Low-code or no-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular among businesses looking to quickly create software applications easily without needing to use traditional coding. According to Gartner, “By 2025, 70% of new applications developed by organizations will use low-code or no-code technologies.”
The increased use of this piece of technology could mean that low-code platforms are becoming the norm for businesses looking to develop and maintain custom applications. For businesses wishing to stay competitive and ahead of the game, making the switch to low-code/no-code platforms can be a great way to do so.
In this article, we will examine the advantages and disadvantages associated with low-code/no-code platforms so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you.
What Is Low-Code?
Low-code platforms are revolutionary tools that help businesses accelerate their development process. By providing developers with easy to use drag-and-drop features, these platforms allow users to quickly and efficiently create apps and services without having to write code from scratch.
Depending on the platform, these technologies can provide a low barrier of entry for those who don’t have the technical skills to develop their own software. This makes low-code great for businesses who want to quickly develop applications without having to spend a lot of money on hiring developers. Of course, even low-code requires some technical acumen and specialized knowledge of the low-code platform and how to architect applications.
Low-Code vs No-Code Platforms
Low-code and no-code platforms are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction between the two. Low-code often allows more customization and allows code to play a role in the development of applications, whereas no-code platforms tend to rely more on visual development and require less understanding of coding.
No-code platforms are a great option for businesses who are looking to quickly deploy an application, but low-code provides more flexibility and control over the development process.
Some platforms on the market are a hybrid of these two types–combining the flexibility of low-code and the ease of use of no-code providing easier development for simple designs, but also enough sophistication to handle more advanced application requirements.
The Pros of a Low-Code Platform
There are several advantages to using low-code platforms for your business, including:
1. Increased Agility and Speed
Low-code makes it much easier and faster to build applications, which can help a business get products out faster and reduce development time. By eliminating the need to write code from scratch, low-code helps businesses move faster and be more agile in their development process.
2. Reduced Costs
Using low-code software can help businesses reduce costs associated with development. Hiring more traditional developers or purchasing expensive ‘off-the-shelf’ software licenses is an expensive commitment to maintain. But low-code makes it much easier for businesses to develop applications without having to invest heavily in development resources.
3. Increased Efficiency
With low-code, developers can quickly create complex applications many times faster than with traditional coding using pre-existing ‘stacks’ of functionality. This helps businesses save time and effort, allowing them to focus on other core aspects of their business.
The Cons of a Low-Code Platform
While low-code platforms are great for businesses that want to quickly develop applications, there are some drawbacks to consider:
1. Limited Customization Options
Low-code provides a pre-built set of features and templates which can limit the level of customization available. This means businesses may need more flexibility to fully customize to meet their specific needs. Some platforms are more capable of customization than others. Beware of rigid low-code systems – the market is full of these offerings so buyer beware.
2. Security Risks
Since a low-code platform is designed for quick development, there is a risk of introducing security vulnerabilities into an application if it’s not properly designed and carefully tested before deployment. Moving quickly without regard for security could place your organization at risk.
Businesses must thoughtfully construct software solutions and conduct thorough security testing before deploying low-code applications to ensure they are safe and secure.
3. Difficulty With Scalability
Some low-code platforms may not be able to handle large scale projects, as they are tailored with specific use cases in mind. Rigid systems that limit designs to fit within simplistic models will frustrate your efforts. Find low-code platforms that are built for enterprise-grade scalability and complexity.
Accelerate Your Business Growth and Leave the Coding to ExpressAbility
Entering the complex low-code platform arena with little to no experience can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Yet, positioning your organization to benefit from these technologies is important to your success. Low-code software can help businesses quickly and cost-effectively develop projects, reduce the backlog, and make processes run more collaboratively.
At ExpressAbility we use Decisions, a workflow automation partner that offers a robust low-code solution, to help businesses create applications that are fast, secure, and reliable. Our low-code platform makes it easy to build complex applications quickly, allowing our clients to achieve growth and reach their business goals.
We’ll provide the expertise and resources you need to create perfect applications for your needs. Start the process towards greater efficiency today and learn more about how low-code can help you accelerate your business growth. We’ll make sure the low-code platform is taken care of, so you can focus on what matters most—growing your business!
