Forem: tsrblove777

Are Low-code And No-code Platforms the Next Big Thing In the IT Sector?

tsrblove777 — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 21:09:32 +0000

In the past, businesses needed to find a professional developer to create even a simple website or a mobile app. Let alone complex software and business management systems. The phrase ‘software development project’ is associated with long-term processes and huge investments.

Now, software development is getting easier. When we need to develop an application, we don’t necessarily need to think of finding teams of outsourced developers, large IT budgets, and a long development process. Research Markets predicts the low-code market to reach $182 billion by 2030. In this article, we will answer why low-code and no-code is the next big thing in the software development world.

What are low-code and no-code platforms?

Low-code and no-code platforms are software-as-a-service products that offer functionalities for robust software development. The platforms have visual development interfaces with a set of pre-made graphic code components. Each component represents a certain function of an application that users can add by dragging and dropping. With these features, low-code and no-code approaches make software development much faster and easier. We will review the features of low-code and no-code platforms that enhance software development further in this article.

The difference between low-code and no-code is revealed by the name: no-code is all about visual development while low-code additionally allows you to write code for customization. However, both approaches have a subscription-based payment model, graphic development flow, and other similarities.
Where to use low-code and no-code platforms?

There are a lot of low-code/no-code platforms for various development purposes. Some platforms specialize in front-end development, and some on the back end. Some have enough power to produce various types of applications, some only one type. Before we move on to the types of software you can build with low-code and no-code platforms, there’s one very important piece of information you should know.

Usually, no-code platforms have narrow purposes, while low-code platforms enable users to build a variety of software. Let’s take Wix and ProcessMIX as examples. Wix is a no-code website constructor that focuses on website development. Using Wix, non-developers can create websites for commercial and personal needs. ProcessMIX, on the other hand, is a low-code platform for back-end development. You can use it for simple projects having no development skills — only a short introduction to the low-code platform is necessary. At the same time, developers can create complex back-ends for automation tools, data management, AI-powered analysis, etc. In addition, the low-code platform will allow you to customize the functionalities to match your business needs better.

Here is the short list of applications you can build with low-code and no-code tools:

Web applications;
Data management and analysis tools;
Mobile applications;
Business system integration tools;
Business process automation tools;
Internal resources.

Low-code platforms serve businesses in every industry. Even banking and healthcare software that has sophisticated requirements can be created with low-code platforms. The use of advanced technologies like AI/ML and RPA allows low-code software to comply with the most demanding security and performance regulations (ISO27001, etc.). Low-code platforms facilitate business digital transformation in the domains of process automation, customer service, internal sources management, and service quality control.

Why low-code and no-code is the future of software development

Millions of pro developers work to make low-code platforms better. Every month more and more low-code tools that cover one or another digital transformation need are appearing on the market.

But what are the factors that allow low-code platforms to be called the future of software development? Here we mention the benefits of low-code you can experience right now.

Lower development costs

Low-code tools charge only a subscription fee for a certain user plan. The more sophisticated features are included — the more expensive the plan. Low-code/no-code platform pricing ranges from zero to several thousand US dollars per month. Yes, there are platforms that offer some of their functionalities for free. At the same time, there are demo versions and free trial periods that allow users to test a platform for project requirements.

Although low-code platforms allow you to build apps visually without coding skills, they may require some for custom low-code software development. It means that to low-code development costs you can add the salary of one to three junior/middle developers. In addition, the price of custom low-code development is much lower than traditional due to improved CI/CD processes, productivity tools, and fast integrations.

Reduced IT support

Another feature that makes low-code platforms the development tool of the future is their availability for citizen developers and non-developers. With low code, it’s not necessary to have advanced development skills and experience to build applications. Individuals and regular business employees can handle simple app development, software maintenance, and configuration. The only necessity for them is to learn the low-code development concept and follow platform-specific user guides.

Robust cloud adoption

There was a time when cloud technologies were accessible only to big businesses. Cloud migration was a costly and complex process that involved expert developers. In fact, it still may require the same resources. But low-code platforms facilitate the cloud adoption process to a certain extent.

With low-code platforms, every business has the opportunity to introduce cloud technologies into their processes. Low-code tools like ProcessMIX, Outsystems, and others allow developers to deploy applications on the cloud immediately after the testing. Moreover, users can integrate their existing systems and apps with various cloud services.

Easy legacy system modernization

Low-code and no-code applications can supplement your existing business system or even replace it. Whenever a business needs a new feature, it can be easily created and integrated with a low-code platform. Low code allows for building routine process automation tools, customer applications, client resource bases, business rules management, data analysis tools, etc.

Low-code platforms speed up the app integration process with ready-made connectors. You can integrate and deploy an app in minutes instead of weeks as it is with traditional development.

Improved system flexibility and scalability

Scaling a regular application is a tedious process that requires a lot of effort. To expand the app businesses needed to choose the right technology, plan the process, and spend thousands of dollars on the developers.

Low code changes the paradigm in regard to software scaling and modernization. Usually, all it takes to scale a low-code app is to take the existing code components and add them. Due to the code reusability, the ease of scaling stays the same for custom code parts of low-code apps too.

Additionally, low-code apps are more flexible as you can easily change app properties without coding. To make changes in the existing application, users need only access the project on the platform and change the components.

Conclusion

Low-code platforms have already facilitated digital transformation. According to IDC, 560 million applications were developed by this year. This is two times more than in the previous decades. Most of these apps were produced with the help of low-code and no-code platforms. Considering the current power of these two approaches and the pace of their expansion, it becomes obvious that low-code/no-code tools are the future of software development.

Try ProcessMIX low-code platform

As the old saying goes – a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s why, the best way to see the power of low-code development is to try it yourself. You can start with the ProcessMIX free demo version.

ProcessMIX is a back-end development low-code platform that allows businesses to build automation tools, business rules management flows, customer onboarding apps, etc. To find out more on ProcessMIX use cases, read our clients’ success stories.

How No-code & Low-code Can Reduce the Cost of Software Maintenance

tsrblove777 — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 20:33:59 +0000

According to Statista, businesses will spend a whopping $856 billion worldwide on IT. A significant part of this money, will be invested into software maintenance.

Fortunately, the software market offers a wide array of options to scale business systems and maintain their smooth performance. COTS software, 3r’d party services, and robust development platforms are some of the most widespread tools to achieve maintenance objectives faster. You can find more details in this study by ResearchGate. However, there’s no match to low-code/no-code. These approaches are disrupting software maintenance, and facilitating the creation of new features, automatization tools, and system security. Here, we will focus on how you can use low-code and no-code platforms to improve your maintenance processes — without any extra stress.

Why do businesses need software maintenance?

Companies need software maintenance to modernize their systems, keep them safe and extend the software functionality to reflect changing business strategies. Fast-appearing innovations and ever-changing software safety regulations require constant system updates. Especially for banking and healthcare businesses where the safety and quality of services are crucial. Any service inconsistency or code breach may put the business in jeopardy.

Developing businesses never stop extending their systems. Although they maintain their systems with new apps, integrations, and services, additional features brought by the new apps allow a business to cater to more customers, improve their experience, facilitate internal activities, etc. Developing and maintaining a business system is key to staying competitive in the market. For instance, if your system fails to process a hundred more service requests per day, there will always be a competitor that will process them for your clients.

What makes software maintenance become expensive?

First off, let’s find out the reasons behind the rising maintenance costs and what factors you’ll need to take into account.

Software maintenance costs are tied to IT staff salaries. The bigger the system, the more developers it requires to stay performant and updated. The average hourly rate of a middle-level developer is $15-30, as UpWork reports. Hire five full-time developers and you’ll spend at least $30,000 in three months.

A business can expect a rise in maintenance costs if:

The business expenses
It needs urgent system updates
The business system requires new features
The number of clients rises

However, low-code and no-code platforms make software maintenance and scaling processes much faster, easier, and cheaper. Both low- and no-code approaches can be applied to multiple business IT processes, including system scaling with new apps, regulations compliance, automation, etc. But before we dive too deeply into the benefits, let’s get an overall view of low-code and no-code platforms.

What are low-code and no-code platforms?

Low-code and no-code platforms are the software tools used for robust software development. The platforms follow a visual development approach where users can drag-and-drop code components expressed as graphic elements of some kind. Every element has its function and a platform the user can change their parameters whenever necessary.

At the same time, the low-code and no-code platforms differ as the latter doesn’t have the functionalities for software customization. Low code enables developers to create custom components and integrations. In addition, the customization process in low-code platforms is usually accompanied by powerful technologies, such as AI or ML. These technologies enhance the app’s functionalities themselves and allow them to control their performance and quality.

Benefits of low-code and no-code approaches for software

Faster development

Visual development interfaces of low-code and no-code platforms allow the creation of additional features for software faster. It works quickly due to pre-built graphic code components, robust development tools, and drag-and-drop user flows.

In-built testing and debugging tools

Low-code/no-code platforms allow testing applications and systems directly in the platform. The platforms are able to inspect the apps before and after the deployment.

Improved system scalability

Many low-code tools include reusable components that speed up system scaling. It means that you can use parts of previously developed apps to create new features or extend the app. The flexibility of low-code and no-code tools facilitates software scaling so it can take hours or days instead of months.

Easy integrations

Low-code platforms have multiple pre-built connectors to the databases, 3r’d party services, BI systems, and applications. With a low-code tool, you can integrate an app with a 3r’d party in minutes.

Availability for citizen developers

With a low-code platform at hand, a company doesn't need to hire a large IT department. Low-code and no-code solutions are easy-to-use so that even other department’s employees can grasp the basic concepts of using them. So, instead of hiring new expert-level developers to maintain your system, you can train the current staff to use low-code tools. Nevertheless, the maintenance of a sophisticated low-code system requires at least a junior/middle developers' input.

How much do low-code and no-code maintenance cost?

Low-code maintenance costs will consist of the platform subscription payments which can be from free to $1,000 per month. The cost of a low-code/no-code platform subscription depends on the complexity of a platform and the set of features your company needs to maintain it. The more maintenance tasks you try to solve with low-code/no-code, the higher the price for a subscription becomes.

In addition, you can include the salary of a few (1-3) middle-level developers, if you plan to implement complex tools. It’s important for these developers to have experience with low-code platforms.

How to start using low-code/no-code for software maintenance?

To start using a low-code platform for software maintenance you should decide what exactly you need in that relation. Is it just a new feature for your customer application? Then, you can leverage only a no-code solution. However, if you seek a solution that solves multiple maintenance needs, you need a low-code platform. Low-code platforms are capable of facilitating:

Regulation compliance

Low-code tools for back-end development allow users to employ a business rules engine. Business rules are the foundation of compliance automation. Using a BRMS (Business Rules Management System), businesses can create multiple rules and automate their execution across every business app. Usually, low-code rules management is powered by AI/ML technologies that improve precision and facilitate rules execution.

Automation tools development

Low-code BRMSs also allow the automation of multiple business tasks and processes. It can be automated data processing, transactions, process initiation, decision-making, and many other repetitive tasks. In the case of automation tool development, low-code platforms employ RPA technology to perform the actions faster and eliminate the possibility of mistakes during the process.

App development

This is the basic feature of every low-code platform —- app creation. The types of applications you can develop depends on the platform. There are low-code platforms for back-end and front-end development. You can turn to a low-code solution when you need any additional app like a customer portal, client application, internal knowledge base, etc.

Reduce your software maintenance costs with ProcessMIX

If you are ready to cut maintenance budgets with low code, try the free ProcessMIX demo now.

ProcessMIX is a low-code platform for back-end development that allows businesses to improve scaling, regulation compliance, and automate business processes. The platform has an intuitive app-building interface and plenty of pre-built components to develop complex apps in weeks. What’s more important, ProcessMIX has a BRMS system powered by AI/ML to build powerful rule-based automation tools for different business software maintenance needs. Moreover, the platform uses RPA technology that makes automation even more performant.

The ProcessMIX platform has already proved itself in banking, manufacturing, and other industries. You can find out more about the results ProcessMIX helped to achieve in the case studies section.

The difference between low-code and no-code platforms

tsrblove777 — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:38:10 +0000

Digital transformation is a hot topic for businesses across multiple industries. The reason is obvious - modern technologies have become a critical factor in enterprise profitability, operational efficiency, and customer service. That’s why business owners strive to implement various digital tools fast and on a moderate budget to have an upper hand over competitors.
However, traditional, high-code, development requires much time and finance. Not to mention the lack of professionals on the market which prolongs the process even more. According to recent Statista research, 62% of global organizations consider the shortage of IT talent a threat to their growth.

Here low-code and no-code approaches come to the rescue. These development paradigms lower the entry threshold for citizen developers to build software of any complexity. At the same time, most decision-makers have a hard time choosing which path to take to reach their particular business goals. In this article, we are going to define what is low-code and no-code, how they differ, and what are their particular use cases to help you decide if it is a suitable approach for your business.

What is low-code?

Low-code is a development approach for rapid application development (RAD). Low-code way combines visual development functionalities with manual code and scripting. It means that developers can build the core of their app visually as well as customize application writing code for unique features and integrations. Simply put, low-code is a middle ground between high-code and no-code development. Therefore, low-code platforms, to be used at a full blast, require professional development skills.

Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) are gainfully employed by middle businesses and enterprises that look for complex mobile/web apps, integrations, process automation tools, and core business systems. At the same time, low-code suits for legacy app modernization, cloud migration, and sophisticated process automation with AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning). Most of the LCDPs are Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) products and are based in the cloud.

What is no-code?

No-code is also a rapid development approach that is centered solely around visual app development. In contrast to low-code, no-code platforms don’t support manual coding. The entire app development process consists of dragging and dropping pre-defined components on a strictly or loosely positioned development canvas. The simplicity of the user interface makes no-code an ideal option for citizen developers and regular company staff.

The variety of applications you can create with no code is more restricted than with low-code. Moreover, no-code apps are simpler and serve one particular purpose. You can build internal tools, spreadsheets, one-task automation tools, single-page web applications, simple integrations, etc.

Low-code and no-code automation

Low-code platforms always include visual development functionalities like drag-and-drop UI, ready-made components, out-of-box API connectors, and even app templates. These features automate plenty of development processes and allow developers to focus on last-mile tasks.

At the same time, the advanced functionalities and all customization require manual coding along with professional development skills. But coding in a low-code environment has lots of benefits compared to a high-code. Low-code platforms have IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) that facilitate CI/CD pipeline, allowing developers to focus on the essentials of the process.

Low-code IDEs are embedded with automation tools for code testing, visual process modeling, workflow automation, and business rules provided by low-code development environments ease up the process, converting everything into code under the hood. You can see a quick example of low-code flow creation in the video below.

As for no-code automation, it is represented only by visual drag-and-drop UIs. All code is generated by point-and-click actions and placement on an interface canvas. Automation capabilities of no-code development platforms (NCDPs) suit citizen developers' needs and don’t match pro-level development.

Basic feature differences between Low-code and No-code

Low-code and no-code are very similar approaches to software development so it’s easy to confuse them. Both methods aim to accelerate software delivery and make it accessible for citizen developers. You can employ low-code as well as no-code to develop web or mobile apps, and workflow automatization tools. Yet, this is where the similarities end.

No-code platforms are quite simple: they don’t have much variety in function and application areas. No-code app creation process centered around dragging and dropping graphic elements, clicking, and drawing the connections.

On the contrary, there are different low-code platforms. Each has its application area (front-end, back-end, or both) and particular programming languages in their basis. Often, LCDPs JavaScript or Java that go with their code libraries (React, React Native, Redux, D3, etc.). However, there are C#, R, Python, and even custom language-based low-code platforms. For instance, Zoho’s Creator has its own Deluge language tailored to low-code development.

Let’s compare the differences and see how the complexity distinction reveals itself in the following dimensions.

App integration

Integrations are an essential part of low-code and no-code applications as they often serve as supplements to core business systems. The number of integrations available and needed differs dramatically.

No-code

No-code platforms offer only out-of-box integrations that are easily put in place when needed. It can be a DB integration, APIs, and 3’d party services. Database integrations are the most widespread among no-code apps.

Low-code

Low-code platforms have pre-built connectors too, but allow users to create their own with code. You can connect a low-code app with any type of API (REST, SOAP, WDSL, etc.), Database (SQL, NoSQL, etc.), 3’d party service, and BPM or BI systems.

Training requirements

Low-code

When planning to use a low-code platform for the first time many developers ask the same question: is low-code difficult? The answer is not so simple.

Low-code platforms are available for citizen developers, who learned the basics of the visual app-building process of the platform. But to get the most out of them, programming expertise in platform-specific language and low-code development logic understanding is a must.

The answer is - low-code development requires professional coding skills and experience above the basic low-code concept knowledge. The latter opens a low-code visual development for citizen developers.

Note: Most of the low-code platform owners include training courses and support in their user packages.

No-code

No-code platforms, in contrast to low-code ones, do not require coding experience. Nevertheless, employees new to the approach will need an introduction to an NSDP to start using it properly.

Application area

Low-code approach serves projects of any scale and technology. With low-code, businesses can create:

Mobile apps for both Android and iOS and publish them on the AppStore right from the platform.
Complex web apps, integrated with one or more databases, APIs, and 3’d party services.
Cloud-native applications and storage.
Modernise or supplement legacy apps and business systems.
Create internal process automatization tools that use AI/ML and RPA technologies.

No-code can’t boast such a broad application area. Regardless of it, the no-code software has a shorter development implementation time. These are the most common examples of no-code development use.

Web-based info portals connected to a database;
Internal tools for simple calculations and signaling;
Single task automatization tools;
Web marketplaces.

Target users

Low-code

Low-code platforms are used by professional developers to automate basic code generation and focus on the more complex aspects of the software. The features of LCDPs make the coding process easier with its collaboration tools, built-in QA automation tools, and version control.

No-code

No-code development platforms, on the contrary, aim to allow industry specialists with no or little development knowledge to build simple apps for their immediate needs. Typical business users of NCDPs are HR, sales, legal, and other non-technical staff. In fact, any person can use a low-code platform to build a website.

When to use Low-code vs. when to use No-code

Low-code applications can enhance multiple processes in any industry. Financial organizations, e-commerce giants, hospitals, manufacturers, educational institutions, and other businesses are already using LCDPs to reduce software development costs and delivery time. According to Gartner, the low-code development platforms’ market is projected to spike a whopping 25% and reach 10 billion.

So where do all these businesses apply the low-code approach? Here are the most common domains along with app examples.

Enterprise-level software development

Business core systems, sophisticated web applications, mobile applications, and cloud-native applications, etc.

Customer service

User mobile applications, smart customer support, knowledge portals, client bases, etc.

Process automation

AI/ML-powered routine task automation, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools, automatic calculation apps.

Data analysis and management

AI-powered data analysis, data evaluation algorithms, data management, and protection measures.

Internal process optimization

Complex internal apps, business intelligence supplementation.

As you may suggest, the no-code list of use cases is significantly shorter. However, no-code platforms are accessible to a broader audience.

Website development

SPA (Single-page web apps),

Customer service

Customer knowledge portals, customer data management apps

Internal process optimization

Internal knowledge bases,

Process automatization

One-task automatization tools.

Conclusion

Both low-code and no-code are valid ways to build software faster and spend less money on the process. The choice depends on the project scale and the goals you want to achieve.

Low-code offers vast possibilities in terms of software complexity and integrations that suit big business demands. At the same time, you have to approach low-code development projects involving professional developers to build the software.

No-code has a limited application area but it is way simpler to use than a low-code platform. Opt for no-code if you are starting your business or need to develop a simple app quickly and you don’t have programming skills.