Low-code development is emerging as a key strategy for many businesses in today’s digital environment — and its growth isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Gartner estimates that low-code solutions will make up 65% of app development by 2024.
Low-code platforms combine the concepts of design and development to create simplified solutions for business users. Through a visual interface, programming is distilled down into a process that requires minimal coding. The process is so simple, in fact, that the end-user can try their hand at building their very own solution. When this happens, these users are considered citizen developers.
In today’s space, there are a number of tools available to citizen developers that are relatively easy to use. Low-code applications scale from simple solutions that are easy for business users to implement, to complex solutions that require consultation with more traditional developers.
When properly implemented, low-code solutions can eliminate manual and redundant tasks within an organization. By empowering citizen developers to identify business cases which can be improved, an infinite number of applicable scenarios can be identified.
Some example use cases might be:
The accessibility of going low-code is one of the biggest appeals for business users. For example, Microsoft now offers Power Automate and Power Apps to all users with an Office 365 license.
From an end-user perspective, the greatest benefit of low-code is time to delivery. Rather than dealing with the cumbersome process of drafting an RFP and vetting out project bids, business users can take immediate action and develop a solution custom-tailored to their needs. Going this route also generates a sense of ownership and involvement in the process.
The quick turnaround time that low-code apps offer also frees up IT teams from having to do most of the heavy lifting in building enterprise solutions. In a survey conducted by Salesforce, 75% of IT organizations stated that low-code development tools free their teams up to focus on more complex tasks that contribute to the organization’s health.
For all its various benefits, there are still some instances in which low-code solutions may not be the right fit for your company. A few challenges of going low-code include:
While low-code solutions are remarkably easy for business professionals to implement on their own, they may not always be conducive to your time and effort spent. It’s important to have a mitigation strategy in place to ensure you’re on the path to successful implementation.
At Bulb Digital, our approach is simple: first, we identify the challenge, then we define the outcome we’re after, then we start building out a low-code solution. From here, it’s easy to test whether the solution we’ve developed is the right one. Taking this iterative approach helps an organization reach a decision point as quickly as possible.
Of course, through this approach, you may find that your low-code solution’s scope ended up being more than you bargained for. In those cases, utilizing an outside consultant can help citizen developers overcome hurdles, or simply take the burden off of your organization entirely.