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Redefining Software Development: The Advantages of Low Code Systems

March 05, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

Are you looking to develop software more quickly, with less complexity and time-consuming coding? Low code application development system could be the answer. Exploding in popularity over the past few years, low code development platforms and offer organizations faster software delivery while lowering costs. 

With endless possibilities for customization and scalability, this new technique is transforming how businesses approach software development today — but it remains a mystery to many professionals.

The low-code development market is projected to reach $187 billion by 2030, with over 65% of application development attributed to low-code tools.

In this post, you’ll learn about some of the main advantages of leveraging low code systems for your software development projects – allowing you to leverage innovative strategies while reducing development costs and optimizing time spent on project rollouts. Read on as we dive deeper into why low code solutions are becoming more popular within modern businesses!

What Are Low Code Systems?

Low-code systems are a type of software development approach designed to make the process of building applications faster and more accessible, even for people with little to no traditional coding experience. 

Here’s a breakdown of what they are and how they work:

Key Features of Low-Code Systems:

  • Visual Development Interface: Instead of writing code line by line, low-code platforms use a visual interface to build applications. With the drag and drop feature, it’s like creating a flowchart where each component represents a part of your application.
  • Minimal Coding Required: While traditional software development requires extensive knowledge of programming languages, low-code platforms minimize this need. You might only need to write code for more complex or specific functions.
  • Rapid Application Development: Low-code platforms speed up the development process. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to adapt to market changes or internal demands quickly.
  • Accessibility: Because they require less technical skill, low-code systems open up app development to a broader range of people, including business analysts, project managers, and other non-technical staff.

The Advantages of Low Code Systems

In the dynamic landscape of software development, low code systems have emerged as a revolutionary force, reshaping traditional approaches and empowering a broader spectrum of users to actively participate in application creation. The advantages of low code systems are multifaceted, offering unprecedented speed, collaboration, and innovation in the software development process.

1) Visual Development Interfaces

Low code systems employ visual development interfaces, featuring drag-and-drop components and pre-built templates. This accelerates the development process by reducing the need for extensive manual coding.

2) Automated Code Generation

These systems often incorporate automated code generation, streamlining repetitive tasks and significantly expediting application development.

3) Rapid Prototyping

With the ability to quickly prototype ideas, low code allows developers to iterate rapidly, ensuring that applications align closely with evolving business requirements.

4) Reduced Dependency on Coding Experts

Low code systems enable users often referred to as citizen developers, to contribute to the development process actively. These citizen developers may have varying levels of expertise. This reduces the reliance on a limited pool of highly skilled programmers.

5) Democratizing Development

By providing an accessible platform, low code empowers individuals across departments to contribute to application creation, fostering a collaborative and inclusive development environment.

6) Minimized Development Costs

The rapid development facilitated by low code directly contributes to cost efficiency. Organizations can achieve quicker time-to-market without substantial investments in highly specialized development resources.

7) Reduced IT Backlog

Business users can take on a more active role in application development, alleviating the burden on IT departments. This results in a reduced backlog of development requests and a more agile response to business needs.

8) Adapting to Changing Requirements

Low code systems excel in environments where requirements are subject to frequent changes. Development’s visual, modular nature allows for easy adjustments, ensuring that applications remain aligned with evolving business priorities.

9) Scalability

While there may be concerns about the scalability of low code solutions, many platforms offer robust capabilities that cater to both small-scale projects and enterprise-level applications.

10) Cross-Functional Collaboration

Low code facilitates collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Business users, developers, and designers can work together seamlessly, fostering a shared understanding of project objectives.

11) Real-Time Feedback

The visual nature of low code platforms allows stakeholders to provide real-time feedback on the application’s user interface and functionality, promoting continuous improvement.

12) Faster Deployment

With accelerated development cycles, low code systems contribute to faster deployment of applications. This speed is particularly advantageous in scenarios where time-to-market is a critical factor.

13) Quick Adoption of Technological Advances

Organizations can swiftly adopt new technologies and respond to market trends, leveraging the agility offered by low code development.

14) Experimentation and Prototyping

Low code systems encourage a culture of experimentation and prototyping. Teams can quickly test new ideas, features, or functionalities, promoting a mindset of continuous innovation.

15) Empowering Non-Traditional Developers

By lowering the barriers to entry, low code empowers individuals with domain expertise but limited coding experience to contribute innovative solutions to business challenges.

How Does Low Code System Work?

  • Pre-built Templates and Components: These systems often come with an inventory of pre-built templates and components for common app features, like user login forms, data tables, and more.
  • Drag-and-Drop Functionality: You select the components you need and place them on a canvas to design your application’s interface and workflows.
  • Customization Options: While the basics can be assembled visually, there’s usually room for customization through limited coding to tailor the application to specific needs.
  • Integration Capabilities: Many low-code platforms can integrate with existing databases and systems, allowing for data exchange and extended functionality.

Where Can We Use Low Code Systems?

Low-code systems can be used in many different industries. Here’s how they can be helpful in some areas:

  • Businesses and Corporate Offices: They’re great for making apps that handle everyday office tasks. For example, organizing files, keeping track of what’s in stock, or managing schedules.
  • Shops and Stores: For businesses that sell things, low-code can help create programs that track sales, manage inventory, or even set up online shops.
  • Hospitals and Clinics: In healthcare, these tools can make apps for keeping patient records, scheduling appointments, or even for patients to check their health info online.
  • Schools and Universities: They can be used to make educational apps, organize classes, keep track of student progress, or even run online courses.
  • Government Services: Low-code can help make websites or apps where people can fill out forms, apply for things like permits or licenses, or get information about public services.
  • Banks and Financial Services: They can create apps for things like managing accounts, helping customers with their banking needs, or tracking transactions.
  • Manufacturing Companies: These systems can help make apps to monitor production lines, manage supplies, or keep track of orders and deliveries.
  • Restaurants and Food Services: They can be used to create apps for ordering food, managing reservations, or tracking inventory in the kitchen.
  • Transportation and Logistics: For businesses that move things around, low-code can help with tracking shipments, scheduling deliveries, or managing fleets of vehicles.
  • Real Estate: They can help make apps for listing properties, scheduling viewings, or managing rentals.

The Potential Of Low-Code Systems Integrating With Emerging Technologies

Low-code systems have significant potential when integrated with upcoming technologies like Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. This integration can lead to innovative solutions and efficiencies in various sectors. Here’s a look at the potential in each area:

Low-Code Systems and AI

  • AI algorithms can analyze large datasets to provide insights, predictions, or recommendations, which can be particularly useful in business analytics and customer relationship management.
  • It can tailor content, recommendations, or interfaces to individual user preferences, enhancing customer engagement.
  • AI can help optimize routes for logistics, energy usage in smart buildings, or workflow efficiency in business processes.

Low-Code Systems and IoT

  • Low-code platforms are used for developing applications that manage and analyze data from IoT devices. This is vital for industries like manufacturing for monitoring equipment, in smart cities for managing public resources, or in agriculture for tracking crop conditions.
  • With IoT integration, low-code apps can enable remote monitoring and control of devices. This can be applied in home automation, industrial machinery control, or remote healthcare monitoring.
  • IoT integration can lead to improved efficiency in operations. For example, real-time data from sensors can be used to optimize supply chains, predict maintenance needs, or enhance safety protocols.

Conclusion

As you can see, low code systems are an excellent choice for software development, giving far greater control and reliability to the user. By investing in such systems, businesses could significantly benefit from improved efficiency and cost savings. However, there is no one-size-fits-all all solution, so it’s important that companies evaluate their individual needs before making any decisions. 

Ultimately though, regardless of whether a company chooses to utilize low-code or traditional coding methods for software development, the most important thing is the quality of the end product. Low code systems provide increased control and flexibility–but without sacrificing quality. So why wait? Let’s make sure to do our best with redefining our approach to software development and take advantage of the myriad advantages offered by low code systems.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.