The need to generate immediate responses to the constant change required by technology evolution has driven the creation of new tools in software development, such as low-code and no-code platforms.

Tools that allow companies to adapt quickly and efficiently to new variables and needs. Thus, maintaining their level of competitiveness and quality of service.

Low-code and no-code platforms have gained momentum by facilitating the construction of applications that enable digital transformation.

According to a study conducted by Statista, the low-code platforms market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.1% by 2024. Reflecting the importance that these platforms will continue to gain for the development of different economic sectors, by driving the rapid creation of new applications that accelerate the achievement of results for companies.

Let’s take a closer look at low-code and no-code platforms, and why they have been booming within IT service

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What is low-code and no-code?

Application development is something that has been tied to knowledge of programming languages, techniques, or tools specific to IT specialists. Low-Code and no-Code platforms allow users with little or no programming knowledge to build applications through existing components that interconnect with each other, and that already come with the necessary lines of code to do so. All this in a graphical way and using drag and drop techniques.

The difference between low-code and no-code is that no-code is oriented to users without programming knowledge (citizen developers). Since they do not require the introduction of lines of code.

Meanwhile, low code has components that allow the introduction of lines of code, allowing the customization of some features.

The inclusion of these technologies within the digital transformation strategies of organizations boosts the self-management of each department and increases their response capabilities. Additionally, within IT departments, the use of low-code platforms can boost innovation and improve agile processes.

As mentioned in a Forrester article:

“Low-code as a technology naturally leads to the agile behaviours that change management programs often fail to achieve on their own.”

This provides better ways to develop software and democratize the creation of applications.

More on disruptive technology: How AI and ML are transforming the IT customer experience.

Why use low-code and no-code platforms in IT services?

Software development within its natural cycle includes repetitive and tedious tasks. Where programmers lose motivation and time. But they are fundamental tasks for the correct systems operation. It is here where the low-code/no-code platforms come to mark an evolution in the internal process of software development.

The use of these platforms implies:

  • Delivery and integrationin less time.
  • Opportunity for teams to concentrate on specific and complex business logic tasks.
  • Effective communication between teams, by allowing to define the required workflow in a graphical way by the users.
  • Enables people who know the business, but are not technical (citizen developers), to create specific applications that speed up their work.

 

Regarding the last point, the empowerment of citizen developers increases the self-management of teams, which leads to greater agility in the delivery of results. In fact, according to a study by Gartner, it is projected that by 2026, developers outside IT departments (citizen developers) will represent at least 80% of low-code platform users. This demonstrates the opportunities that these platforms offer by providing organizations with tools to adapt to the digital world in an agile way.

What are the benefits?

From small companies to the largest corporations can benefit at different levels from the use of these platforms. From a business point of view, we highlight the advantages of adopting these platforms within IT services.

Adaptability

In a changing market, where technological innovations constantly modify the needs of users. Having platforms that allow the design, modification, and development of applications with drag-and-drop techniques ensures the competitiveness of organizations. And the generation of efficient responses at the required speed, to achieve positive results.

Additionally, low-code/no-code platforms are constantly evolving, adapting to new technologies. This allows the applications created to be at the forefront. As is the case of no-code platforms for the new generation of applications for the World Wide Web, which allows the generation of applications for Web 3.0 and with the benefits it offers, quickly and securely.

Cost reduction

The circumstances of each organization are diverse, but depending on the defined objectives, the use of these platforms could reduce:

  • Development time, increasing the productivity of the IT team, and therefore the results they can deliver.
  • The maintenance or modification tasks of these applications are reduced, implying that the team will not lose hours in these tasks.
  • Bottlenecks generated in IT departments, by promoting the development or modification of applications without depending 100% on IT. Giving them autonomy to generate results in less time.

By reducing the time that teams take to deliver results, it automatically affects the costs involved in each development.

Not to mention the costs involved in maintaining a specialized IT staff needed to meet the demands of technology.

Efficiency

Programmers’ tedious tasks are reduced to drag-and-drop tasks in an easy-to-use interface.

Giving the opportunity to focus on complex business logic, and even driving innovation and value generation. By allowing you to build and test new applications in surprisingly short times.

This accelerates the digital transformation of companies, while ensuring the quality of service offered to users.

Forrester even mentioned in a publication that application development is 10 times faster with the use of these low-code/no-code platforms than with traditional software development (high-code).

Democratization

As these tools are easy to use and do not require specialized technical knowledge, since they are based on workflows built with pre-programmed components.

Business specialists, with the appropriate training for the use of these platforms, and following the governance, scalability, security, and risk policies established by the IT teams, will have access to the world of software development.

An AIMultiple article reflects how the challenges of digital transformation, in which the lack of technical personnel, resistance to change, security risks, costs and agility stand out. They can be reduced thanks to the adaptation of companies to low-code platforms.

More on technologies that set the standard in IT services and solutions: Web 3.0, NFT and AI: Impact on Technology Innovation Strategies.

Low-code and No-code in IT services – Conclusion

Platforms for design and development based on low-code and no-code techniques, in addition to facilitating software delivery for both internal and external use, are very well aligned with continuous delivery and integration, increasing the productivity of teams and the quality of IT services.

Additionally, when integrated with other technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) opens the door not only to process automation but also to process optimization.

This combination of skills implies the adoption of methodologies, techniques and tools that enable organizations and teams to generate timely and efficient responses.

For this reason, considering the acquisition of low-code/no-code technologies are fundamental to guarantee permanence in the digital era.

For NULogic, it is a priority to support companies in these digital transformation processes, which drive automation and adaptability to continuous change.