For years, software development has been a complex undertaking, best left to seasoned programmers who would consider Python or Java their mother tongue. However, the digital revolution is leaving no crumbs behind. The pace of technological development is transforming the very tools that are used to build this digital world. Application development, today, no longer comes solely under the purview of expert developers typing their way to coding perfection. The rise of low-code / no-code platforms is dismantling the traditional barriers to software development, allowing everyone from analysts to the average Joe to create astonishing applications at a breakneck speed. Reducing the lead time in app development by 90%, these platforms are empowering businesses to innovate and compete with unprecedented agility. It is expected that by 2025, 70% of all new business applications will be made using low-code / no-code platforms. But how did this coding revolution come to be and how do these platforms even work?
The Lowdown on Low-Code and No-Code
Low-code platforms provide a development environment powered by a graphical user interface where creating applications for users is as simple as dragging and dropping pre-built components. With a central hub for project and story management, communication, and feedback, these platforms help streamline the development process. As in the name, low code only lowers the dependency on coding and does not eliminate the need for coding altogether. They simplify the approach towards software development but some coding may still be required for complex functionalities or customizations.
No-code platforms, on the other hand, act as an alternative to traditional computer programming languages. They rely entirely on visual interfaces and pre-configured logic to build applications without the need for coding at all. Using these platforms requires little or no programming skills. The biggest business advantage of a no-code platform is that employees who have institutional knowledge and understand business requirements, but lack programming knowledge can create software applications. In a similar vein, they can also add functionalities to existing apps based on consumer needs in an agile manner.
The Catalysts Driving Adoption
The global low-code / no-code market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.7% through 2027, reaching a market size of over $80 billion. This unprecedented growth can be attributed to several factors.
Digital Transformation: In an increasingly digital world, businesses that are not adopting digital solutions in some manner are being left behind. Embracing leading-edge technological solutions contributes to business growth and efficiency. With a growing awareness of these benefits, organisations are leveraging these platforms to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives by enabling rapid application development.
Talent Shortage: The rapid pace of innovation in the tech industry has had a knock-on effect on the talent available in the field. Technology has evolved faster than developers have been able to keep up with it which has led to a shortage of skilled software engineers in the industry. This has, in turn, created a bottleneck for many organisations. Low-code and no-code platforms have emerged as the panacea for business in this context. By empowering citizen developers, businesses can now continue innovating as per the latest best practices without having to compete for a limited pool of highly skilled coders.
Time-to-Market Pressure: In a business environment that is increasingly fast-paced and hyper-competitive today, speed is of the essence. Organisations are engaged in a race to deliver the most innovative solutions in the least time possible. With tech developments democratizing development, there is an understanding that if one business is not able to create a particular app, somebody else will. In this context, low-code and no-code platforms are the go-to solutions for businesses, significantly reducing development time. Armed with these solutions, organisations can quickly respond to market changes and capitalise on opportunities before a competitor can.
Cost Efficiency: Building applications typically involves substantial investments in development teams and infrastructure. Low-code and no-code platforms offer a cost-effective alternative. They can reduce development costs by up to 80% as resource requirements are limited. Using these platforms results in reduced labor costs by eliminating the need for highly skilled developers and speeding up development time.
The High Point is Yet to Come
As companies begin relying on low-code / no-code platforms more and more, it is important to understand how to get the best out of these technologies as they continue evolving. If business requirements are complex in nature, the best approach would be to choose platforms that allow developers to add custom code that can extend the capabilities of these applications. Businesses can thus leverage the best of both worlds.
To address any governance issues before they arise, it is important to create a citizen developer framework that lays down guidelines for low-code / no-code app development.
With greater industry understanding and acceptability of low-code / no-code expected to become the norm, the pace of technological development of these platforms is also going to increase rapidly.
Hyper Automation: Low-code / no-code is going to fuel hyper-automation initiatives, integrating seamlessly with AI and ML technologies to create intelligent and autonomous processes.
Industry-Specific Platforms: Niche low-code / no-code platforms will emerge, catering to the unique needs of various industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
Enhanced Security and Governance: As low-code / no-code adoption grows, robust security and governance frameworks will be put in place to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance.
Integration with IoT: These platforms will expand to support IoT applications, enabling the development of connected solutions for various industries.
Trusted Ally for All Types of Software Development
iView Labs helps businesses make sense of the fast-evolving world of low-code / no-code app development. It uses the latest low-code / no-code platforms to deliver comprehensive, yet flexible and custom software development solutions.
Using Wix, iView Labs facilitates seamless CMS integration and creates user-friendly apps that are optmimised for mobile devices with helpful interaction and animation elements. Wix is an ideal platform for clients that have advanced needs which require extensive customization.
iView Labs uses Wix to conceptualize and design responsive websites using smooth drag-and-drop tools. Design features, including flex and grid layouts, full breakpoint control and custom interactions help iView Labs design best-in-class low-code websites.
iView Labs’ unparalleled expertise on these platforms makes it the only full-stack software product development services company that modern businesses need. Be it low-code, no-code or full-code, iView Labs is the trusted ally for all types of application development.