The Software Development Game-Changer: How Low-Code and No-Code Platforms are Disrupting the Industry
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Over the past few years, low-code and no-code platforms have significantly increased in popularity. By 2024, these platforms will be used in about 65% of all development projects, according to Gartner predictions. Why, then, is this the pattern? Low-code and no-code platforms offer a novel method for creating applications that requires little to no coding knowledge. As a result, the software development sector has been significantly disrupted by these platforms.
So, yes, low-code and no-code platforms are the software development game-changer. Here is a detailed review of how these platforms are disrupting the industry.
Table of Contents
How Low-Code and No-Code Platforms are Disrupting the Industry
Low-code and no-code platforms are disrupting the software development sector in various ways, including the following:
- Accelerating the Software Development Process
Did you know you can build a no-code or low-code application in just a few hours? Gone are the days when you had to spend months developing your application using traditional methods.
Unlike before, building your applications with low-code and no-code platforms is no longer a coding-intensive exercise. In fact, you don’t have to code everything from scratch. Instead, these platforms have pre-built components like modules, templates, and application logic. What’s more, you can use the drag-and-drop feature and the visual interface to add functionality to your software. This significantly simplifies and accelerates application development.
Also, advanced low-code development, such as Mendix, feature AI-powered virtual co-developer bots. These bots can help identify and fix issues in your applications and recommend the next best actions based on the context and other relevant data.
Additionally, you can automate some functions, such as testing. This significantly saves on development hours, leading to rapid software delivery.
- Reducing Software Development Costs
Initially, you had to have a highly trained and experienced team to build an application. Such teams come at a significantly high cost. Also, it would take months to create fully functional and tested software due to the intensive coding involved in the development process.
However, low-code and no-code platforms have completely changed this norm. These platforms have significantly reduced development costs in various ways, including the following:
- No need for large development teams to create custom software
- Reduced development time means reduced working hours.
- Democratizing Software Development
Traditionally, software development was only for developers with advanced technical expertise to build applications using complex programming languages. However, low-code and no-code platforms have changed this norm.
One of the biggest benefits of these platforms is that they empower anyone to build applications despite having little or no coding experience. Therefore, individuals and small businesses without the capacity and resources to invest in traditional software development or hire developers can still build applications that solve various business needs, such as:
- Streamlining business operations
- Automating workflows, and
- Managing different key business processes.
As a result, low-code and no-code platforms enable such individuals and small businesses to boost productivity and efficiency. Therefore, these platforms create new innovation and growth opportunities.
- Bringing Collaboration into Software Development
As previously stated, software development was only initially handled by IT teams. This is because of the complexity of the programming languages used to build applications. Therefore, business teams rarely contributed to the development process, as they did not understand the applications being developed. This resulted in a significant gap between the IT and business teams.
However, low-code and no-code platforms have changed this norm. Since these platforms use a visual, model-driven development approach, business developers can actively participate in the development process. This allows for faster feedback and iteration.
What’s more, advanced low-code and no-code application development platforms, like Mendix, include built-in collaboration tools. These tools help cross-functional teams to plan, co-create, and manage software products that meet business and market demands.
- Greater Flexibility and Scalability
Due to the intensive coding involved, updating and modifying applications would take a long time. This meant businesses would take time to respond to customer change requests or changes in the business environment. As a result, they would miss out on or struggle to seize time-limited business opportunities.
Fortunately, low-code and no-code development platforms have changed everything, boosting software flexibility and scalability. These platforms allow for rapid application development, implying that you can quickly respond to change requests without involving a team of developers to implement the changes.
Also, some low-code platforms like Mendix use microservices architecture to create applications. This implies that the application is subdivided into smaller units representing specific business functions. These microservices are developed independently and merged into a single application. Therefore, an upgrade in a particular business function can be done without affecting the application’s full functionality.
The flexibility and scalability of these platforms are necessary in the ever-changing and highly-disrupted business environment. It enables businesses to scale their software on demand, achieving greater agility.
- Seamless Integration
Integration with other systems has been a critical issue in traditional high-coding methods. It is complex and exposes your applications to higher security risks, especially if not done correctly. According to a recent report, 59% of companies confirmed that they have experienced a data breach due to third-party integration.
However, low-code and no-code platforms provide an easy way to securely integrate your software with third-party service providers. They come with built-in connectors, enabling you to quickly integrate existing software with external services and data sources. Therefore, businesses can access and use more external data sources and services, improving decision-making and efficiency.
- Increased Innovation
Low-code and no-code platforms enable users to quickly develop and test new ideas. This encourages more experimentation and innovation, resulting in the creation of new and more efficient software solutions.
Final Thoughts
Low-code and no-code platforms are game-changers in the software development industry. They involve minimal coding, enabling you to build applications faster and more efficiently. Also, they offer greater flexibility and scalability and promote innovation, seamless integration, and collaboration between business and IT teams, all of which were difficult to achieve with traditional software development methods.
Ready to get started with low-code and no-code development? Mendix is the perfect platform for you. Sign up today to get started.