Every company is responsible for its technological assets, even companies that are not involved in the tech industry. Technology has become so integral to business operations that no company can function well without it. Many companies are looking for ways to take control of their technology, particularly their online assets without a massive investment in infrastructure and IT talent.
Combined with limited budgets, it can be difficult to get the online resources that you want. Fortunately, technology has evolved to a point where anyone can be a developer. Before your company invests heavily in coding expertise and other resources to develop online assets, here is what you should know about the Low-Code/No-Code development movement.
What is Low-Code/No-Code?
Coding is the process of developing any digital asset by assembling the code for it. Websites and software are the predominantly coded assets that businesses use. In previous years, this required knowledge of how to code in several of many coding languages. Needless to say, it required hiring an agency or an in-house team of people that knew how to write all the lines of code needed to build whatever your company needed. The cost of this can be very expensive depending on which options you choose and how you set up your system.
Low-Code/No-Code is a movement toward systems that let you develop the same digital assets without needing to code or needing to code very little to create a finished product. This is done through a system that lets you compile websites out of premade components. These are usually referred to as drag-and-drop systems, although the interface can take many forms. Because the system keeps you from interacting with the code, you have to know very little or nothing about coding.
The Benefits
Switching to a Low-Code/No-Code system provides two major benefits. The first is being able to build your own web-based systems. Since you do not need to know a lot about coding, it is possible to build a system using one of the available DIY solutions. Platforms like Shopify use this to their advantage to give customers more control over the development of their systems without needing a lot of technical skill. This means that everyone can have the system that they want without an expensive cost or a struggle to build it.
Another way that a Low-Code/No-Code helps is by reducing maintenance and redesign costs. These became hidden costs for most companies given that they would need to rebuild their website over time to keep it up-to-date. To do it, they would have to hire a company or start completely over. Low-Code/No-Code makes this much easier since most systems use a drag-and-drop system. That way, your company can simply make edits when needed without having to make major changes to the site’s code.
Rapid Development
Low-Code/No-Code makes rapid development possible. Companies can begin projects and pull together a system very quickly. The work shows results immediately, and it makes prototyping and the design process much more efficient. In fact, many companies design the system as they build it since they can see the results while they work. It is possible to develop many iterations of the site quickly to try different designs.
Ease of Use
Low-Code/No-Code systems are easier to use than trying to put together pieces of code. The nature of these systems makes them fundamentally easier to work with. Every object on a page can be manipulated until the right design is found. Some development agencies and software environments prefer these types of systems.
For example, Microsoft added drag and drop to several of its software development platforms years ago so that developers could put together pages faster while still being able to modify the code when needed. The result is a workflow where developers design elements of the page using code, then use a drag and drop system to reposition them and redesign the page. Many newer platforms offer a similar system to make it easy for anyone to develop software systems.
In-House Asset Management
Since Low-Code/No-Code systems are easy to use and require minimal or no coding knowledge, more companies can manage their software and websites in-house. Before, companies needed to hire skilled programmers as in-house staff. Now, even the smallest companies can manage their assets in-house without hiring skilled programmers. This is a major cost benefit since it eliminates the need for more staff members and complex technology.
Help is Available
Low-Code/No-Code systems do not eliminate the need for developers entirely. They just make it easier for companies to develop the resources that they need. You can still work with a developer to create systems that use Low-Code/No-Code principles while getting access to a team of highly skilled designers. At KitelyTech, our team can help you develop a new system no matter what type of system it is. Call us at (800) 274 2908 to discuss your next project.
