Having emerged as a movement within the developer community, Low-Code/No Code (LCNC) platforms have actually been around for several decades. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were used under various names: fourth generation programming language (4GL), computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) and other rapid application development tools ( RAD—Rapid Application Development). According to research firm Forrester, “Low Code” or “No Code” platforms make it possible to develop applications up to 10 times faster than using traditional methods. But for some companies, this is not enough.
Let’s take an example: for more than a year, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced companies to hastily create online experiences to replace physical experiences, despite the shortage of experienced developers and shrinking IT budgets. At a time when companies are doing everything to gain agility and preserve their capacity for innovation, the Low Code/No Code approach provides an attractive solution that breaks down the barriers between ideas and solutions by meeting the requirements rapid application development and democratizing innovation.
What are the uses of Low Code/No Code platforms?
The implementation of the LCNC approach goes beyond the framework of simple theory and many companies use it to generate very real added value. According to Gartner forecasts, more than 50% of medium and large enterprises will adopt an LCNC platform by 2023 as part of their overall IT strategy.
Thus, the soon to be 100-year-old Time magazine tackled the manual and repetitive processes that characterized the supplier management process, lengthening payment cycles and penalizing planning activities. Using a series of automated Low Code / No Code applications, the venerable institution has managed to reduce the invoice payment cycle from months to days while streamlining interactions with its suppliers.
Third example, the Suez Group, a global giant in water, electricity and waste management, has replaced door-to-door sales by developing its e-commerce portal using Low Code / No -Code with the aim of providing its customers with more self-service options. Within the first three months, the project generated nearly $700,000 in new business, while reducing the cost of customer acquisition by 20%.
During the pandemic, requests for emergency housing assistance registered by the city of San Antonio (Texas) have increased from a few dozen to several thousand files per week. Managed manually, the existing process did not keep pace. By opting for a Low-Code / No Code platform, the Texas city digitized the process from A to Z. While a traditional approach would have taken several months, the LCNC platform made it possible to carry out a proof of concept in eight days and to launch the new program in two weeks with a team of just two developers. As a result, residents can now request emergency assistance and submit required documents from their desktop PC or mobile device.
These handful of examples show how Low Code/No Code platforms are helping companies of all backgrounds build more agile teams, deliver viable products in hours instead of weeks, and launch an application in a matter of seconds. days, not months. With this new option, companies can adapt more easily to a new situation and deploy the requested capacities more quickly. In addition, the ability to get to market before their competitors allows them to grow their business, differentiate themselves and get ahead of the game instead of trying to catch up.
How to guarantee the effectiveness of these platforms?
But before integrating Low Code / No Code options into their ecosystem, companies must consider certain factors that will contribute to the effectiveness of the protocols in place:
1. Ensure platform security
While Low Code / No Code platforms accelerate application development, they can also increase IT complexity if not administered effectively. Systems composed of several heterogeneous elements are often difficult to manage, secure and scale. In addition, all it takes is for one group to implement an application that is beyond the control of IT to expose the entire organization to security breaches, compliance errors, or budget overruns.
This is why companies must at all costs escape the proliferation of unmanaged applications; this is also why these platforms should be integrated into a robust ITIL-type governance framework, and should be supported by a security oversight function, change management principles and comprehensive documentation. .
2. Prefer open source systems
Since most companies are dependent on a publisher’s platform, it is important to understand what the offer covers: can the company access the data? Does she retain control? Does the system rely on open standards, or does it use proprietary technologies?
These issues, along with the degree of integration with external systems, are all factors to consider in order to maintain flexibility with the vendor’s platform—the freedom needed to act quickly and achieve business goals.
3. Opt for customizable platforms
The elements that make up an LCNC platform are designed for “mass consumption”; in other words, maybe it will be necessary to use some predefined templates or modules. Before you get started, you should know that some editors offer more customization options than others. Not to be forgotten when looking for the rare pearl!
More demanding, more keen on digital technology than ever, the modern consumer also expects greater agility. With the Low Code / No Code platforms, companies have new assets to create truly unique and innovative offers that will improve the experience and streamline the operations of their customers.
The real value of the Low Code/No Code approach is that this type of platform solidifies the foundation that most companies have already built. They facilitate the agile development and delivery of highly differentiated solutions that can address unique challenges—digital transformation or improved customer experience—quickly and with significant business impact. This approach is much more attractive than a tedious process of migrating to an integrated management software package (ERP) or redesigning a platform. After decades of development and refinement, today’s ERP backbones are robust and solid. Maybe it’s time to test a Low Code / No Code platform?