The Future of Low-Code Platforms and What it Means for Developers

Not too long ago, companies only had two options for application development: buying pre-built apps from an external provider or creating and customizing them with the work of skilled developers and programmers. But today, this has changed. We are now experiencing the rise of low-code, no-code platforms that bring application development to the entire business.

Low-code/no-code (LCNC) leverages an intuitive and graphical interface. These qualities give users the ability to create applications and automate business processes quickly without writing lines of code, making application development easy and accessible for everyone.

But what does low-code development mean for developers? While it's true that low-code platforms simplify the app development process so that general users can create and launch their own digital products without expensive resources and programming knowledge, this doesn’t mean developers will be entirely replaced.

So, developers, don’t worry! The work dynamic will simply change. In what way? It will allow you to focus on more challenging projects. Developers who don’t use no-code tools waste time. Professionals spend nearly a third of their time handling technical issues, which prevents them from dedicating 100% of their time to tasks like developing applications or websites, which translate into benefits for the company.

Companies are in a period of change. Digital transformation has become an urgent need for many of them. The adoption of a low-code development platform is imminent.

What is low code? 

Low-code software development enables faster application delivery with minimal manual coding. Instead of writing thousands of lines of complex code, you can use low-code application development to create complete applications with modern user interfaces, integrations, data, and logic in a fast and visual way.

In other words: since there’s no need to generate code from scratch, low-code platforms allow you to "reuse" code snippets, store them, and thus create a quick deployment system.

What are no-code tools?

While low-code platforms require some programming knowledge, no-code platforms don't need coding knowledge for app creation. They can be used by any user within an organization.

These platforms feature a highly intuitive design, based on "drag and drop" interfaces, and they quickly adapt to the needs of each company.

Key benefits of low-code platforms 

It’s no secret that companies are finding IT talent increasingly difficult. Nowadays, low-code platforms can potentially reduce development time by 50% to 90% compared to a coding language.

One of the biggest advantages of its implementation is that this reduction in time and complexity allows for increased productivity and speed for developers. But there are other benefits as well.

Ease of use: Since apps are not built from scratch, development is simplified, allowing more focus on meeting user needs and requirements.

Faster development: Users can easily adjust and adapt key components and the basic code of their applications. They can also integrate and connect apps, processes, and workflows from existing applications. These features make actual development very fast.

Greater automation: By setting basic rules for decision-making, users can automate workflow designs that can be implemented across multiple information systems. Many LCNC tools use RPA and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to offer automation suggestions.

Lower costs: LCNC also reduces the complexity of maintenance activities, lowering costs and workload. Moreover, new ideas that arise from almost any department can be tested with very little money.

Simplified data integration: Creating workflows where data is collected, shared, processed, and stored makes integration simpler and more flexible. LCNC tools allow users to find, understand, and use the data within a process and identify its source, ownership, validity, and quality for making informed and reliable decisions.

Better customer experience: The ability to keep apps and workflows up to date and respond to feedback will improve customer experience and loyalty. Additionally, LCNC platforms can be used to develop custom applications for customer surveys, e-commerce, loyalty programs, and customer service.

Greater privacy and security: LCNC allows companies to handle development tasks too sensitive to outsource, helping minimize the risk of cybercrime or security breaches.

Low-Code Development vs. Traditional Development

Traditional coding involves working with a whole team of developers and programmers to gather specific requirements, develop a plan, and create custom code to develop an application that meets certain specific needs.

The traditional approach, although still “king,” often results in projects that can be complex, costly, and subject to delays due to multiple factors such as:

• Poor user experience

• Software coding errors

• Inaccurate estimation

• Testing challenges

• Infrastructure delays

Moreover, a traditional development approach requires an ongoing maintenance cycle to ensure the software application continues to be customized, secure, and up to date.

Is low-code development the future? 

A Gartner survey estimated that more than 65% of application development in 2024 will be done on low-code platforms. But that’s not all—another forecast predicts that half of the users of these tools will come from outside the IT sector by the end of 2025. What does this mean? There’s a chance that up to 80% of tech products will be created by people with no technological experience.

However, creating large-scale enterprise-grade applications will still require highly skilled programmers, so these professionals are not at risk. Developers are using low code to quickly create customer-facing applications, design data-intensive workflows, and automate integrations. Low-code platforms are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for companies looking to reap the benefits of software more quickly and at a lower cost.

As no-code technology advances, the possibilities will only grow. From creating AI-powered tools to personalized customer experiences, no-code has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses operate. The future has arrived, and the possibilities are endless.