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Low-code is a development practice of creating software applications using visual interfaces and configuration instead of traditional programming enabling developers to design and build applications quickly and efficiently.
An increase in demand for software solutions and a lack of skilled developers has accelerated the adoption of low-code over traditional software development. Forrester reports that '87% of enterprise developers use low-code development platforms for at least some of their development work.' This increase in low-code adoption is being driven by:
An increase in demand for enterprise apps
Businesses are looking to boost productivity, prompting teams to search for solutions that can simplify operations and increase efficiency. This has created a greater need for enterprise applications, but budget and resource constraints make it challenging to build and deploy these apps quickly enough. Low-code platforms allow organizations to do more with less, accelerating time-to-market.
The need to unite business and IT
Bridging the gap between business and IT is key for successful digital transformation. The visual interface of a low-code platform allows business users to collaborate with IT in fusion teams to build applications. Feedback loops and revision tracking enable feedback in real-time to make sure that the final solution meets their specific requirements.
The need to boost business agility
Businesses need to be able to respond quickly to market shifts such as fluctuations in demand and moves from their competitors. The reduced time to market and quick release of changes facilitated by a low-code platform enable this agility so they can keep up.
Ease of use
Low-code makes development accessible to users without coding knowledge. Features like a drag-and-drop interface, pre-built components and simple integration options facilitate citizen development easing the strain on IT. Gartner predicts that "By 2026, developers outside formal IT departments will account for at least 80% of the user base for low-code development tools."
Speed of deployment
Low-code enables users to build and deploy apps fast. Visual interfaces and pre-built components accelerate collaboration and reduce development time and Automated testing also identifies bugs and security issues.
Reduced costs
Low-code can lower costs as apps can be built by users without specialist coding knowledge therefore the business doesn’t need to hire additional professional developers that often come at a premium and are in short supply. Maintenance costs are also lowered as this is typically handled by the vendor.
Improved agility
Low-code supports business agility as changes can be made quickly in response to developments in the market and changing customer needs. Changes to business processes can often be completed by business units without IT support. It’s also easier to integrate new systems into low-code applications because the platforms provide powerful integration capabilities.
Increased productivity
Enabling business users to develop applications with less IT support means that productivity enhancing apps are deployed faster yielding results in a shorter timeframe. IT also see a boost in productivity as they don’t need to manage as many apps, allowing them to reduce their backlog and focus on their most important projects.
Ensure best practice
By using low-code technology to tackle the backlog of requests and enabling business users with the apps they need, IT leaders can reduce shadow IT and ensure that applications used across the organization meet quality and security requirements.
Reduced technical debt
The reusable components within a low-code platform ensure the quality of the final applications and mitigate the need for rework which takes up valuable IT resource and comes at a cost to the business.
Discover more about the benefits of low-code
Visual development
If your seasoned developers are perpetually busy (due to the shortage in professional developers available for hire and your existing team’s increasing workload), it’s necessary to widen the net on who in the organization can build apps. Low-code platforms feature a drag-and-drop interface to facilitate citizen development so business users can build their own solutions, taking pressure off IT and accelerating digital transformation efforts.
Reusable components
Time is of the essence when it comes to creating efficiency-enhancing enterprise apps. Access to a library of pre-built templates and components speeds up the development process and ensures you aren’t left lagging behind your competition. This reusability also ensures that apps meet the required design and functionality standards of the organization to prevent time-consuming rework or dreaded technical debt.
Integration
Keeping day-to-day operations in check is heavily reliant on the vast array of internal and external systems supporting your business interacting with one another effectively. Low-code platforms feature out-of-the-box integration options for common business systems. They also support easy API creation for bespoke systems to ensure your business data is connected and accessible.
Scalability
Driving growth is a primary business goal. You need your technology to support rather than block that growth. Low-code platforms can scale based on your business needs. Cloud infrastructure provides the flexibility to add capacity when needed supporting more users, more data and more transactions while maintaining performance.
Cross-functional collaboration
Nobody knows a process like the people involved in it. It’s important to get the input of these subject matter experts when building an app to manage that process. Low-code technology promotes this collaboration between business and IT in fusion teams and enables users to switch from no-code, low-code, and expert modes according to user expertise. This facilitates users with varying technical knowledge to work together on a project from beginning to end.
Automation capabilities
Reducing manual tasks is a big priority for businesses looking to optimize resource usage and lower costs. Low-code platforms enable the creation of applications that automate end-to-end processes to reduce the need for human input and accelerate process completion.
Cross-device functionality
Employees and customers aren’t always interacting with your app on a laptop. For applications to deliver real business value, you need them to be accessible whether they’re double screening on the sofa or checking in on things during their flight to the board meeting. A low-code platform will allow you to build applications that are available on any device by default ensuring consistent user experiences without having to invest more time and resource into development.
The primary difference between low-code and no-code development is that low-code development uses some script in the development process whereas no-code requires absolutely no coding.
The ability to include some code in low-code development enables greater customization and makes this approach suited for more complex applications. No-code however, tends to be limited to more simple applications. Which approach you take is completely dependent on your resource and specific business needs.
Low-code uses a visual interface and pre-built components to enable users of any technical skill level to create applications. In contrast, high-code requires experienced developers to write code from scratch.
A low-code approach often results in lower costs as it facilitates citizen development saving on professional developer salaries, faster time-to-market due to shorter development cycles, and less maintenance as the platform provider often manages this.
See how companies have put Bizagi’s low-code platform to use
Low-code’s popularity is showing no signs of slowing down. With a 31% CAGR, the global low-code development market will generate $187 billion by 2030 (GlobeNewswire). As businesses continue to look for ways to meet increasing demand for enterprise applications while dealing with a shortage of skilled developers, low-code adoption will continue to grow.
Low-code platforms are also increasingly becoming tied to the proliferation of AI. Artificial Intelligence will deliver the most impact when tied directly into business processes and the apps that employees use every day. Low-code platforms are one of the best ways to make that a reality and unlock the power of AI for the enterprise.
Low-code development can be used by professional developers to streamline the development process by taking advantage of creating and sharing components that can be reused to build different applications. It is also a tool for citizen developers across the organization to use these components to create their own solutions without relying on IT.
The role of citizen developers is important, because these are the people who often have the subject matter expertise. They understand the way the business works or needs to work in order to meet goals or regulations. A platform that enables them to get involved in application creation through effective teamwork with IT is a powerful way to deliver meaningful business results without months or years of delay.
For more low-code examples what our customers have built using low-code
Although low-code can be leveraged to reduce time and effort spent on writing simple script, this development approach will not completely replace traditional development as there are more complex functionalities that require custom coding from a professional developer. No-code, Low-code and Pro-code (or high-code) all have a place in the enterprise.
Yes, a good low-code platform will include pre-built connectors to integrate with common business systems and a simple way to manage APIs for bespoke integrations. Low-code platforms are often used as a tool to tie together multiple business technologies in order to manage the end-to-end process.
Many low-code development platforms have security and governance measures built in allowing IT to set and manage access rights, automation and data. The best low-code platforms will be cloud-native, offering the full security benefits of being housed within a secure ecosystem such as Microsoft Azure.
Apps built using a low-code development platform are mobile friendly from the outset as the platform is designed to create solutions that deliver consistent user experiences across devices.
Identifying use cases, considering who will work on the project and their skills and forecasting future needs should all be considered when searching for a low-code provider. For a comprehensive guide on choosing the right platform for your project, read our guide.
Low-Code Governance: Why it Matters and How to Get it Right
Discover the importance of governing your low-code initiative and guidance on how to do it.
Low-Code ROI: Demonstrating the Value of Low-Code Platforms
Learn how to measure the value driven by your low-code project and discover the ROI delivered by some of our customers.
Low-Code Challenges (And Solutions)
Read about the potential challenges of low-code and how to address them.
