The Low-Code No-Code Movement
A few years ago, Bendigo Bank (one of the largest banks in Australia) re-organized to focus on the customer experience. This required the creation of new programs and teams for customer service improvement, which was great for the end goal but challenging in terms of the extra workload.
For the technology side of this change, the team switched to using a low-code RAD (rapid app development) platform to build business apps that aligned with their refocused mission. Within a year and a half, Bendigo Bank had 25 critical, customer-focused apps built for significantly less time and money than they would have spent hand-coding similar apps.
This is only one example of the low-code/no-code (LCNC) movement taking the tech world by storm. Whether you’re a business owner or tech person, you should take the time to understand LCNC, as you’re probably already using at least one LCNC platform and will most likely start to use more as time goes on. Let’s explore this growing movement and what the future holds for LCNC and developers.
What Is Low-Code and No-Code?
“Low-code” and “no-code" are terms that refer to software development that requires little or no coding for the creation of programs, processes, applications, and beyond. Many LCNC platforms utilize simple drag-and-drop and menu-driven options, allowing users to design an entire website (as one example) in a matter of hours.
This growing pool of LCNC options is making the development world accessible to those with minimal or even no prior tech experience. LCNC opens a door to millions of people who previously had to rely on development teams to actualize the software or app they had in mind.
LCNC’s move into the mainstream space was pushed by COVID-19, as the sudden and massive shift to remote work left many businesses scrambling for simple technology solutions that wouldn’t break the bank. This movement is still gaining popularity and will no doubt continue to be a growing industry. Consider these LCNC statistics and predictions:
The LCNC platform market, currently valued at 13 billion U.S. dollars, is forecasted to reach 65 billion U.S. dollars in 2027.
60% of apps are being built outside of IT departments
LCNC is estimated to account for the development of 65% of applications by the year 2024.
Low-Code/No-Code Examples
You more than likely have used an LCNC platform before, perhaps without even realizing it. Here are some examples of the most well-known LCNC tools available:
Mendix - This platform allows users to build mobile applications, monitor their performance, and continuously search for methods of improvement.
Salesforce - Salesforce is a well-known customer relationship management (CRM) platform with focuses on customer service, sales, marketing automation, application development, and analytics.
Microsoft Power Apps - This is a group of services, applications, connectors, and a data platform that allow users to build custom applications for the internal needs of their business.
OutSystems - OutSystems is a platform for large and small enterprises looking for cross-channel solutions to develop, deploy, and manage applications.
ServiceNow - The focus of this platform is creating and managing digital workflows for business operations that replace unstructured work patterns.
Is Low-Code/No-Code the Future?
LCNC platforms will certainly have a growing space in the future of development. Some may ask, “will low-code replace developers?” We don’t think so. Technology has evolved to a point where we no longer need to reinvent the wheel and can instead use off-the-shelf solutions in unique ways for whatever our particular needs are. The demand for new coding and more intricate development will still exist, but developers are likely to see more work involving integrating, modifying, and connecting LCNC platforms.
Developers should see this as an opportunity. Think of the printing press for a comparison. Before the printing press, people had to painstakingly handwrite copies of manuscripts and documents. With the printing press, producing copies became a breeze, leading to the production of millions of books and resources, most of which have been read and utilized to create the world as we know it today.
LCNC platforms are a type of printing press innovation for the development world. With LCNC, developers can reduce the time spent on coding, allowing them to use these tools to design the smarter tech world of tomorrow.
Not Sure How to Use No-Code or Low-Code Platforms? Moser Has Your Back.
Our team at Moser celebrates innovations in technology that make it more approachable to the average citizen. However, we also know that many businesses aren’t using these LCNC platforms to their fullest potential. That’s where Moser comes in.
If you’re using LCNC, Moser can assist with leveling up these platforms for the specific needs of your business. And if you’re new to LCNC or it's not quite working in how you hoped it would, no worries! With 25+ years of experience, we are happy to provide expert advice for LCNC and many other IT challenges, like app development or building data and analytics strategies. Contact us today to learn more about these services and our extensive offering of successful business solutions.
