According to Creatio survey, that is the key benefit of using it. They found that a jaw-dropping 85% of users experienced at least 20% faster app development. And out of these respondents, 34% had a performance gain of 41%-60%.
No-code is not totally new – it’s been around since the 80s. The Agile movement called to “Fail Fast”, while a lot of companies also needed to “Learn Faster”. And as the market faced rapid digital transformation, demand for simple and efficient solutions grew. Bringing faster feedback loops and a new level of flexibility, the no-code revolution truly unfolded.
What is no-code?
No-code refers to a software development approach that allows programmers and non-programmers to create and deploy applications without writing any code. Instead, no-code platforms use visual interfaces and drag-and-drop tools to enable users to build applications by selecting and arranging pre-built components.
This approach empowers non-technical users to create applications quickly and easily, eliminating the need for traditional software development skills and reducing the time and cost associated with building custom applications. With a no-code platform, you can create professional applications for mobile or desktop devices, but instead of cutting code, you will be looking at a visual editor the whole time.
And here’s the best part: to help with orientation, a whole library of preconfigured elements is typically available for all users. All you need to do is choose what you need, point, drag and drop. Just imagine how much faster a development process this is!
Try no-code software and become a citizen developer
Why no-code is growing?
No-code is a term used to describe the use of visual programming interfaces that allow users to create software applications without writing code. According to a recent survey by FormStack, 66% of respondent companies adopted no-code-based business tools in the last 12 months. 41% of those companies moved forward with no-code adoption in the last 6 months. The “why” behind this acceleration is fairly simple – digital transformation, which involves the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, requires two things: data and speed. No code is the perfect solution to get both.
The younger generation is driving the adoption of no-code tools. TechCrunch referred to GenZ as the “No-code generation” highlighting what benefits are coming from a digital-first upbringing. In the UK alone, almost 70% of business leaders believe their companies are lacking digital skills. An influx of young specialists, eager to explore and adopt new technologies, is seen as one of the possible remedies to fill this gap.
What is no-code development?
No-Code Development is the ability to create new services and processes without writing code. It takes years to become a senior software developer. On the other hand, it only takes a few weeks to get familiar with a No-Code platform.
How is that possible? Well, you use a platform that already has the necessary “components”. You just have to use them appropriately. No-Code development platforms typically have intuitive visual interfaces with drag-and-drop tools and simple menus.
Let’s put it this way; using a No-Code platform is like building something with a box of Lego bricks. It doesn’t take long, it’s not hard, and it practically offers you unlimited possibilities. Compare that to actually writing code, which is similar to building your Lego construction from scratch!
What can you achieve with no code?
No-code platforms offer a wide range of possibilities for technical users. While you can achieve almost anything with a good platform, the average use cases tend to focus on creating dedicated applications for specific functions. For instance, suppose you find yourself spending endless hours creating reports for your corporate dashboard. In that case, you can develop your automated solution using a no-code platform, provided you have access to the database and receive proper guidance from IT to mitigate security risks. This is a routine scenario for many users worldwide.
No-code platforms can also streamline the creation of simple yet crucial features, such as buttons, filters, or integrated apps. With no-code, you can create these features quickly and without waiting for lengthy development cycles.
Why choose no-code?
Reasonable Use of Resources
According to Gartner, the demand for app development is expected to exceed IT capacity by five times through 2022. The majority of an organization’s IT budget is spent on maintaining legacy systems. No-code platforms allow users without IT skills to quickly build new apps and install new tools, while having ownership of the workflow automation system.
Expedite App Submissions
As businesses move towards digital transformation, becoming software-driven companies, many used to hire developers to write their own software code. However, the advent of no-code platforms has disrupted this pattern, with both IT and business leaders realizing that it leads to faster, more successful results. Built-in connectors and other features of no-code platforms help launch new applications quickly and easily.
Enterprise Security
No-code platforms provide important security features, such as administrative tools and access control, which allow authorized users to configure and monitor the security of the system at any point in time. Industry best practices ensure the security and privacy of data, which is stored with both app and network-level support, as well as physical access controls.
At the Forefront of Digital Transformation
Remote working conditions and their consequences are requiring organizations to rapidly rethink their technology and workflow strategies. Many companies have made a 10-year leap in digital transformation, with no-code platforms serving as the core technology for enterprises to continuously innovate and accelerate their adaptation to an ever-changing market climate.
Easily Customize Apps
No-code platforms require less formal programming expertise, which helps close the IT gap faced by many companies. This reduces the IT backlog and the need to hire additional IT professionals. Citizen developers can develop apps without IT involvement, reducing the need for costly resources.
Advantages of No-code Development Platform
The wide adoption of no-code brought forth a lot of changes. Especially for companies seeking rapid digitalization at scale across multiple departments. And it didn’t end there:
- The best combination between business and IT that is
Bringing together the unique perspectives of business and IT has proven to be a winning combination. This collaboration has helped reduce friction across the board by facilitating a more balanced workload for developers and aligning end-user expectations on a whole new level. - Inclusive culture
The emergence of no-code platforms has made technology more accessible, creating a common ground with fewer limitations and stages between a need and a solution. By removing the barriers to entry, no-code has opened up opportunities for people who may not have had the chance to participate in technology-driven initiatives before. - Shorter release cycles
No-code platforms enable the creation of applications in a drag-and-drop visual editor by virtually anyone, making it faster to create prototypes and make draft edits. This results in shorter release cycles, allowing for quicker delivery of solutions to meet business needs. - Be your own developer
No-code has enabled less technical people to create the tools they need with a little help and curation from IT. This democratization of technology empowers individuals to take control of their projects and bring their ideas to life. - Power to the people
As business roles become more connected to the technologies they use, the IT department becomes less intimidating and finally becomes a place to seek guidance and advice. By giving more people access to technology, no-code is helping to bridge the gap between business and IT, creating a more collaborative and inclusive culture.
Pros and Cons of No-Code Development
Pros
- Democratizing the development process with less time and barriers between a need and a solution;
- Driving up business agility without hurting the existing processes;
- Driving down IT costs across the board as less time is spent understanding the request, reworking mismatched solutions and delivering outdated features
Cons
- Locked code base. This in fact is a good thing as you can rest assured a team of highly trained professionals is making sure all elements you’re using stay up to date with the latest standards.
- Vendor dependency. It is pretty hard to migrate an app you’ve built from one no-code platform to another. However, as these applications are usually pretty basic, this hardly takes more than a couple of hours if you really need to.
- Pre-set native integrations. Meaning you can choose out of a list of services that support the integration with any given no-code platform. The upside is security and reliability have already been taken care of and you should not worry about losing data in the process.
How does no-code differ from low-code?
The main difference between low-code and no-code platforms is the level of technical knowledge required to build something. Both options use a visual interface as well as drag-and-drop functionality. However, with no-code you typically don’t have access to the insides of any element – the programming, instructions, and logic are already done for you.
With low code you have some degree of access to the code base. This means if you know what you’re doing, platform elements can be customized and tailored to your specific needs to some extent. Typically, no-code solutions come in handy when fast prototyping is due or a very basic application needs to be built. Low code on the other hand mostly helps with speeding up the development process by providing a lot of presets and ready-to-use elements to more advanced users.
| Low Code | No code |
|---|---|
| Developers | Business Users |
| Speed of Development | Ease of Use |
| Low but present | No Coding Required |
| Total Customization Available | Pre-built templates can be customized |
| End-to-end development | Only Limited capabilities |
| Can be mission-critical | Good for self-deploying apps |
| Offers more developer control | Mobile responsive |
No-code Industry Solutions
- In the Manufacturing industry. A custom app can be created to keep track of inventory or automate quality control checks.
- In the Pharma industry. A custom app can be created to monitor patient data or adverse events.
- In the retail industry. A custom app can be created to track sales data or manage customer reviews.
- In the Banking industry. A custom app can be created to automate loan approval processes or manage customer data.
- In the Telecom industry. A custom app can be created to track customer usage data or manage service requests.
Features of no-code platforms
Drag-and-Drop Visual Interface
One of the most significant advantages of no-code platforms is their easy-to-use visual interface. Instead of writing lines of code, users can drag and drop pre-built components to create their desired app or website. The interface is usually an intuitive WYSIWYG editor built around drag-and-drop functionality.
Easy Integration
No-code platforms offer seamless integration with existing data sources like spreadsheets, SQL databases, or other systems. These platforms provide smart suggestions and access to the required data, making integration much easier and less confusing for users.
Information Security
With no-code platforms, users can rest assured that their information remains safe and secure. These platforms often feature centralized maintenance and updates, which help to maintain the security of the information stored on them.
Adaptability of Apps
No-code platforms allows for the creation of adaptive apps that work across different devices and platforms. These apps are designed to work on anything, from a tablet to a smartphone. Users can leave dedicated mobile apps behind and create apps that can work on any device.
The Best No-Code Development Platforms
The market is flooded with a plethora of no-code development platforms, and new competitors are entering the space regularly. Small, Medium, and Large businesses seek to expedite their development process and reduce costs. The demand for these platforms continues to rise. Below are some of the top-rated no-code platforms currently available:
Creatio
Creatio is the ultimate no-code platform that empowers businesses to automate their workflows and streamline customer relationship management with unparalleled ease. It boasts of being the ONE platform that offers a maximum degree of freedom to users, enabling them to build sophisticated and customized solutions without requiring any programming skills. With Creatio, businesses can easily automate their business processes, accelerate their sales, and improve customer satisfaction. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and powerful tools allow businesses to quickly create, test, and launch new workflows and applications, making it the best no-code platform available in the market.
Mendix
Mendix is a low-code platform that helps businesses develop powerful applications. The tool provides users with a development environment in which they can independently develop, deploy, test, and manage apps. The free edition allows ten internal users per app and community support. The pro edition starts at $1,250 per month and includes the testing and production environments as well as the platform support.
Airtable
Airtable must not be missed in this list. For some, this may come as a surprise, as Airtable is actually a business software that combines databases and spreadsheets. The tool stands out for its ease of use, flexible functions and views, and extensive integrations. Of course, the primary function of Airtable is setting up tables and creating relational databases. The tool can even be used as a backend for websites and as a CMS. However, with integrated automation functions, many more requirements for your data can be met.
Bubble
Bubble is a no code application development platform that enables the fast and feature rich creation of web and mobile apps. Its large ecosystem allows users to find solutions for missing features and quickly connect with other platforms. This platform is ideal for creating MVPs without the need to deal with coding. With Bubble, users can quickly design functional applications without compromising on quality or speed. Its user-friendly interface and powerful tools make it the perfect solution for startups and entrepreneurs looking to build a digital presence.
Adalo
Adalo is a great platform for quickly and easily creating simple apps, especially mobile apps. It keeps things simple by limiting the feature set to what most developers need, and supports enough integrations to get most apps up and running quickly. The ability to publish apps directly to Apple and Google is a big plus.
Conclusion
No-code wears many hats but it doesn’t mean you have to. It’s a facilitation tool envisioned to make everyone’s lives a bit easier. So, whether you’re a startup looking to bring your vision to life or an established business pressed by time to deliver a solution fast, try no-code development platforms before anything else.
No-code applications can offer even more than merely saving thousands of dollars in software development hours. Empowering citizen or no-code developers in your company has many perks – from an increase in self-sufficiency to overcoming bottlenecks and limited resources. No-code brings the best of both worlds together – business and IT and it’s up to you how you want to leverage this powerful tool for your success.
FAQ
How No-Code Works?
In traditional software development, programmers write code to create the desired functionality and capabilities in a computer program or application. No-code platforms encapsulate all of this behind-the-scenes work and instead provide platform users with visual tools that they can easily use to quickly create applications.
Users can create applications as if they were designing a flowchart. They drag and drop graphically represented blocks (which contain the actual code) into a diagram to create applications.
What is a No code tool?
No code tools are like programming languages that require nothing more than a point-and-click interface. It comes with a drag-and-drop interface where you just click to design whatever you want. Or you can arrange pre-made blocks that make it easy to code things like web pages and mobile apps without any programming knowledge.
Who uses No code?
Any employee, even non-IT professionals, can use no code to develop custom software solutions. thanks to visual modeling Drag and drop functionality and user-friendly configuration.
Who are Citizen Developers?
Citizen Developers are individuals who create software applications or tools for their own use or for their organization’s use. Without having a formal background in programming or software development they are often business analysts, project managers, or end-users.
Citizen Developers typically use drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, and visual workflows. Citizen Development is becoming more popular, however, it is important to note that Citizen Developers still require some level of training and support.
