When we talk about application creation, we increasingly hear about the concept of Low-Code platforms. Though this tool is very popular in the tech sector, its remains relatively unknown to those who may need it most! Here are the keys to understanding what a Low-Code platform is and how these platforms can be a great asset to a company’s productivity.
Low-Code Platform: Definition and Information
A Low-Code platform gives people who are not necessarily technical experts the opportunity to quickly implement applications for their organization, without the need for excessive development.
In the coding world, there are Low-Code platforms and No-Code platforms. For the first, it is only necessary to code the specificities related to each project. The second one offers a “Zero Programming” concept. This is not a myth. However, one mustn’t forget that the No-Code platform requires users to be prepared to make some concessions. If a project is to be carried out via a No-Code platform, the user need must be imagined differently. A Low-Code interface, on the other hand, combines flexibility in specific developments with the full force of software packages.
The Low-Code platform market is growing. In fact, there has been a significant increase in demand for custom business applications using low-code.
Pros and Cons of using Low-code
Now that we have a better understanding of what a Low-Code platform is, let’s analyze its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
A project developed on a Low-Code platform is generally more agile than a traditional IT project and therefore avoids time-consuming and often much more expensive development work. This makes it possible to deliver results more quickly. Companies using low-code platforms can take advantage of this speed to carry out more projects and increase productivity.
Even though not everything is possible on a Low-Code platform, it does offer the possibility for users to create personalized applications by answering specific problems, unlike the no-code platform.
This means that all types of application categories are possible with Low-Code, which means it can be applied to all sectors.
In addition, Low-Code platforms are equipped with Graphic Modelers that provide advanced graphical creation tools for fast and intuitive application implementation. They also include ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) to manage the entire lifecycle of a business application : conception (design), planning (plan), implementation (build), qualification (test), deployment (run), all in successive iterations and by involving all relevant IT and business actors in the project.
Disadvantages
Let’s talk about the disadvantages of Low-Code platforms.
Of course, developers remain essential. As its name suggests, the Low-Code platform requires little coding but for this “little” amount, a developer still needs to be part of the project.
Secondly, because it is a “new” product, its community of users is still limited. Moreover, even though there are more and more tools available, choices remain limited as well.
Finally, we often talk about reversibility issues when using Low-Code platforms. However, the business data remains accessible and based on standards, so that it can be easily retrieved and manipulated from other tools.
Who is Low-Code for and how does it work?
Low-Code platforms allow users to automate business processes. They are B2B oriented and allow companies to create applications quickly, efficiently and “cheaply”. However, Low-Code platforms are not a concept for just anyone who wants to create an application. Using a Low-Code platform requires a certain budget, a solid project, and above all, a team.
In general, Low-Code platforms operate on a single platform common to all domains which then add custom bricks based on business issues. Low-Code platforms are generally built based on a vertical model so that every professional sector can benefit from it.
If we listen to the testimonies of those who have already used Low-Code platforms for their business you might hear the following kinds of stories.
Speed of deployment and efficiency of team training on the platform
A US air base explained that it urgently needed a dynamic case management system to identify, track and accelerate the resolution of potential hazards within the base, as well as to maintain complete audit trails for regulatory compliance purposes. Within two weeks, their teams were trained, had successfully developed a Hazard Reporting Tool (HTR) and deployed it to more than 20,000 users in a single day.
Flexibility, productivity and quality
Nestlé’s case shows that the use of Low-Code platforms allows companies to benefit from both greater flexibility and productivity while maintaining a high level of quality. “We are preparing to deploy several internal solutions designed in a few months, for different business teams and on an international/global scale. All this with a team of only 7 people! We’re also gaining in efficiency by reusing a lot of components,” explains Olivier Reinaud, Product Lead of the Business Solution Automation team at Nestlé.
A Low-Code platform is truly a great source of productivity for companies as it significantly reduces the budgets and business application development times required to improve internal processes.
What about you? Have you conducted projects on a Low-Code platform? Tell us about your experience!
@Cover Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst