Low-Code/No-Code for Enterprise

Remote work is here in force, and here to stay for many workers. Depending on mission, this can extend to Federal agencies, many of whom are now focusing on low-code and no-code application development platforms to support remote work for developers. According to Business Wire, low-code/no-code platforms are expected to grow at 44.4% by 2022, reaching $27.23 billion (up from $4.32 billion in 2017). IDC estimates that more than 500 million apps could be created with these platforms by 2023. But how can they best support the Enterprise? 

Large Enterprises rely on software applications to build and run core business functions (sales, marketing, supply chain, logistics, business intelligence, and others). They can be integrated or interconnected with other applications to create an overall Enterprise system. Even though Enterprise software is created to support large-scale organizations, the reality of implementation can take up more technical support resources than they’re supposed to spare. 

Low–code and no-code advantages, for Enterprise and beyond:

• Bandwidth Issues: Internal cross-Enterprise IT teams may have little time to manage client or Enterprise-level applications.  
• Cost-Constraints: Purchasing semi-custom apps or hiring a mobile/web application development firm can rack up a huge bill quickly. 
• A faster time to market: The most significant benefit is that the development duration is cut between weeks and months or days. In addition to bringing your app to market quicker, it is also possible to quickly take feedback from users and create the latest features.  
• Multiple Deployments: These development platforms allow businesses to create applications deployed on several platforms simultaneously. No-code, low-code mobile application development makes deploying an app to a platform much simpler.  
• Reduced Errors: Less code equals fewer errors, equals less dev time.  
• Lower Development Costs: Due to the reduced development process, the faster speed and less resource requirements development costs for low-code and non-code applications are lower.  

Low-code and no-code dev allows companies to build applications with visual development techniques, thus eliminating other development methods that require the writing of many lines of code. While low-code applications and no-code software development work best when combined, there are fundamental differences between low-code and no-code: 

• No-code platforms let teams that do not know about software development or coding use functional, reusable components to build applications.  
• Low-code platforms require a certain level of programming, but they allow developers to create applications developed in faster turnaround times.  

Top Low–Code and No-Code App Development Platforms: 

• Siemens Mendix 
• Microsoft PowerApps 
• Appian 
• Out Systems 
• Airtable 
• Amazon Honey code 
• Salesforce.com Lightning Platform 
• Zapier 
• Google AppSheet

Great care must still be given to ensure the necessary governance of the full business process while using such platforms. When done thoughtfully, developers are able to tackle workflow and process issues with greater speed, even remotely. Rest-assured there is still demand for traditional programming techniques for complex applications – but expect to see big increases in corporations and agencies investing funds and strategies in these low-code and no-code platforms. Have you used any of the platforms? Which is your favorite?