Chapter 2: Why Low Code Is Important to IT Leaders

Low code aligns IT and business

 

Low-code development platforms will be a $187 billion global market by 2030, up from $10.3 billion in 2019. So if your organization isn't using low code yet, there's a good chance it will be soon.

One of the most exciting aspects of low code is how it democratizes software development. It bypasses complicated programming languages so that even non-technical users can create applications. That makes low code compelling not only from a tactical standpoint, but also from a strategic one. In fact, 100% of enterprises that use them say low- and no-code development platforms have generated positive ROI, according to KPMG."" 

At the end of the day, that means IT leaders can deliver more and faster benefits to employees, partners and customers.

As early as 2012 McKinsey1 reported that “large IT projects run 45 percent over budget and 7 percent over time while delivering 56 percent less value than predicted,” with “every additional year spent on the project increasing cost overruns by 15 percent.” The current reality sees businesses developing more apps, more often, and on a larger scale than ever. With this in mind, companies will need a reliable tool that helps them meet delivery and stick to their budgets.

1McKinsey, “Delivering large-scale IT projects on time, on budget, and on value,” 2012

Seven ways low code can transform your development process.

1. More human resources flexibility

Even with the growth of low-code development platforms, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees a 22% increase in software developer jobs by 2030. Demand for software developers is so high that there are more jobs available than coders to fill them. In that case, low-code platforms can be a critical business enabler. Because there’s no coding expertise required, virtually any employee can use low-code tools to create apps.

That means companies can be more strategic with their human capital, which can fortify them in competitive hiring markets. For example, companies can use low code to put app development in the hands of business users. That gives IT staff the ability to tackle innovation projects that might otherwise end up backlogged, and ensures that the business continues to create value with apps regardless of available IT resources.

2. Faster speed to market

With a low-code platform, you can create applications much faster compared to traditional software development — sometimes in a matter of hours or even minutes.

When you can create and deploy apps quickly, it means you can launch new products and services ahead of your competition. Likewise, it means you can accelerate digital transformation initiatives that might make your business more intelligent, efficient, and responsive to its customers. Companies can implement user feedback and refine products faster because low code allows you to iterate quickly for continuous improvement.

 

of respondents believe that if low- or no-code approaches were made available to business users, they could create connected experiences that improve outcomes.

3. Greater efficiency and productivity

The reason low code is faster than traditional software development is that it's also more efficient. Low-code platforms feature automated processes to ensure precision and quality. That means there's less chance for human coding error.

Software developers can streamline their workflows with drag and drop instead of hand-coding. Developers don't have to reinvent the wheel thanks to reusable templates and prebuilt components, which are significant features of low-code development platforms. This means they can complete more apps than your competitors in less time.

4. Easy collaboration and integration

Business users are attracted to the step-by-step guidance low code gives them. From the first click to sending their finished app to the cloud, low code ensures they don't miss a thing. Along the way, they can add pre-coded processes, logic, and data models with the click of a mouse. Suppose they want to customize their app's look or function beyond what's available? In that case, they can partner with a programmer to create and incorporate custom code that's needed. Interoperability is built-in to low code — apps often integrate well with enterprise data, systems, and web services. For this reason, low-code platforms can be a technical bridge as well as a cultural one.
Align business and IT for big benefits*
 
Improved collaboration
Improved operational efficiency
Better customer experience

5. Reduce costs

Traditional methods of building with code often take a long time and require big-dollar investments. In 2021, Infoworld magazine reported that even “simple consumer applications built from scratch in native code take anywhere from six to 25 months (average 12 months), so simple native applications are likely to cost about $72K to develop.”

Because low code has pre-built components that are standardized and tested out-of-the-box, this can lead to apps with fewer bugs and integration issues. Companies using low code can expect to spend less on app maintenance and troubleshooting, along with the labor to address these issues. Finally, many low-code development platforms are cloud-based. So, companies can reduce spending on on-premise infrastructure, too.

6. Deliver complex solutions with customization and integration

Low-code development platforms have many advantages over traditional software development. But they also have at least one leg up over their no-code siblings: customization.

Businesses can pair pre-built components with handwritten code to create unique, customized apps that take advantage of low code's time and cost-saving shortcuts.

Not all business problems are solved with low-code or no-code tools, which is why flexibility is vital. You can extend with code and integrate with existing data as the complexity level rises.

7. Grow with a platform that prioritizes your security

Trust and transparency are the foundations of a secure low-code platform. When you build an app on a low-code platform, the vendor has typically vetted its prebuilt code for vulnerabilities. Therefore they can ensure the technical quality of apps built with its tools. If the solution is cloud-based, the vendor typically has baked platform security into its cloud infrastructure to protect your apps and data.

Keep your environment secure in a work-from-anywhere world with low code:

  • Help everyone in your organization understand their role in security
  • Equip your company with resources that eliminate virtual vulnerabilities
  • Allow IT and business to work together to find effective ways of protecting data
  • Download the IT Guide to Data Security and Governance
 
 

Up Next: Chapter 3: Create Applications that Solve Business Challenges

Low code enables you to create engaging, immersive digital experiences.
 

Build customized, enterprise solutions that are fast, agile, and user-centric.

  • Meet market demand with scalable, repeatable experiences
  • Create custom experiences for any business niche or sector
  • Lean into AI to deliver solutions faster and serve customers better
 

More Resources

 
 

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