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What is low-code?

Low-code is an approach for rapidly creating applications with minimal manual programming. By abstracting complex code into visual interfaces, low-code platforms empower non-technical business users to build working apps, while also allowing professional developers to accelerate complex tasks.

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Things to know about low code

The world runs on apps, and the business world is no exception. Unfortunately, the traditional app-development processes businesses have depended on in the past may no longer be effective. Building software solutions from the ground up takes time—months, or even years, of planning, designing, testing, and deploying. And when your organization needs solutions fast, waiting on overburdened developers may not be an option.

This is why so many businesses are turning to low-code development.

Low-code development is an approach to app creation that empowers developers to create powerful software applications, with a minimum of hand coding. Low-code development platforms instead rely on graphical interfaces and configuration, handling the most time-consuming aspects and empowering developers to create quickly.

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There are many benefits to limiting the technical roadblocks that have traditionally stood in the way of application development. That said, before taking a closer look at the advantages offered by low-code, it is important to understand its foundational elements. These key features not only make low-code platforms powerful but also highly adaptable for various development needs:

  • Visual modeling
    Visual modeling refers to the graphical representation of an application's architecture, logic, and workflow. This is perhaps the single most important feature in low-code. It allows developers to visually map out an application's overall design instead of writing code line by line, simplifying the development process and enables quick comprehension and modification of the application's structure — even while the app is still in development.
  • Reusable components
    As a general rule, low-code platforms include a library of pre-built, reusable components and modules. These components can range from simple buttons and input fields to more complex functionalities like data tables or authentication systems. Reusability accelerates development, improves consistency, and reduces redundancy. Additionally, by working with tried-and-true code segments, businesses can operate knowing that the modules are fully performance and security tested before applying them.
  • Data integration
    Most apps are not designed to operate in a vacuum; they depend on outside data sources to function properly. Low-code platforms typically offer built-in connectors and APIs for integrating these data sources, external services, or other software applications into the app as it's developed. This simplifies data synchronization and allows for a seamless experience across different parts of a business system. With access to essential information from across the business, developers can build more effective apps more quickly.
  • Application lifecycle management
    Low-code platforms are equipped to manage the entire lifecycle of an application— from development and testing to deployment and maintenance. This centralized control facilitates easy tracking of an application's status, versioning, and updates, thus streamlining the workflow through each phase of the development lifecycle.
  • Declarative tools
    Declarative tools in low-code platforms allow developers to specify 'what' needs to be done, rather than 'how' to do it. For example, rather than writing complex SQL queries to filter data, a developer might use a simple dropdown menu to select the required action. This approach makes it easy to create applications without in-depth coding knowledge, and to make changes to the application without having to revisit or revise foundational coding elements.
  • Drag and drop interfaces
    Finally, a low-code drag-and-drop interface allows developers to easily place elements within the application layout, speeding up the UI/UX development process. This feature is particularly useful for those without extensive coding experience, as it enables them to actively participate in application development simply by operating a user-friendly interface.

Today, low-code application development platforms are in use by more than half of all medium-to-large enterprises. This is because low-code development carries with it a number of advantages.

These benefits include the following:

Speed

Accelerated development and delivery of new applications is perhaps the most widely recognized advantage of low-code development. Intuitive user interfaces, drag-and-drop functionality, simple integration with support tools, and one-click delivery options all help ensure faster turn-around than is possible with traditional development. In fact, low-code solutions can decrease development time by as much as 90%.

Graphic displaying the benefits of low-code development.

Productivity

Low-code app development streamlines the development process. This means that developers can build more apps in less time—focusing on innovation and addressing needs, rather than minute technical details.

Agility

Decreasing the time to deployment carries with it an additional benefit: Business agility. As markets change and new opportunities arise, organizations can quickly create and release new digital initiatives targeting the changing needs of their employees and their customers.

Cost

Hiring, training, and supporting an army of developers can be an expensive endeavor, with the potential cost of developing a single mobile app ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Low-code solutions allow fewer developers to accomplish more, and even empower non-developers to build apps. This means reduced costs, and a greater return on your investment.

Governance

Managing the development and deployment of potentially thousands of apps can be a monumental challenge. Low-code development platforms provide a central location from which IT teams can monitor and control every development project with full visibility.

Collaboration

Managing app development from a single location also promotes better collaboration between developers. Multiple individuals or groups can see exactly what tasks are being accomplished and by whom, allowing them to collaborate to work on the same modules at the same time.

Scaling capacity

If you are relying only on professional development teams to build your apps, you may be overlooking a wealth of untapped capacity. Low-code development gives those with limited technical background the power to develop. These citizen developers can use the pre-built functionality of low-code platforms to further innovation and grow your business.

The terms low-code and no-code tend to get used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While both low-code and no-code solutions provide tools for simplified app development, the differences are worth considering.

Low-code

Low-code platforms are designed for professional developers and non-technical business users. They require very little training or experience and use visual-based modeling to streamline the development process. They also allow those with coding experience to dive deeper, coding by hand when needed.

No-code

No-code platforms require no development experience and are designed specifically for citizen developers and business users. No-code solutions open app development up to essentially everyone but can lead to shadow IT—unsanctioned app development within an organization.

Low-code development’s major selling point is that it helps democratize software development while also giving those with technical experience increased support for creating powerful applications. This sets it distinctly apart from more traditional full-stack development. Although both aim to create efficient, effective software, the routes they take and the tools they use can vary dramatically. The differences often hinge on two key areas:

Level of coding experience

  • Low-code developers may lack coding expertise
    Although there is nothing stopping coding experts from using low-code platforms — and in fact, many such experts prefer low-code development for its improved scaling and accelerated timelines — low-code developers usually do not have an extensive programming background. As such, their platforms are designed to be intuitive, requiring fewer technical skills. While these users might be able to customize apps with some amount of hand-coding, their primary focus is on utilizing the built-in, drag-and-drop features of the low-code platform to accelerate development.
  • Full-stack developers have extensive coding knowledge
    Full-stack developers must be proficient in multiple programming languages and frameworks. Armed with the skill set to build complex applications from scratch, they are capable of handling both the front-end and the back-end aspects of software development. The depth of their coding expertise allows them to tackle intricate problems and tailor solutions in ways that may be more challenging to achieve with low-code platforms.

Building approach

  • Low-code developers work from templates
    Low-code developers typically work with pre-built templates and components. These templates serve as a starting point, enabling rapid development cycles. The platforms often offer various pre-configured elements that can be tailored to specific needs but are designed to with 'out of the box' features for handling common tasks and functions.
  • Full-stack developers build from scratch
    Full-stack developers are fully capable of building applications from the ground up — coding every feature and allowing for more customized and potentially unique solutions to meet their clients' needs. This often requires longer development cycles, as each element of the application must be coded, tested, and integrated manually.  

To improve the way that organizations develop apps, low-code platforms need to meet certain standards. Below are the fundamental principles of low-code development:

Fast delivery

Modular, reusable building blocks and pre-built functional components eliminate the friction of complexity and the need to build everything from scratch.

Collaboration

A multi-persona environment with tooling accommodates varying skills and experience levels across an organization. This allows various stakeholders to work together to quickly deliver the best possible app and experience. Less-experienced builders can leverage functionality built by professional developers, resulting in a faster, more-agile development process.

Scale

Foundational to the application development environment, low-code enables users to quickly scale experiences from the simple to the complex, and across enterprise silos from end to end.

Governance

Empowering citizen developers to build apps quickly can result in application sprawl. Low-code governance implements policy and technology constraints to limit and manage the growth of applications, while also limiting data duplication, inconsistency, and insecurity.

Strategic

Application development must remain aligned with roadmap objectives. Strategic low-code development establishes and monitors measures of success aligned with business value, establishes criteria to approve application development activities, and oversees budgeting and resource allocation.

Technical

Low-code development initiatives must establish technical standards and best practices, define development processes, establish authorities and guidance for testing and deployment, and define technical training requirements.

Operational

The operational principle of low-code development defines and administers the demand intake process. It likewise established support, maintenance, and update requirements and ownership, while defining authorities for rationalization and deprecation.

Experience

Low-code development must consistently create a positive user experience. This promotes increased productivity. New apps do not disrupt user behavior, force new user training, or change management.

Integration

Low-code integration is vital, ensuring easy connections between processes and resources. Platforms must be able to integrate any data or system without requiring specialized integration tools. Pre-built, end-to-end integration solutions reduce time to value.

Security

Low-code is only effective if it can produce secure applications. Security is a defining principle of successful low-code platforms, reducing risk related to data, operational impacts, business continuity, operational performance, and more.

Low-code development’s major selling point is that it helps democratize software development while also giving those with technical experience increased support for creating powerful applications. This sets it distinctly apart from more traditional full-stack development. ABetween no-code and low-code options, anyone within an organization can get involved in the development process. Still, not every app that your business rolls out is well suited to no-code development.

Low-code solutions are effective at building essentially the full range of applications, including those that run sophisticated, important processes that may function as a core part of your business. No-code solutions may lack certain oversight, which could lead to problems with security, integration, compliance, or more. Prudent organizations will limit no-code development to front-end, low-risk applications.

With this in mind, it’s worth noting that different users may benefit from different coding options. lthough both aim to create efficient, effective software, the routes they take and the tools they use can vary dramatically. The differences often hinge on two key areas:

IT/developers

Developers and IT professionals will be able to put the low-code platforms to better use than no-code options. The tools available in effective low-code platforms are designed to assist in the coding process without limiting the capabilities of the resultant application. Professional developers may find no-code options too limited to meet their needs.

Citizen developers

Business users and other citizen developers with little-to-no development experience can also use low-code options. However, they would likely need to do so in collaboration with more experienced developers. No-code solutions are better suited for developers without coding experience, and without the resources to ensure an effective low-code development process.

Possibly the greatest advantage of low-code and no-code development is its accessibility. Low-code assumes—at most—limited coding experience, and no-code options are designed for those with no coding experience at all. Getting started with low-code and no-code options is as simple as finding the right platform, with the right tools. With an effective platform in hand, built-in tutorials, intuitive controls, and the occasional user support options should be enough to get your low-code projects started.

The tools listed above work together to provide an environment where developers can circumvent the greater portion of the app and software development process. Powered by visual programming and automatic code generation, these platforms limit the need for manual coding. At the same time, low-code platforms automatically connect to the back end, managing data storage and usage without needing to involve the user.

Once an app is complete, the company or organization is responsible for rolling it out.

Effective low-code platforms need to be able to provide the right support for developers and citizen developers alike. As such, the best low-code options are focused on the following:

  • Intelligent orchestration
    Built-in intelligence can predict possible issues before they arise and assist in promoting better business decisions.
  • Development tools
    A full suite of app-development tools help empower developers at all levels to create powerful apps at speed and scale.
  • Integration services
    Including pre-built integrations for popular business apps, as well as the ability to create custom integrations, makes it easy to connect your platform to effectively any system and data.
  • Mobile-first user experience
    Platforms designed to function optimally on mobile devices provide a better user experience, and avoid the problems associated with scaling down design and functionality for mobile use.
  • Notification services
    Alerting users when important events occur, top low-code platforms use built-in notification services to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
  • Reliable security features
    Business apps may contain potentially sensitive company, organizational, and personal data. Some of the most notable features to keep in mind as you consider low-code options include application and platform security.  

Taking tools, features, usability, and other factors into account, Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms compares the best low-code platform options. Download the report, and see who’s leading the low-code charge.

The benefits of low-code development are not difficult to see; expanding development capacity beyond experienced development teams, and providing time-saving tools and automation means quicker turnaround time, increased productivity, improved agility, and more. But what about the value?

A 2021 Forrester Total Economic Impact study took a close look at the ServiceNow Now Platform™ and App Engine, and this is what it found:

  • End users are 50% to 75% more efficient when performing workflow tasks due to the applications built with App Engine.
  • App Engine developers are four times more efficient than their full-stack developer counterparts.
  • Legacy platform cost savings total $2.1 million in three years from decommissioning legacy software and applications.
  • New developers take a quarter of the time to onboard.
  • Development teams could rely more heavily on junior developers.

As a result, businesses saw the following average cost benefits:

  • Average ROI of 230%
  • Net present value of $7.06 million
  • Benefits present value of $10.13 million
  • Full payback on investment within nine months

Download the 2021 Forrester Total Economic Impact study.

Low-code and no-code development are not simply theoretical approaches or dumbed-down solutions to application development. On the contrary, low- and no-code approaches have helped major businesses in multiple industries reach and surpass their goals.

Aflac

See how Aflac Japan used a low-code approach to modernize its IT services, create a better employee experience, and reduce development by 33%.

Owens-Illinois

See how low-code solutions allowed Owens-Illinois to create 100s of apps, cutting down application-delivery times responding ten times faster to emerging business needs.

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See how the right low-code platform can grow your business with the ServiceNow Value Calculator.

As evidenced by the examples listed above, low-code solutions can be put to great effect. Unfortunately, they also carry with them certain challenges, particularly in terms of low-code adoption within organizations. Understanding these challenges is vital for organizations looking to integrate low-code solutions into their technology stack effectively. The following are some of the most low-code adoption common hurdles, as well as suggestions for addressing them:

Lack of customizability and flexibility

  • Challenge: Low-code platforms generally offer pre-built templates and components to speed up the development process. However, these may lack the flexibility needed to accommodate the more-demanding specialization or complex functionalities required by some businesses. These organizations might view low-code as overly simplistic and limited in terms of programming capability.
  • Solution: Not every low-code platform carries the same limitations. When evaluating low-code platforms, focus on those that offer extensive customization options or allow for some hand-coding. Alternatively, consider a hybrid approach that employs low-code for basic functionalities and brings in full-stack development for specialized needs.

Difficulty ensuring data security

  • Challenge: Low-code platforms may not always have the built-in security features necessary to protect the application and the sensitive data it contains from evolving security threats.
  • Solution: In many cases, the low-code platform isn't actually the problem; many of these solutions rely on the user to specify data-security permissions, access controls, and configurations. Understanding and correctly deploying these controls can go a long way towards protecting sensitive company and customer information. Of course, some low-code options do provide more granular security options, empowering the organization with more complete control over security — consider these options for a more complete approach to cyber defense.

Vendor lock-in

  • Challenge: Once you adopt a specific low-code platform, it can become costly and complicated to switch vendors, especially if your applications rely heavily on proprietary features.  
  • Solution: Look for platforms that use standard-based technologies and offer some level of data and code portability. Closely review vendor policies before fully committing and consider conducting a pilot project to evaluate the platform's fit for your long-term needs.

Problems integrating with existing systems

  • Challenge: Many organizations already have a complex web of existing systems in place. A low-code platform might not be able to integrate seamlessly with these systems, creating silos and having a negative impact on the efficiency of the development process.
  • Solution: Choose a low-code platform that supports API-based integrations and offers pre-built connectors for popular enterprise software. This makes it easier to tie in the low-code applications with existing systems and exchange data when, where, and how you need it.

Limited support resources

  • Challenge: No developer is an island; most rely heavily on online communities, guides, and reference materials. Unfortunately, because the low-code approach is relatively new, relevant resources may not be as easy to come by — leaving developers without anywhere to turn when they encounter difficult problems.
  • Solution: Invest in training for your team to learn the ins and outs of the chosen platform, or consider outsourcing specific tasks to expert service providers familiar with low-code development.

Adoption of multiple low-code platforms

  • Challenge: For complex development projects, departments within an organization may choose to adopt different low-code platforms to address specific needs, leading to inconsistencies, integration issues, and difficulties associated with learning and managing disparate platforms.
  • Solution: Establish governance policies to standardize the selection and use of low-code platforms across the organization. A centralized approach can help maintain consistency and make integrations more straightforward.

Poor development

  • Challenge: Low-code makes programming easy — sometimes too easy. The simplicity of development on low-code platforms can sometimes lead to sloppy coding practices, affecting the application's performance and maintainability.
  • Solution: Implement code review procedures and performance testing, just as you would in a traditional software development environment. This ensures that applications meet quality and performance benchmarks, even if they are developed more rapidly. Investing more time during the testing phase is an investment that will pay for itself in a higher quality end product.

Low-code solutions are designed to provide a faster, more productive path to software development. As such, low-code pairs very well with the agile methodology.

The agile methodology is a mindset that brings together several software development methods. At its most basic, Agile is focused on delivering customer value quickly, through collaboration between developers and decision makers, while also adapting to changing requirements throughout development cycles. This allows organizations to better manage continuous change, improving as they go.

Effective low-code platforms provide a single, central location for software development, promoting collaboration, enforcing best practices, and automating testing and feedback processes. This makes low-code a natural match for the agile philosophy.

Visual development relies on graphical interfaces incorporating simple logic and drag-and-drop tools, for a more natural development process. Although the terms are not exactly synonymous, visual development is an important aspect in low-code and no-code platforms.

Robotic process automation (RPA) is used to automate basic repetitive tasks across applications. In other words, RPA is software capable of running and operating software. Although RPA is not exclusively low-code, it can be incorporated into an effective low-code solution.

As business application needs grow and the demand for developers outpaces the number of available coding experts, low-code development is likely to continue to build steam. Today's low-code platforms are set to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the future of application development. Below, we explore some key trends that will likely shape the future of low-code.

  • Democratization of development
    As low-code development tools become more intuitive and user-friendly, we can expect to see a growing number of non-technical users who can build applications to solve specific problems. This will continue to expand beyond IT and into essentially every team and department.
  • Increased adoption by larger enterprises
    While small and medium businesses were early adopters, large enterprises are increasingly incorporating low-code development into their operations. Large enterprises will continue to recognize the cost-saving and efficiency-boosting potentials of low-code platforms, making it a more common choice for scalable and enterprise-level applications.
  • Integration with AI and Machine Learning
    AI is changing every aspect of business, and low-code development is no different. Low-code platforms are integrating AI and machine learning functionalities to automate more complex tasks within the development process. These integrations will become more intrinsic to low-code development, enabling automated testing, providing enhanced code completion, and will act as intelligent programming assistants — suggesting ways to optimize the code, making the development process faster and smarter.
  • Expansion to complex applications
    Right now, low-code is synonymous with the development of simple applications, but that is poised to change. As the technologies advance, low-code platforms are becoming more sophisticated, and will increasingly be used for building complex applications across every sector and industry.
  • Adoption in regulated industries
    For highly regulated industries, compliance with established laws and policies is a constant concern. Low-code platforms that comply with regulatory standards are becoming available and will soon make it easier for these industries to embrace low-code technologies without compromising on compliance.
  • Integration with DevOps and Agile
    Given their focus on speed, flexibility, and scalability, it is to be expected that DevOps and Agile methodologies would eventually integrate fully with low-code. This trend will soon enable quicker iterations, faster releases, and more efficient use of resources, making low-code platforms an even more adaptable tool for accelerating app development.
  • Integration with data analytics and business intelligence tools
    A major goal within the developer community is for low-code to work more closely with real-time data. To make this possible, many platforms are now being designed with built-in or easily integrable data analytics and business intelligence tools. In the near future, this will make it possible for businesses to easily monitor the performance of their applications, identify valuable insights, and make data-driven decisions — increasing their operational efficiency in the process.  
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Low-code development platforms are democratizing application development and streamlining the software delivery process, but there are still several challenges that businesses may need to address before they can make low-code a true competitive differentiator. ServiceNow, the leader in IT management, provides the solution: App Engine Studio, powered by the industry-defining Now Platform®.

App Engine Studio takes low-code development to the next level by offering a purpose-built solution that addresses the needs of modern enterprises. Enable the rapid delivery of Creator Workflows, allowing for the safe and efficient scaling of cross-enterprise experiences. Facilitate collaborative development among professional developers, line-of-business technologists, and low-code developers. Employ a staggering variety of out-of-the-box components and easy-to-start templates, making quick and efficient application development a reality. And through it all, enjoy the commitment to quality and security that has made ServiceNow the gold standard for business developers.

From its integrated experience to its unique embedded Table Builder, App Engine Studio provides a holistic, seamless development experience. See for yourself what ServiceNow can do for your business — and get ready to make programming a universal skill in your organization.

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