The pandemic has expedited businesses’ need to digitally transform. Surging digital demands paired with talent shortages while using legacy technologies have made it nearly impossible for businesses to keep pace with change, innovate, and stay ahead of the competition.
To meet these challenges, organizations need technologies that make it easier to build applications and streamline workflows. The answer? Low code development. Low-code approaches have emerged as one of the most promising ways for businesses of any size to ignite their growth and compete against behemoths. In fact, 84% of enterprises have turned toward low-code for its ability to reduce strain on IT resources, increase speed-to-market, and involve the business in digital asset development.
In particular, a new category of low code technology has emerged that combines app development with application integration and application programming interface (API) management. Leveraging low code for end-to-end app development and comprehensive integration empowers non-technical people to easily build and deploy business applications with enterprise-grade features that can connect to any system, custom design interface.
Allow me to share five lesser known benefits about low code and top questions IT leaders should ask if they are looking to deploy this technology.
- Improved runtime across workflows
When low code comes to mind, many assume that it is the ability to solve a problem or part of a problem, in particular user interface. But—one of the key benefits they often overlook is the runtime aspects in the workflow you built to solve the problem. With low code, IT teams are able to build applications quickly and not worry about maintaining the infrastructure. Low code application platforms provide a “drag and drop” application tool that minimizes the need to provision or install servers. As a result, all back end systems are replaced with more easy-to-use features.
With that also comes easier human-led management of business systems. By automating workflows, you can cut down on the complexity that workers need to deal with which allows them to focus on higher-value tasks for the organization.
- The broad application uses of low code
When people think of low code, they also think of how it applies to application building. However, low code is much broader as it applies to integration, APIs, and application builders, to name a few. With API integration tools that use low code technology, it is faster and easier for organizations to integrate their service management systems.
Another area that benefits from low code is intelligent document processing. When a document is processed, many companies use autoform from various vendors to ensure the contents of the document are correctly populated. With low-code drag and drop tools, this document can be validated seamlessly through automation rather than from humans.
- Reduced dependence on IT teams
With low code application platforms, the dependence on IT is significantly reduced. If IT teams or CIOs need to build all of the web-based and mobile applications themselves, they would need to hire front-end developers, which are the most expensive resources. Organizations with limited IT resources would then be unable to attract top talent to create high-quality products. Low code helps organizations reduce their dependence on developers to write code in their domains of expertise. IT teams can create, deploy, and deliver products with minimal coding skills.
With an end-to-end low code platform, companies of any size can create and execute secure and scalable digital experiences within days or even within hours at a fraction of the cost without technical expertise. This also helps address the looming tech talent shortage that many organizations are facing today. According to Gartner, 80 percent of technology products and services will be built by those who are not technology professionals by 2024, signifying that tools like low code technology will be essential to fuel organization’s innovation and growth.
- More abilities for composable enterprises
Low code platforms help enable the ability for a “composable enterprise,” an organization that chooses between a range of apps and tools to create a competitive advantage. With a composable enterprise, companies can take many different problems and create solutions for them using API integrations. This allows organizations to create unified infrastructure that streamlines the use of applications as opposed to a fragmented experience that would result if they were each utilized in various silos. This is especially important as organizations connect their on-premises systems with cloud-based enterprise applications. In turn, they can reap the benefits of more efficient workflows, leading to happier employees and an increase in satisfaction among consumers.
Further, the ability to connect applications easily across systems and workflows will enable hyperautomation, resulting in increased efficiency and consistency, fewer human errors, and better intelligence. Low code is central to the vision of composable enterprises and further, hyperautomation by connecting to workflows.
- Helps business technologists innovate faster
Business technologists sitting outside of IT are increasingly developing applications. Unfortunately, these projects may not adhere to an organization’s corporate governance or security protocols, which can lead to greater risks. Low code programming helps drive innovation within the business technologist world much faster. With low code tools, business and IT teams are able to discover any problems quicker meaning they can experiment with new tools quicker. Ultimately, low code enables continuous innovation in business teams because its capabilities enable a much faster delivery so they can innovate at a faster pace. It allows more individuals within the business and IT teams to find solutions no matter their expertise.
Top Questions to Ask about Low Code Programming
Businesses can enhance their operations in several ways using low code application development. However, before getting started, there are specific questions IT leaders and their teams should ask themselves to determine if low code is right for them and which path to take. Answering these questions will enable teams to solve their business problems at a must faster pace. It will also help them decide what vendor they should use to build their low code platform so they are set up for success. These questions include:
- Will business technologist users be able to use the low code platform to build applications? Or will I need professional developers?
- What are the integration capabilities of the platform? Do I need another integration platform? Can I use my integrations in the low code application platform?
- How does deployment work for the applications built on top of the platform? Do I have separate testing and production environments?
- How do I test my application? How efficient is testing the application during the iterative development process?
- How secure is the platform? Is my data secured? Does the platform have the compliance needed to keep my data secure?
- Does the vendor I’m interested in offer analytics and usage information?
- Can I solve my business problem end to end using the low code platform or do I need to buy more tools and worry about integrating them?
- How does multi-user development work in the low code platform?