Faster development: LCNC platforms reduce the time and resources required for application development, enabling enterprises to bring solutions to market at an accelerated pace.
- Cost-effectiveness: These platforms provide substantial cost savings by minimizing the need for extensive coding and development, particularly for organizations without dedicated development teams.
- User-friendly interface: Designed with user-friendliness, LCNC platforms offer intuitive interfaces that eliminate the need for complex programming languages or tools, making application development accessible to a broader range of users.
- Enhanced agility: With the ability to rapidly build and iterate applications, organizations can swiftly adapt to changing business requirements and market conditions.
- Empowering business users: LCNC platforms enable business users, such as analysts or citizen developers, to take charge of application development without relying on IT. This fosters autonomy and productivity within an enterprise.
Key differences between low code and no code
Low-code and no-code development share the common objective of enabling software development without extensive coding. However, as their name suggests, they exhibit key differences. A thorough understanding of these is crucial for leveraging the platforms optimally:
| Low code | No code | |
|---|---|---|
| Customization | More customization options, allowing developers to add custom functionality or integrate with other systems through coding | Fewer customization options, resulting in limited flexibility to add functionalities or integrate |
| Target audience | Primarily professional developers seeking to accelerate the development process and minimize repetitive tasks | Mostly non-technical users, such as business analysts or citizen developers, who wish to create applications independently |
| Complexity | Capable of supporting the development of relatively more complex applications | Typically used for developing relatively simpler applications and workflows |
| Learning curve | Requires a certain level of technical skills and familiarity with coding concepts | Prioritizes user-friendliness and requires minimum to no coding experience and expertise |
| Cost | Tends to be more expensive due to relatively greater complexity and scope | Comparatively less expensive owing to the relatively limited scope |
Considerations for embracing LCNC
The advantage and benefits of LCNC platforms cannot be understated. However cliched it may sound, indeed, one size doesn’t fit all. So is the case with LCNC. While LCNC platforms offer numerous benefits, enterprises must consider the following factors before adopting LCNC platforms:
- Limitations: LCNC platforms may not suffice for incorporating all business-specific requirements into the developed application. Besides, the application developed using an LCNC platform may not integrate seamlessly with existing systems due to inherent limitations.
- Performance: Handling high volumes of data or complex processes exceeds the capabilities of LCNC platforms, resulting in performance issues or scalability limitations.
- Security: Thoroughly vetting the security policy of LCNC platforms is imperative to prevent the exposure of sensitive data or privacy vulnerabilities.
- Support: While LCNC platforms strive to be user-friendly, some users may still have a learning curve. Therefore, the availability and quality of support, which varies across different platforms, are crucial for optimum results.
- Vendor lock-in: Adopting an LCNC platform may tie organizations to a specific vendor or technology, potentially limiting their flexibility to switch to alternative platforms in the future. Studying all relevant policy clauses and their implications is necessary to avoid lock-in.
- Feasibility: LCNC platforms are cost-effective in the short term. However, their long-term feasibility varies with the business objective and scale. Organizations must evaluate their potential expense as their requirements and usage grow. Understanding and comparing different platforms' pricing and scalability options is key in this regard.
Choosing the right LCNC platform
Selecting the most suitable LCNC platform for your organization requires careful evaluation of your specific requirements, budget, and level of technical expertise. It is essential to assess multiple platforms, compare their features and pricing and consider their alignment with your organization's long-term goals before deciding.
That said, a wide range of LCNC platforms are available. Each has its some strengths and features. Here is a glimpse of the most popular LCNC products:
| LC | NC |
|---|---|
| Appian | Bubble |
| Mendix | Google AppSheet |
| Nintex | Microsoft Power Apps |
| OutSystems | QuickBase |
| Salesforce Lightning | |
| Zoho Creator |
Conclusion
LCNC is not the next big thing poised to trigger yet another technological disruption; it is very much the current big thing and is revolutionizing digital transformation for enterprises across the board. Organizations with a deeper understanding of its benefits and implications can better decide whether they need one and for what.
