Low Code App Development Defined | Platforms, Tips & Uses

Most people have the perception that developing an application requires coding experience, time, and cost.

But have you ever heard of low-code app development?

Low-code development is a relatively new approach that allows developers to easily create applications without having strong coding knowledge.

It enables you to develop professional apps in much less time and stay ahead of the competition.

In the blog, we will explain low-code app development in complete detail. Let’s begin!

What is Low-code App Development?

In order to explain low-code app development, the first thing to do is to know what it is.

Low-code development refers to the visual approach of app development that involves optimization of the development process for faster app delivery.

In other words, it is the process of designing and developing software applications with little or no coding knowledge.

So, even if you do not have expertise in coding or the programming language, you can still develop apps with the low-code approach.

This process allows businesses to easily build custom applications with innovative functionalities to meet their specific business needs.  

Instead of having to use complex programming languages, the low-code platforms enable you to leverage visual interfaces for app development.

The platforms come with drag and drop capabilities, ready-to-use templates, code snippets, and more features to make development easy.

Low-code app development allows businesses to save a great deal of time, money, and effort. 

Benefits of Low-code App Development:

Whether you want to simplify the app development process or build apps faster, low-code app development can be the right option for you. Here are some of the top benefits of low-code app development.

• Improves Time-to-market

To stay ahead in the competitive market, businesses require launching apps before their competitors. That is exactly where low-code development can help. With the use of pre-built blocks, low-code ensures that you can get your app developed in much less time.  

• Reduces Cost

One of the most significant benefits of low-code app development is that it helps in reducing the development cost. Every business looks for ways to lower its app development costs. For companies with tight budgets, this becomes all the more important. Using low code can make it possible. 

As it allows developing apps in much less time, it can help significantly lower your development costs. Moreover, it can reduce the need to hire more developers, thereby lowering your hiring costs. With low code, even your employee who does not have expertise in coding can develop apps much more easily. 

• Get High Performing Apps

Performance of the apps is at the core of delivering exceptional user experiences. With low-code app development, you do not have to worry about any performance issues. Even though the apps are developed faster, they are thoroughly tested. It ensures that all your apps are free from potential bugs to offer you high-performing apps.

• Provides High Agility

With low code, you can gain access to the reusable components. This, in turn, allows you to make the desired changes to the apps in less time. Moreover, it also saves you the hassle of writing long codes to make any changes to the applications.

• Quick Automation

Another prominent benefit of low-code app development is that it allows quick automation of a number of processes. The low-code platforms contain modules that allow automating things such as reporting, data analytics, document management, and much more. It enables you to build your ERP or CRM systems with the use of ready-made components in just a few days.

Use of Low-Code Platforms:

Now that you know the benefits of low-code app development, the next thing to gain insights into is the use of low-code platforms.

These platforms can be used for creating diverse apps for different business purposes. With the use of low-code platforms, here are some of the different apps you can build.

• Customer engagement apps
• Accounting and financing apps
• SaaS apps
• Operations management apps
• Data analysis apps
• Custom ERP software
• Time management apps

Choosing the Right Low-Code Platform for App Development:

When it comes to developing apps with the use of low-code platforms, you can get a number of options. Choosing the right low-code platform often becomes a challenge for businesses. If you are wondering how to select the apt platform for your development needs, considering these factors can help. 

• Use Cases

The first thing you need to consider is the use cases. Different low-code platforms come with unique functionalities and capabilities. Make sure to choose a platform that can meet your specific business requirements.

• User of the Platform

In general, there are two types of no-code platforms available. One is meant for the developers, while the other is intended for business users. So, before you start your search for low-code platforms, you must be clear about who will use the platform. This will help you get the right platform for your app development project. 

• Adaptability

The needs of businesses keep changing at regular intervals. So, it is important to look for low-code platforms that are highly adaptable in nature. Make sure to choose a platform that can easily adapt to the changing demands of your business. Also, ensure that the platform can be integrated with all your existing systems. 

• Platform Support

Platform support is another important thing to consider. You would not want to use different low-code platforms for developing different applications. Make sure to choose a platform that is capable of building both web and mobile apps. Also, ensure that it can help you build the iOS and Android apps. 

• Cost

The importance of considering the cost cannot be undermined. The prices of the low-code platforms vary. While some platforms may charge you on the basis of the number of users, others may require you to pay an annual fee. Depending on your budget, you can decide on the best low-code platform for your app development project.

Now that you know how to choose the best low-code platform, here are some of the popular platforms you can use.

• Appian
• OutSystems
• Zoho Creator
• Microsoft Power Apps
• Kissflow
• Quickbase
• Mendix

Tips for Effective Low-code App Development:

Want to get started with low-code app development? In that case, here are some of the best tips that can help. Let’s take a look!

• Know Your Audience

When it is about low-code app development, the first thing to do is to know your target audience. Having a clear idea about your target audience will enable you to develop great applications with much ease. Try collecting information about your audience, such as their age, preferences, requirements, and more. Knowing your audience will also allow you to understand the exact problem that you are trying to solve through the development of the app.

• Define your Requirements and Goals

Before you start developing low-code apps, you must be clear about the purpose of developing the app. Think about what type of app you want to develop. Whether you want an application for better customer engagement or an app for operation management, you need to have clarity. Also, you must decide what features you want to add to your low-code app. Make sure to set concrete requirements and expectations before going ahead with the app development process.

• Select the Most Suitable Platform 

In order to build a low-code app, choosing the right platform is at the core. Once you select a platform and start using it, making a switch can be both challenging and expensive. So, it is vital to make the right choice from the very beginning. Look for a low-code platform that can meet all the objectives and goals of your business app development. Consider investing time and effort to get an understanding of different platforms and choose the best one for your project. 

• Test and Deploy the Apps

Once you have developed your business app with the use of low-code platforms, you need to test it. Testing is vital as it helps in uncovering potential bugs in the applications and ensures the delivery of flawless apps to the users. It is essential to deliver exceptional user experiences. The best thing is that if you have not done a lot of hand coding, the testing of the apps will be simple and quick. Next comes deployments. With the use of standard tools, you can easily deploy low-code apps.

• Invest Time in Maintenance 

Your task of developing the low-code apps does not end with deployment. Maintenance is also important. When it comes to maintenance, the best thing is that your app developed with low-code platforms will require minimal maintenance. So, you will have to invest less time and effort.

Conclusion:

Low-code app development has gained a lot of popularity in recent times. If you want to save time, money, and effort in app development, the best option is to opt for low-code app development. It allows easy development of apps with little or no coding knowledge. Now that you know everything about low-code app development, it is time to develop your own business app. Make sure to invest in the right platform to build a great app.