Low-code and no-code development are methods for building business applications faster without needing in-depth coding knowledge. This is particularly important in organizations where change happens quickly, and each individual business user must be able to make system edits independently.

Working with minimal coding experience, users can leverage visual software development features, such as drag-and-drop tools, to rapidly create and deploy the solutions they need in a fraction of the time.
 

Why Low-Code/No-Code?

Ever needed an app or form created, but the request was delayed because the IT team was too swamped?

As the demand for digital solutions increases, businesses need to decrease their time-to-market. But traditional coding takes time, and IT teams can only handle so much. That’s where low-code and no-code capabilities come in to empower citizen developers outside of these teams. 

Gartner research says, on average, 41% of employees outside of IT – or business technologists – customize or build data or technology solutions. Gartner also estimates more than 65% of all business applications are already built using low-code.

How Low-Code/No-Code Software Works

So how can a low-code or no-code solution help everyday users build and implement custom apps without the need for a professional developer?

Whereas a traditional coding approach requires long wait times in addition to specialized skills and knowledge, low-code/no-code capabilities speed up development with intuitive visual interfaces and workflows. These “configuration” features give the non-technical, everyday business user the ability to create a custom application by tailoring different aspects with pre-coded modules, forms, objects, workflows, and design patterns.

Low-code lets users define the steps and agents required to move your process forward.

To leverage low-code capabilities of digital platforms, users might require some basic level of coding skills for more complicated app development. In contrast, no-code platforms allow anyone to become a citizen developer with drag-and-drop functions and easy-to-use graphical tools.

Benefits of Low-Code/No-Code

The main benefit of low-code and no-code solutions is pretty clear: they empower the average business user to develop their own custom apps. But citizen developer empowerment doesn’t explain why 69% of professional developers prefer to work with low-code enhanced platforms. So what else can these platforms provide, exactly?

Here are a few of the key advantages platforms with low-code/no-code capabilities have to offer:
 

Efficiency Gains

Without the need for extensive coding, low-code/no-code solutions can reduce development time by up to 90%. This dramatically accelerates the software development lifecycle, leading to greater efficiencies for the organization as a whole.

Innovation Acceleration

80% of organizations state that empowering other users to develop has given IT departments more time and resources to focus on other initiatives. But low-code and no-code capabilities don’t just save IT departments time for high-value projects; the faster development times also enable rapid prototyping, quicker iterations, and more efficient app delivery.

Business Agility

Rapid iterations also allow businesses to test new ideas and adjust their strategies on the fly. Among IT teams using low-code solutions, business units were 21% happier with lead times than those without low-code. Plus, by reducing reliance on traditional coding and expensive, time-consuming professional developers, organizations can adapt to market shifts and internal changes more quickly. 

Cost Savings

Without the time and resources required to organize or outsource a large team of developers, businesses can save on operating costs while streamlining the development process. Moreover, low-code and no-code solutions simplify maintenance and updates to minimize the ongoing expenses associated with a custom application.

Flexibility in Integration

Flexible integrations are at the heart of any low or no-code solution, enabling seamless connections and process automation across various systems and data sources. With pre-built connectors and APIs, the applications developed in these environments can easily adapt as the company evolves to ensure continuity and efficiency.

Risk Mitigation

During the development stage, low-code/no-code solutions can also help mitigate risks by providing a controlled environment with pre-tested components and standardized processes. Not only does this improve accuracy by minimizing the likelihood of human coding errors, but the right solution can also reduce the risk of data breaches and non-compliance — just be sure your solution has robust security features in line with industry standards.

Strategic Technology Adoption

Last but not least, low-code/no-code capabilities are pivotal for strategically adopting new technologies. Users can skip the steep learning curve associated with complex programming and instead rapidly deploy innovative solutions to stay current with emerging trends and demands. This allows businesses to future-proof their systems, laying a strong foundation for ongoing digital transformation efforts.

When Do Businesses Use Low-Code/No-Code? 

Although low-code/no-code capabilities vary across vendors, businesses commonly use them to build end-to-end solutions such as:

• Simple business applications like HR employee reviews.

• Landing pages to attract and retain new customers. 

• Content management systems (CMSes) to maintain and update digital content.

• Approval workflows needed to approve a purchase order. 

• Forms to collect data like new hire information.

Low-code can also be used to assist and accelerate the development of more custom solutions. For example, it might not be feasible to develop a customer portal entirely using low-code or no-code capabilities, but they can be leveraged to build specific elements such as inquiry forms and contact workflows.

Low-code helps business users create intuitive interfaces that make it easy for users to complete business processes.

Challenges of Low-Code

The ease that comes with using low-code and no-code capabilities also brings certain challenges. 

Opening the floodgates and allowing any user to become a citizen developer can cause: 
 

1. An influx of applications and solutions that can overlap with each other and might not work well with each other or the existing tech stack. 

2. Lack of unifying experiences across different solutions as a result of being built by various users. 

3. Additional complications when custom code is required.

These challenges can be avoided by working with a low-code enhanced digital experience platform like Liferay DXP that leverages open-source technologies, integration tools, and robust governance capabilities. This ensures that all application developments undergo a structured approval process to maintain high standards of quality, security, and compliance across the enterprise. 

See If Low-Code/No-Code Is Right for Your Business

Traditional development and engineering teams will still be critical and central to any business, but user-friendly solutions like low-code and no-code can help reduce the backlog that many of these teams experience. Businesses should evaluate whether low-code and no-code can empower their teams to work faster and more efficiently. 

Low-Code in Liferay DXP

To help business users create engaging digital experiences without relying on their IT teams, we have many new low-code capabilities in Liferay DXP. Request a Demo to see the capabilities live!

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