The notion that so much of what we do in our day-to-day lives is made possible by code can seem incomprehensible to the many people that lack coding know-how – as a result, the idea of creating an app or website is likely to feel out of reach.
But the space that was once only open to those with specialist software development skills and years of experience is now available to those with little to no programming knowledge at all – so let’s answer some of the main questions surrounding the no-code movement.
What is no-code app development?
In simple terms, no-code app development enables apps to be built without the need to write code. These development platforms enable users to drag-and-drop pre-configured blocks to create advanced, bespoke applications, without the necessity for those creating the app to hold advanced programming skills. This isn’t to be confused with low-code, which provides the ability for more sophisticated apps to be created.
As a result, employees who have a good understanding of internal business functions and the requirements of the app, but who lack the development knowledge to physically create applications from scratch, are able to easily build an app and add functionality with the specific end user in mind.
What are the benefits of no-code?
From the outside, the development industry can sometimes appear to provide limited access to its exclusive club. But no-code removes this barrier to entry and unlocks a variety of benefits:
Speed
The app development process can be extremely time consuming. Our Enterprise Mobility Report discovered that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Chief Information Officers found one of the biggest challenges when developing apps in-house is to do so within a particular timeframe. Consequently, more than half (56%) of CIOs have been forced to abandon the in-house development of a mobile app, primarily due to issues surrounding the speed and deployment of the app.
As developers are often racing against the clock to complete projects within a limited timeframe, the quality – or even essential functionality – of the product may sometimes be sacrificed with an inferior product.
No-code app development doesn’t force users to make a choice between quality and speed – these frameworks create the same in-depth functionality as traditional methods used by professional developers, but the project can be turned around in a fraction of the time.
Cost
The title ‘developer’ is an incredibly broad term. From frontend and backend, to full stack and DevOps developers, the wealth of experience that accompanies these engineers comes at a cost.
Conversely, no-code development platforms efficiently utilise a business’s budget by eliminating the lurking maintenance costs that occur with traditional methods, alongside shorter turnaround times and no requirement for developers’ years of technical ability.
The increased turnaround times brought on by traditional coding applications are likely to be a major contributing factor to the financial concerns of CIOs, with 36% admitting to having struggled to develop apps within a particular budget.
Collaboration
With traditional app development, there is often a level of disconnect that occurs between the business and the professionals building the app: why is it taking so long? Why aren’t these functions available? What does that mean?
No-code app development removes the potential for breakdowns in communication between the business and development teams, as businesses can follow along with readily available progress, analysts and engineers can work alongside one another, and technical terms don’t become lost in translation.
What can you build?
From eCommerce sites to marketplaces and listing directories, the possibilities created by no-code apps are endless.
However, apps that focus on project and file management are amongst some of the most useful no-code app developments to enhance day-to-day business operations. These apps can be custom-built and tailored to any given industry or workflow, be integrated as an additional feature within another app, and have the capacity to store any physical document in digital form.
Why is no-code the future?
The no-code movement operates on the fundamental belief that technology should encourage and facilitate creation, not act as a barrier to entry – rather than focusing on what apps can build, no-code solutions symbolise a significant shift in who can build an app.
The new absence of customary skills to be involved in the development of no-code apps makes them of fundamental importance. Traditionally, companies would only consider app development should their business model require it – eCommerce stores for example. But now, companies are more likely to see the benefit in their daily use, using employee-only applications for time and task tracking, and internal communications to facilitate the more efficient management of projects.
If you’d like to find out more about how our no-code app development can assist operations across your business, contact a member of the team or take a look at our case studies to discover the variety of industries our software can be specifically tailored to.