10 Capabilities A Low-Code Platform Must Offer
Low-code platforms provide a starting point for businesses to create applications with a balance of traditional programming and no code development. Importantly, low-code platforms are inherently scalable and flexible when it comes to development approaches.
Businesses looking to automate workflows and applications can use advanced automation features of a low-code platform. Modern low-code platforms use AI technology to help developers define complex logic and enable data integration from a wide range of sources.
Every business is different. Some businesses still have an array of in-house systems that store core business data. Other businesses were born cloud-native, and any addition to their ecosystem must meet the standards of their existing cloud ecosystem. Therefore, if you are a business looking for a low-code programming platform, you must look for a solution that best suits your unique needs.
In this low-code guide, we’ll walk you through the ten low-code capabilities that are most impactful to business users.
Key Statistics: The Rise of Low-Code Tools
To put things in context, let’s look at some key figures on the importance of low-code in the near future.
- Forrester reports that low-code automation platforms account for a $12 billion industry in 2021.
- A Gartner report predicts that more than 50% of medium-sized and large corporations will move on to low-code platforms by 2023.
- The same Gartner report also highlights that low-code platforms will make up 65% of business applications by 2024.
- When it comes to the demand for software developers, the current projection suggests an increase of 21% by 2028.
- Over 75% of large organizations will use at least four separate low-code tools for application and development purposes.
10 Capabilities of a Low-code Automation Platform
Here are top features you should expect from your low-code automation product:
1. Scalability
Low-code automation platforms should be scalable enough to help enterprises evolve organically. The right solution can handle vast amounts of users and continue to operate efficiently even as the organization adds new people, assets and resources.
2. Integration
Your low-code automation platform should be able to deploy applications across the enterprise’s infrastructure. In today’s complex IT and business environment, there is never one single platform or solution that meets all needs, so it is imperative that systems can connect to each other securely.
To deliver the benefits that process automation can bring to the enterprise, interoperability with other systems to leverage data or execute tasks is an absolute requirement.
3. Visual Modeling
The best low-code tools come with impressive visual modeling and simple drag-and-drop features. One of the hallmarks of a system that allows rapid and agile development is that it expands the capability of visually building and managing application’s development phase.
This balance between drag and drop as well as the ability to go under the hood to edit code for more complex requirements is the definition of what low-code is.
4. Competitive Pricing
In most low-code solutions, you can opt for a tailored solution that fits your organizational needs. This approach allows you to only pay for features and capabilities you use and avoid extraneous costs.
The cost is further impacted by using a tool that does not always require software engineers to develop – reducing the labor often at the core of custom developed solutions.
5. Reusability
Low-code application platforms help enterprises save resources and re-use modules in similar apps. This helps organizations achieve more consistency and repurpose policies of core applications and processes.
6. Compatibility
Since team members use various devices in different locations, organizations can use a low-code automation platform to ensure team members working from PC, laptop, or phone are productive and on the same page.
Organizations require the flexibility to support remote and on site work, and to adapt to rapid change as we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. User Experience
Your low-code automation tool should be able to make a long-lasting impression. For starters, it should be easy to use and help remove technical complexities from the extended design process. At the same time, an intelligent automation platform should be intuitive enough to help you create user interfaces that will drive adoption and deliver process automations throughout your business.
8. DevOps
Low-code platforms integrate and streamline the DevOps model to create a pipeline for application development, deployment and monitoring. With DevOps baked into the platform, organizations can better maintain the fidelity and security of their solutions.
9. Compliance
With a robust low-code automation platform, you can monitor and modify applications easily. In a competitive business environment, you can use low-code platforms to model, document, and automate the business process to maintain the best security standards and ensure your apps meet compliance requirements.
10. Analytics and Reporting
Analytics and reporting is the answer to continuous business improvement. With a low-code automation platform, you can keep an eye on key metrics that can improve processes and render high ROI.
Benefits of Low-Code Platform Capabilities
Easy to Use
The main attraction of low-code development tools is the ease of use for the developers. You don’t have to be great at coding to take advantage of the user-friendly drag-and-drop in a low-code tool to start the development phase of a custom application.
 Gain Competitive Edge
Despite the industry and the market you cater to, the adoption of low-code development platforms is the way to go. With low-code automation tools, you can level the playing field and gain a competitive edge with minimal resources.
More Speed and Less Resources
Low-code tools help you build applications for more than one platform at the same time and showcase work in a matter of days. With a low-code development tool, you don’t need to depend on a developer with specific skills to take care of your extensive project. You can count on a low-code tool to complete the lengthy project faster and at a minimal cost.
Scalable and Modular
Enterprise low-code application platforms are modular solutions geared towards solving business hurdles in a scalable way. These tools come with advanced features that are customizable across apps. It means your team can dive into scalable and personalized app development to boost productivity.
Challenges for Organizations that Don’t Use a Low-Code Platform
Without low-code automation platforms, enterprises face increased risks and cost to implement application development programs and deploy the infrastructure required in order to meet the functional requirements of a modern enterprise software – high performance, high quality, compatibility, and scalability.
Business stakeholders that haven’t had the chance to use and leverage a low-code automation tool incur more costs for application development and build. It also takes more time for teams to ensure a high-quality build. With a low-code development tool, you don’t have to be a coding expert or possess extensive development knowledge. However, make sure to rethink and address development assumptions before you use a low-code development platform.
Low-Code Automation Tools: It’s Time to Evolve
If businesses want to evolve and keep up with the changing digital and tech dynamics, they will have to adapt and embrace low-code platforms. Whether you operate a small or big organization, the key is to digitize and automate business processes at a rapid pace.
Opt for low-code solutions that allow you to navigate challenges and cut out dependence on traditional methods. Besides, low-code platforms are easy-to-use and perfect for less experienced teams. You can count on low-code automation tools to accelerate your entire development process with no need for manual coding.
Final Thoughts
Once you learn to harness the power of enterprise-scale low-code platforms, you won’t have to deal with traditional development challenges. Low-code development tools allow you to render the most efficient intelligence and data solutions with less time and resources.
If you want to revitalize and transform your business, reach out to us and we can help you leverage the advanced automation features of low-code platforms. Contact us if you have any questions and we will help you review low-code automation platforms with more details.
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