Low-Code App Development: Find Your Platform! A Guide to the Right Tool
It’s no surprise that the demand for custom digital solutions is steadily rising. After all, many processes in companies can be handled much more efficiently through digitalization. Digitalizing through custom apps built with a low-code platform is a real option.
Low-code app development also means taking software development into your own hands—even if your team doesn’t only consist of developers and IT experts. And it pays off: the auditing firm KPMG found that 53 percent of companies surveyed worldwide reported a reduction in operating costs thanks to low-code.
No wonder low-code app development is on the rise. What you need to know and where to start is all revealed in this guide.
What is low-code app development?
Low-code application development refers to the creation of software applications based on low-code technology. Low-code app development platforms provide an intuitive development environment where programming is done graphically rather than with code.
How do I work with a low-code app development platform?
A low-code app development platform offers a selection of pre-built functions, sometimes known as nodes, which you can assemble according to the desired app logic using a modular system. This allows you to create an app without coding.
With low-code app development, you get a preview of the user interface at any time, following the WYSIWYG principle ("What You See Is What You Get"). Some platforms even provide the option to test the functionality of the emerging apps directly within the development environment.
How do I find the right low-code app builder?
Choosing the right low-code app development tool is important to ensure an optimal development environment and to make sure that the low-code application contributes to the long-term success of your company. With these criteria, you can make the choice that best suits you and your requirements:
Hosting
With data security and European privacy standards in mind, we recommend opting for a low-code app development platform that is hosted in the EU.
Community and Documentation
Even though low-code app development doesn’t require programming skills and is comparatively easy to implement, you may occasionally hit a roadblock. In such cases, a user community and high-quality written documentation for your low-code web app builder become important resources.
Cloud and Software-as-a-Service
A clear advantage is if the low-code application platform is cloud-based or a SaaS solution. In this case, no installation on local servers is necessary, and you can get started right away.
Use Cases
Some low-code app development environments are particularly well-suited for specific use cases. Therefore, it can be helpful to check whether a low-code platform has industry-specific focuses. Even if your specific case isn’t yet supported, interfaces and similar features can often be developed upon request.
Interfaces and Data Integration
Your company may already have data that needs to be processed in an app. In this case, it's essential that the low-code application platform offers interfaces for seamless data integration or that these are easy to add.
Intuitive Usability
A major advantage of low-code app development is that it’s possible without extensive programming knowledge, making it significantly easier. Thus, the UX of the low-code app development software should also be simple and intuitive. You can determine this with a web demo from the provider or a free trial.
Lifecycle Management
Low-code app development should move your business forward in the long term. Therefore, look for a provider that also covers all topics related to hosting and managing your app, providing flexible resources and infrastructure so you don’t have to worry about scaling your app.
Support
If you want support from the provider, be prepared to pay for it. If something doesn’t initially work as expected—and the community or documentation reaches its limits—support in low-code app development becomes indispensable.
What are the advantages of low-code application development?
Low-code application development offers several unbeatable advantages over traditional app development. It’s worth exploring this approach, especially for digitalizing internal processes or creating low-code progressive web apps to provide customers with an additional digital experience—without the need for the time-consuming process of submitting the app to the app store. These are just two of many possibilities.
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Efficiency: Low-code app development is much faster than traditional app development and can thus accelerate internal processes. Your company saves time and resources.
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Faster Time-to-Value: User feedback for further optimization can be implemented much more quickly in low-code app development, allowing the application to deliver the expected benefits sooner.
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Independence: With low-code app development, you become independent of the shortage of skilled professionals and software development service providers. Instead, your team acquires new skills.
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Cost Savings: Using a low-code development platform costs significantly less than hiring specialized professionals or paying hourly rates for agencies and freelancers.
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Graphical Programming: A major advantage of low-code app development is the highly abstracted graphical representation of functional building blocks, which enables programming largely without code.
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Quality: The functions in low-code app development are consistently high quality due to extensive testing in other projects.
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Specialized: This method is particularly well-suited for industrial applications, although it is not limited to this. Depending on the provider, you’ll find the appropriate functions for your use case.
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WYSIWYG: You get a functional result immediately, which significantly shortens lengthy testing cycles
Where is the journey headed? Trends in code-free app development.
Low-code and no-code are on their way to becoming firmly established in software development. According to a survey by KPMG, around half of IT executives expect to implement one or both of these techniques by 2025.
This is not surprising, given the widespread shortage of skilled workers on one hand and the advantages of low-code app development on the other. How can low-coding benefit from artificial intelligence?
We believe there is potential for a harmonious connection. For example, AI could create highly customized functional modules in low-code app development, multiplying the use cases.
In the future, AI may even be able to build entire apps, which would then be hosted on the respective platform. This would free up space for people to focus on identifying new potentials and learning opportunities.
A matter of cost? What’s ahead for you.
Only your chosen provider can give you concrete answers to this question – anything else would be unprofessional. In most cases, you will encounter monthly and annual subscriptions with corresponding discounts. Monthly payments are typically more expensive than committing for a year or longer.
Often, there is also a breakdown into packages like Basic, Advanced, and Premium. These packages usually differ in terms of the number of users, apps, or features included, and offer additional services.
Monthly packages and basic variants are suitable when it comes to a first trial offer for getting to know the platform. However, if you want to use low-code in the long term, the budget should not be the sole priority. What’s important is understanding your actual needs – and investing accordingly.
Mit Low-Code App-Development die Abkürzung zur App nehmen
Low-code app development is a practical solution that delivers on its promises: app development without programming languages for business applications. Technical expertise and a basic understanding of the subject are beneficial, but that’s really all you need to create a software application for your company that digitalizes key processes and adds value.
At Heisenware, we not only provide the platform for low-code app development but also offer skilled support and reliable hosting. And if you'd like, we can also handle the app creation based on our solution for you. If you'd like to know more, we look forward to hearing from you!