What is Low-Code?

Low-Code, often seen as ‘low code’, is a new approach to developing software or applications. Instead of using complicated programming languages, Low-Code platforms use a visual approach, with drag-and-drop interfaces, to improve the development process and accelerate the time to deployment of your application. The result of this is that more people can be involved in the creation of business applications.

Being a quicker alternative to tradition software development, Low-Code platforms have seen large growth in adoption and popularity. Research firm Gartner predicts that the Low-Code market is “expected to reach $29 billion in revenue by 2025 (with a compound annual growth rate [CAGR] of more than 20%)”. They also predict that “By 2025, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020.”

What’s the difference between No-Code and Low-Code?

Low-Code and No-Code platforms are very similar in their approach to software and application development. Both utilise drag-and-drop application building. No-Code, however, is limited by the modules that have been created making these platforms more suitable for simple applications and processes.

Low-code platforms, like PhixFlow, allow you to go further and create applications for more complex business scenarios. This is because they allow you to add code to give the platform a ‘deep end’. They can still be used by citizen developers for the simple applications and also makes them the ideal tool for organisations that have fusion teams. These are teams made up of citizen developers, through to pro developers, assembled to work on an application.

Why are Low-Code platforms gathering momentum?

One of the key drivers for the accelerated growth of Low-Code platforms is that almost anyone in an organisation can develop an app. Efficiency gains, automated processing and better customer experiences are seen as a result. These gains are seen quickly too. Organisations no longer need to wait for experienced development teams to start work and develop an app with code. Instead, regular business users (citizen developers) can make a start and then bring in technical citizen developers and pro developers when additional complexity needs to be added. This scenario keeps the business subject matter experts involved in the creation of a solution and increases collaboration between departments.

What can businesses build with Low-Code platforms?

The possibilities using Low-Code are wide ranging, covering business process automation, data integration and analytics, legacy system modernisation and operations improvement applications.

Low-Code platforms lend themselves well to applications that have complex business rules and require integration with other apps, business systems and external APIs.

Low-Code and Shadow IT

Both Low-Code and No-Code platforms have historically been seen as a potential risk to businesses, it is No-Code that presents the bigger risk. No-Code platforms allow users to proceed with little or no intervention from IT team, which can lead to data streams and applications that are unmonitored.

As Low-Code platforms address more complex business scenarios, it is usual for IT teams to be involved in the set-up and control data access to other internal and external systems. IT teams also often select Low-Code platforms to enable citizen development initiatives which can relieve the burden on their workloads.

When should you use Low-Code platforms?

As there are areas in which Low-Code and No-Code platforms offer similar similarity it is important to look at the goals and objectives for the organisation. Low-Code lends itself better to organisations that have more complex use cases and those who want an all-in-one solution that can cater for all application types.

Low-Code with PhixFlow

Working with PhixFlow, will enable you to cover the best of both worlds. Non-technical developers and business subject matter experts will be able to create the applications they need to automate processes with the confines of a governed environment using No-Code. The creation of complex applications, which span multiple departments and systems, are developed by technical citizen developers alongside the business users.

Our customer success teams are also on hand to ensure that your experience with PhixFlow is seamless. By combining your solution ideas and our experience, your organisation will soon be realising the benefits of Low-Code application development.