The ever-evolving digital space needs efficient software development and thorough customer support today, more than ever. To stay up-to-date, enterprises rework their strategies and adopt changes that were unfathomable a few years ago. Low-code / no-code platforms are an addition to such latest trends in the digital community.

Gartner predicts that 65% of application development processes will depend on low-code application development by 2024.

Forrester also forecasts the low-code market to spend over $21 billion by 2022.

In simple terms, low-code/no-code development is a software engineering technique that involves minimal hand-coding to develop cloud-native applications and custom software apps. Most companies do not want to wait through the long software development cycle, and as soon as one version releases, they want updates to roll out as per feedback. To make this chain of updates smoother and less time-consuming, a low-code approach is in demand.

A fragment of myth to begin with

By definition, low-code/no-code development makes software development very easy, fast, and accessible. However, a widespread myth associated with this development technique is that everyone can start building apps through it. According to experts, such an approach can pose major maintenance and data security threats.

But this approach also speeds up the process, allowing people with minimal coding exposure to put pieces together, customize, and build their app. It requires time investment and strong learning skills to adapt to the ecosystem, even for ‘citizen developers’.

Mistakes to avoid while adopting low-code/no-code

Let us look at the most common errors in low-code/no-code deployment to avoid –

• Lesser focus on skill sets: As mentioned earlier, low-code/no-code development does not undermine the value of skilled developers. While these platforms are suitable for the faster creation of applications with minimal coding, like every other service platform, they also have their own set of rules. Even a professional developer should not be writing a thousand lines of code here, and a beginner should also not expect everything to be automated. Finding the right professional to handle a low-code/no-code approach is very crucial for organizations – otherwise, it can be a major mistake.
• Misunderstanding the implementation process of a low-code strategy: One of the biggest issues with this strategy is the organization’s inability to understand what it offers. Most enterprises are targeting reduced cost or speed enhancement as objectives when they adopt a low-code/no-code approach. But they often don’t factor in the broader business processes required to ensure that the application complies with all business needs. Businesses should, therefore, have an idea of the implementation process to know how to make the most of it.
• Lack of risk management: While a low-code/no-code strategy sounds perfect for implementation; several risks are involved in the process. Most advanced developers find the lack of customization bothersome, and some display their dislike towards the limited integration options. On the other hand, citizen developers with limited or no understanding of security could introduce serious vulnerabilities in the applications. In today’s connected world, since all the enterprise applications are integrated and connected in some way or the other, it is always good to bring in an attitude change towards security.  All low-code users should be made aware of potential threats and they should be trained to manage the risks.
• Inability to grow structurally and culturally: Even though a low-code/no-code approach enables every person aside from the IT teams to develop apps with little training, it does not teach the process of creating an application. Low-code/no-code process should not be viewed as a magic tool. It is only the process of achieving a few goals in simpler ways. So, companies should be ready to grow structurally and culturally, to keep with dynamic and disruptive modifications in technology. The codeless software development tools support an easy transition to business-managed apps if the company is flexible and puts in efforts for maintenance.
• Excessive deployment of tools: Excess of anything is bad, most significantly when the elements do not work well together. Still, most companies get inclined towards using more tools of any service to maximize their productivity. With a low-code/no-code strategy as well, businesses end up using multiple tools since different departments choose the platform of their choice. It is crucial to make the most out of every individual tool, avoiding excessive deployment of tools to avoid maintenance and integration overheads. Based on the app preferences and customization choices, organizations should focus on the effective deployment of tools, be it singular or multiple.

Is low-code/no-code worth it, then?

In a codeless deployment, challenges persist in getting significant customization, cross-platform integration, or managing efficient software development life cycles. However, the benefits of adopting a codeless approach outweigh the challenges for any digital-enterprise model. However, companies must be aware of the common mistakes others make and take preventive measures while adopting a low-code/no-code development process. For professional support, connect with the Sagacity team of experts – we will help you define the optimal low-code approach for your next-gen application.