Low Code platforms offer rapid prototyping, streamlined workflows, and empowerment for non-technical users. Whether you’re a startup seeking rapid prototyping, an enterprise aiming for streamlined workflows, or a business wanting to empower non-technical users, there are interesting opportunities out there that should be explored.

Low code development has emerged as a transformative approach, empowering businesses to expedite their software development processes while minimizing reliance on traditional programming methods. In this guide, we delve into the depths of low code development, exploring its intricacies, benefits, and the plethora of options available to software teams.

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How Tech Companies Leverage Low Code?

Low code and high code development approaches serve distinct purposes within the software development landscape and are often viewed as complementary rather than direct competitors.

High code development is typically employed for building complex, mission-critical applications that necessitate detailed customization and optimization.
Low code development platforms are favored for quickly prototyping ideas, automating routine tasks, and crafting moderately complex applications with minimal coding expertise.

While high code development offers unparalleled customization and control, it often demands more time, resources, and technical proficiency to develop and maintain applications. Conversely, low code development prioritizes speed, agility, and user-friendliness, facilitating faster time-to-market and enhanced accessibility for non-technical users.

Both can be strategically combined to optimize the software development process. For instance, companies may leverage low code platforms for rapid prototyping and task automation, while employing high code development for crafting intricate, mission-critical components requiring custom logic and optimization.

FAQ on Low Code Development

What is Low Code Development?

Low code development is a methodology that enables users to build software applications with minimal hand-coding, typically through the use of visual interfaces, drag-and-drop components, and declarative tools.

Why is Low Code Development Important for Software Companies?

Low code development streamlines the software development lifecycle, accelerates time-to-market, and empowers citizen developers and business users to actively participate in the creation of custom solutions.

Who Uses Low Code Development?

Low code development is utilized by a diverse range of organizations, spanning from startups and SMBs to large enterprises across various industries. It caters to individuals with varying levels of technical expertise, facilitating collaboration between IT and business teams.

When Should You Consider Using Low Code Development?

You should consider leveraging low code development when you need to rapidly prototype ideas, automate repetitive tasks, or address evolving business requirements with agility and efficiency.

Where Can You Find Low Code Development Platforms?

Low code development platforms are available from numerous vendors, each offering unique features and capabilities. From comprehensive enterprise solutions to niche offerings tailored for specific use cases, the market is brimming with options to suit diverse requirements.

How Does Low Code Development Work?

Low code development platforms provide users with intuitive interfaces and pre-built components, allowing them to visually design, customize, and deploy applications. These platforms abstract away the complexities of traditional coding, enabling rapid development and iteration.

What Are the Benefits of Low Code Development?

Low code development offers a myriad of benefits, including accelerated development cycles, reduced costs, increased collaboration, enhanced scalability, and greater agility in responding to market demands.

Comparing the Available Options

Low Code Development Platforms

Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodologies facilitate the quick creation of custom applications, empowering businesses to innovate and adapt to changing market demands.

Rapid Application Development Tools provide cloud-based platforms for rapid prototyping, enhancing user experience and speeding up the development cycle. These platforms offer drag and drop interfaces that make it easy for users to build and customize their own business applications, reducing reliance on traditional coding.

Visual LansaCreatioGenexus

Visual drag-and-drop interface, integration with backend systems, multi-experience application support. Lansa opens companies to accelerated modernization efforts, enhanced user experience, seamless integration with existing infrastructure. Therefore it can have rapid application development for businesses seeking to modernize legacy systems.

Pros:

Rapid development of enterprise applications using a visual, drag-and-drop interface.
Support for multi-platform development, including web, mobile, and desktop applications.
Integration with backend systems and databases for seamless data management.

Cons:

Limited community support and resources compared to more widely adopted platforms.
Learning curve for users unfamiliar with the Visual Lansa environment.

Process automation, CRM functionality, low-code development environment. Creatio is useful when automating business processes and managing customer relationships. As a result, companies often find they can offer improved customer engagement, faster time-to-market for CRM solutions.

Pros:

Comprehensive low code platform for building business process automation and CRM solutions.
Extensive library of pre-built templates and industry-specific solutions.
Unified platform for marketing, sales, and service automation.

Cons:

Pricing may be prohibitive for small businesses or startups.
Customization options may be limited for highly specialized requirements.

Model-driven development, code generation, support for multiple platforms. Genexus is useful to build cross-platform applications with minimal coding. This allows for increased development speed, broader reach across devices, and reduced maintenance efforts.

Pros:

Rapid application development using a model-driven approach.
Multi-platform support for web, mobile, and desktop applications.
Integration with various databases and backend systems for seamless data connectivity.

Cons:

Complexity in managing larger projects or applications with extensive requirements.
Learning curve for new users, especially those transitioning from traditional development environments.

Workflow Automation Platforms

At company level, businesses can leverage automation to significantly reduce costs associated with manual processes and improve overall efficiency. Workflow Automation Solutions save valuable time for professional developers. The automated workflow capabilities of modern software solutions allows them to focus their time on building custom applications.

KISSFLOWQuixy

Intuitive interface, drag-and-drop workflow builder, customizable forms. Kissflow is Ideal for streamlining workflow automation. It accelerates process automation, enhances collaboration, and improves operational efficiency.

Pros:

User-friendly interface, making it accessible to non-technical users.
Rapid deployment of workflow automation solutions.
Integration with third-party apps for enhanced functionality.

Cons:

Limited customization options for complex workflows.
Pricing based on user count can become expensive for larger teams.

Visual form builder, workflow automation engine, business rule editor. Quixy is best suited for creating custom applications. It Enables the creation of custom applications without extensive coding, enhances productivity, and promotes innovation.

Pros:

Extensive library of pre-built templates for rapid application development.
Advanced workflow automation capabilities.
User-friendly interface, suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Cons:

Long learning curve to complex workflows and advanced features.
Limited customization options for highly specialized requirements.

Enterprise Application Platforms

Cloud-based enterprise application development platforms provide scalable solutions for building, deploying, and managing business applications across diverse industries. They enable users to build robust business applications with seamless data integration and reduced costs.

OutSystemsSalesforce Lightning

Full-stack development environment, visual modeling tools, built-in security features. OutSystems is designed for building enterprise-grade applications with complex business logic and integrations. It enables the rapid development and deployment of scalable, mission-critical applications.

Pros:

Full-stack development environment for building complex enterprise applications.
Extensive integrations with enterprise systems and legacy databases.
Robust security features for protecting sensitive data.

Cons:

Licensing costs may be prohibitive for small teams or startups.
Steeper learning curve, especially for beginners or those unfamiliar with the platform.

Lightning App Builder, Lightning Components framework, declarative development model. Salesfoce Lightening is tailored for extending Salesforce CRM functionalities and developing custom applications. By doing so, it facilitates the creation of customized CRM solutions and business applications within the Salesforce ecosystem.

Pros:

Seamless integration with Salesforce CRM, extending its functionalities.
Extensive marketplace of pre-built components and third-party integrations.
Robust security model for protecting customer data.

Cons:

Limited customization options outside of the Salesforce ecosystem.
Dependency on Salesforce platform updates and releases.

Database Application Builders

Database Application Builders are software tools or platforms that enable users to create custom database applications without extensive coding knowledge. These tools typically provide intuitive interfaces and drag-and-drop functionalities for designing database schemas, creating forms, defining workflows, and generating reports.

AirtableKintone

Flexible database structure, visual data modeling, collaborative workspace. Airtable is great for creating custom databases, project management tools, and collaborative workflows. It impacts product development by empowering users to build custom database applications without coding, enhances team collaboration and data management.

Pros:

Intuitive interface for creating custom databases and project management tools.
Flexible database structure and visual data modeling capabilities.
Extensive integration options for connecting with other tools and services.

Cons:

Limited scalability for complex applications with large datasets.
Pricing based on user count can become costly for larger teams.

Visual application builder, form designer, workflow automation engine. Kintone is geared towards building custom business applications, workflow automation, and data management solutions. It allows the development of tailored business applications, streamlines workflow processes, and improves data visibility.

Pros:

Flexible platform with customizable features for building tailored business applications.
Comprehensive security controls for protecting sensitive data.
API integrations for connecting with other systems and services.

Cons:

Limited advanced customization options compared to some other platforms.
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Learning curve for complex workflows and integrations, especially for new users.

10 Steps Toward Using Low Code Development

Embarking on your low code development journey is an exciting endeavor that holds the promise of enhanced productivity and innovation within your organization. Here’s a step-by-step guide to kickstart your low code initiatives:

Define Your Objectives: Clearly outline your goals and objectives for adopting low code development within your organization.
Evaluate Platform Options: Research and evaluate different low code development platforms based on your project requirements, budget, and scalability needs.
Training and Onboarding: Provide comprehensive training to your team members to familiarize them with the chosen platform and its capabilities.
Start Small: Begin with pilot projects or smaller initiatives to gain hands-on experience and validate the effectiveness of low code development for your organization.
Iterate and Refine: Continuously iterate on your projects, gather feedback from stakeholders, and refine your processes to optimize efficiency and outcomes.
Collaborate Across Teams: Foster collaboration between IT, business, and development teams to leverage collective expertise and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Monitor Performance: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success and impact of your low code development initiatives, and make data-driven decisions accordingly.
Scale Gradually: As you gain confidence and experience with low code development, scale up your efforts gradually and explore more complex use cases and applications.
Stay Informed: Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the realm of low code development to remain competitive and innovative.
Seek Expert Assistance: If needed, seek assistance from external partners or consultants with expertise in low code development to overcome challenges and drive success.

Ready to Get Started?

Ready to embark on your low code journey? Ubiminds is here to support you every step of the way. Reach out to us today to learn more about our talent-as-a-service solutions and how we can help you harness the power of low code development for your organization.

Scheila Farias Silveira

International Marketing Leader, specialized in tech. Proud to have built marketing and business generation structures for some of the fastest-growing SaaS companies on both sides of the Atlantic (UK, DACH, Iberia, LatAm, and NorthAm). Big fan of motherhood, world music, marketing, and backpacking. A little bit nerdy too!

Low Code Development: The Efficient Way to Build Software