What are the do’s and don’ts for success with low-code/no-code platforms?

Low-code/no-code platforms have gained a lot of attention as a way to meet the growing demand for software development as digital transformation continues.

These platforms are designed to streamline app development with intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates, enabling non-technical users to build custom applications and integrations without writing code.

Growth is possible for the platforms, largely attributed to enterprise-wide hyper-automation and composable business initiatives. According to research by GartnerThe global market for low-code development technologies is expected to reach $26.9 billion this year, an increase of 19.6% from 2022.

Low-code/no-code platforms offer several advantages, but are not without obstacles and challenges. The tools can create an overreliance on the low-code/no-code vendor. While the technology has made inroads into simple workflow integrations with cloud services, it can falter as more complex projects get underway. Security and management of low-code deployments can lag as citizen developers rapidly launch applications.

Still, the low-code/no-code paradigm is gaining traction.

Low-code/no-code demystification: the reality behind the hype

Low-code/no-code platforms have been around in various forms for decades, but have only become so popular in recent years. This popularity can be attributed to the increasing digital transformation, leading companies to embrace cloud-based platforms and services. Low-code/no-code platforms provide accessible solutions for companies that want to develop and integrate custom applications without investing in more developers.

“The low-code market has evolved with the ability to connect to more tools and technologies,” Jessica D’Oliveira, analyst at research and consulting firm Forrester, VentureBeat told me. “The standard capabilities have not changed, but have gone deeper into user experiences, data management and process automation.”

D’Oliveira said low-code is effective for businesses of all sizes. But companies must embrace digital transformation and be prepared to adapt their organizations to adopt low-code approaches.

Business and developer needs are similar across enterprises and the startup/small business segments of the market, she said. In fact, developer tools are going through the same evolution as business user tools.

“Low-code/no-code platforms are rapidly maturing and growing to integrate with other artificial intelligence technologies called TuringBots that develop apps for you. This is not just changing low-code/no-code, but development for all methodologies,” explains D’Oliveira.

According to Shiva Nathan, founder and CEO of application development platform Onymos, low code/no code has become more sophisticated and accessible over the last decade. Still, he advises caution.

Workflow sees low-code/no-code entries

Nathan told VentureBeat, “Low code/no code is especially attractive during the boom part of the economic cycle, when the need for software projects, i.e. software engineers, is high.” Driving interest in low-code/no-code is a need for more technical talent, which is where the new tooling models generally help.

But one company stands out right now: These tools have found their greatest adoption in workflow automation programs, Nathan indicated.

“Workflow automation platforms are also low-code/no-code, and most sales and marketing teams today use them to automate their campaigns or gauge their user base,” he said. “Pragmatists can bet that low-code/no-code will continue to be a good resource for such use cases.”

Likewise James Glover, general manager of AI at personalized marketing platform Movable inksaid one of the main misconceptions is that simply adopting a low-code/no-code platform automatically improves content production and eliminates any inefficiencies in getting to market.

While it will certainly help in that regard, organizations still need a clear roadmap for exactly how they will integrate these technologies into their existing tech ecosystems and how this will affect their users.

“It is important to note that low-code solutions will not completely eliminate functions within the organization. The most successful companies realize that using a low-code solution empowers, not replaces, their workforce,” Glover told VentureBeat. “Another misconception is that it takes a huge implementation cycle to get there. This is not the case – [these solutions are] to implement faster than people think.”

Glover added that these platforms enable personalization and that personalization is arguably driving a huge increase.

“Because it’s automated and code-free, you can run clear A/B tests that demonstrate the benefits of the no-code automated solution compared to more traditional approaches. Using these platforms to optimize measurement capabilities and generate revenue are important ways for CTOs and CEOs to get the most benefit from these solutions,” he said.

What is fueling the low-code/no-code movement?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major shift to a digital-first approach for many companies. Low-code/no-code platforms address these highly demanding changes by enabling rapid deployment of applications, often within weeks, much faster than developing them from scratch. This is especially important for small and medium-sized companies that don’t have the budget for traditional large-scale development efforts.

Critics argue that these platforms limit application customizability and often result in a product that doesn’t fully meet the needs of the business. But a technology executive at a leading provider of business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services believes this narrow view overlooks important benefits.

Balakrishna DR, popularly known as Bali, Executive Vice President and Global Head of AI, Automation and ECS at infosyssaid he believes low-code/no-code platforms will become even more prominent in the context of current technological advancements.

“Low code/no code enables organizations to achieve business agility and cost optimization through the evolution of verticals – including experience design, digital experience and application platforms, digital process automation, business productivity and data science and AI,” Bali told VentureBeat.

Infosys, Bali said, saw these benefits when it helped create low-code mobile compliance tools for sales and relationship managers at a leading UK commercial and corporate banking services provider. By using this platform for more than 7,000 executives in 58 countries, the company reduced administrative staff costs by 50-60% and increased app adoption by 30% in less than five months, he said.

Another underrated resource in many low-code/no-code platforms is the ability to seamlessly integrate with other tools and technologies, such as project management tools, CRMs, and databases. This makes it easier for companies to build end-to-end solutions.

Best practices predict long-term success

Low-code/no-code platforms are not without limitations. First, as with any technology, there are still major concerns about security and data privacy.

“Decentralizing application development to business users carries the risk of proliferating applications in the environment that are not developed according to corporate standards. Applications deployed without following proper development standards risk introducing security or compliance issues into the environment,” said David McIntire, engagement director, Application Managed Services, Capgemini America.

McIntire recommends that companies review a platform’s potential risks and define the standards and governance for using the platform before rolling it out to retail developers.

“Spend the time at the beginning of an assignment defining the structures and processes that govern the use of the platform,” McIntire told VentureBeat. “Defining the training required for citizen developers, the standards around security and data, the processes for delivering new applications and the review process are all essential to using low code/no code to improve time-to-market and application quality. balance.”

Likewise Liran Hason, CEO and co-founder of the AI ​​model monitoring platform Aporia, said that allowing departments outside of core R&D to access creating automation through low-code/no-code platforms will result in increased efficiency and productivity. But Hason acknowledged “the security aspect of using these tools with minimal standardization, especially when it comes to permissions and misconfigurations.”

“To combat these fears,” Hason said, “create the right infrastructure and equip your security teams with visibility to easily examine the benefit versus risk of these tools.”

Hason got to the heart of the matter by saying it’s easier to train and educate non-technical staff on how to use an app than it is to learn computer science.

The movement is nothing less, he said, than the next step in democratizing software engineering.