Most companies have opted for custom-made software development over the years, but it’s started to give way to low-code development as a viable option. Forrester Research reports that the low-code development market is growing at a rate of 50% year-to-year.
What Is Low-Code App Development?
Low-code is a newer approach to building unique business applications quickly. Using low-code, you can avoid having to code apps line-by-line. It’s a way to develops applications quickly with minimal hand-coding, quick setup, and rapid deployment.
Low-code platforms let developers work from existing templates. They can drag and drop prebuilt elements and components, such as forms or objects, to develop a working app with less time and hassle. In some cases, app development can be handled by even those with limited coding knowledge by piecing together pre-designed elements and customizing them to a specific use-case.
Both developers and non-developers can use low-code development products. They require less training to start. They are typically visual interfaces with reusable components and process modeling. Apps can be created, prototyped, and delivered rapidly.
The Benefits of Low-Code App Development
Low-code app development has the potential to decrease the time needed to meet business requirements. Forrester Research states that is can be 10 times faster than traditional app development methods. This allows for faster delivery for a minimally viable product that can be evolved after user feedback.
They can also aid in digital transformation within companies. By automating tasks with simple applications, companies can save time and shift resources away from manual work. Traditional app development may take too long, cost too much, or not be worth the effort for development teams that have higher business priorities.
IT teams are often overloaded and understaffed for the amount of work they already have. Low-code lets these projects be created without having to tie up expensive, highly-skilled development teams. It also avoids the so-called Shadow IT solution where workers bypass the IT team completely and adopt third-party solutions that aren’t sanctioned or right for the environment.
Staffing development teams can be expensive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median pay for software developers as more than $105,000 per year. That doesn’t include benefits, workspace costs, hardware, and software. Low-code development allows higher-priced talent to work on high-level projects without forgoing low-level applications that can help a business grow.
Potential Pitfalls with Low-Code App Development
By broadening the pool of people that can create applications, it’s easy to lose control over governance. Without strict protocols and guidelines within an organization, applications can become a mess and difficult to scale or integrate with other applications.
Because low-code app platforms use common components and pre-built modules, there’s much less ability to customize. It may prevent you from getting the exact functionality or integration you need.
In traditional app development, you’re only limited by the expertise of the developers doing the coding. Some low-code platforms limit customization options. Depending on the expertise of the people doing the app builds, you may need access to the underlying code to customize it to your specific use.
Low-code platforms are typically limited in user interface and design, which may be fine for internal use, but extremely limited when it comes to consumer-facing products that may require a higher standard for user experience.
Another potential pitfall for low-code platforms is vendor-lock. Depending on the platform you choose, you could be locked into an underlying code that won’t work outside the platform. Once you stop using the tool or switch to another vendor, the application may no longer work. That’s why it’s crucial to evaluate licensing and portability when choosing a low-code platform.
What’s the Right Approach for Your Business?
Many companies are looking at the scope of projects they need to develop to stay competitive. They will evaluate the need for highly-skill internal development teams and whether they have the necessary staff and expertise they need (and whether they can afford it). They’ll compare that to low-code development options for some projects or whether outsourcing project development is a smarter, more cost-efficient way of getting the job done. One way to estimate costs is to use an app development cost calculator. It’s a free app development cost calculator that can help you estimate development costs quickly and get proposals from multiple developers.