As the Digital Transform changes the way businesses listen to their customers, monitor their operational processes, and interconnect their software systems, there is a new problem they must now face: the creation of their software. The CRM systems, the BPM systems, cloud-based software, mobile business apps, etc. are all needed by companies big and small to run their day to day operations. Most medium and small businesses don’t have a software development department to tailor-make software and applications from scratch. Using premade software is another option, but it can never truly mold itself completely into what a business need. This is where Low Code platforms can help software-impaired businesses create and develop software that meets their needs without learning to program.
But what are the benefits and the drawbacks of using a low-code platform? How do built-in components and premade systems handle a security risk? Below, we will discuss the extensive features of low code platforms and discuss the pros and cons of it all.
Low code technology
If a business wants to build software that is specific for their company, but there is no programming department assist in its creation, then low code technology can help. This type of platform doesn’t require the years of skills, and manpower needed to create traditional software.
When it comes to the management of data that a business gathers from interactions with them, low-code-created CRM systems improve how data is consumed, interpreted, and utilized to make crucial decisions regarding the customers and their needs. Each department in a business can tailor their department’s software to meet their needs while not altering any other department’s data.
When you build applications for multiple devices, the company’s overall software will integrate and connect across all platforms. Most low-code platforms update through the cloud so it can sync in real-time to multiple servers, devices, and applications.
Low-code platform and its features
Low Code platforms create software and apps for businesses with little to no coding or programming skills needed. With built-in features like out of the box functionality and drag and drop interfaces and streamlined data modules, this type of platform is great for those who specialize in programming but needs to build a software system that tailors itself to their business.
By minimizing the amount of code required, low code platforms create necessary software faster than traditional, coding-heavy software. There are no-code platforms that don’t need any coding skills at all. They operate similarly to low code platforms do but take out any coding options or requirements.
However, removing even the smallest amount of coding capabilities from a platform that builds software, takes away the abilities of the platform to be flexible and cater to the business for which it is creating software.
Low code platforms use a series of visual tools to make software creation more intuitive and more accessible for non-technical employees to build or alter. It can also scale up with growing businesses and can be tailored and changed as new needs arise, and other aspects of the company become less critical. It needs to handle an influx of customer files and data, larger and more varied amounts of products, and more employees using the software.
Many parts of low code software are customizable, either through altering the software itself or through a professional’s coding skills. This platform can also track its software’s own processes and give reliable performance reviews to show where it can be optimized even further.
Low-code Pros & Cons
Pros
- Even a little coding knowledge can make low software more adaptable and
- Its use of visuals improves the speed of developing an application
- Reduce costs by not needing programmers to create software
- Out of the box, modules to quickly create apps
- OOTB modules are reusable and adaptable
- Can create a compatible version of the main software for all platforms in use
Cons
- Employees with no coding skills are limited when using a low code program as it wasn’t built with them in mind
- It is not as malleable as traditional software; some parts cannot be changed
- By creating software with a low code platform, a business must stay with that platform
- Although safer than no-code, nothing beats traditional software creation when it comes to security.
- No onsite troubleshooting or technicians if the platform has a bug.
- OOTB modules cannot be changed at all
- Allows end-users to change security settings and alter
Though the many features of a low code platform are many, it’s not a one size fits all solution for every business in need of their own personal software.
There are several problems when integrating a low code platform into a business. But that is normal when you are using a platform that mostly relies on premade builds to accelerate and simplify the creation of data-based software.
Low code software is changeable for the most part, but it is will never be as versatile as traditionally created software. If another software creates your business’s software, then who do you go to if it needs to fix or needs to be troubleshot?
If a problem happens when the low-code platform’s company is done for the day, it will impact your business, and you will be at the mercy of their operating hours. Let’s hope they have a 24/7 hotline you can call if you need a technician to aid you who knows how much the company’s services will be.
Security is also a significant risk factor in low code platforms. When creating software or altering software, it is the end-user who is creating the parameters of administrator permissions.
The main feature of low code platforms is its ability to be changed over and over, so the business can mold it into what it needs. But, during those changes, how does its new programming interfere with past security settings?
Does it compromise the security of the other platforms the software runs on? Yes.
When developing low code platform software, security is not high on the list, changeability and data management modules are. Software development companies often do not employ cybersecurity or software, security experts. And since the cloud is linked to low code-based software, it is another unsecured opening ready for manipulation.
To get to know more about low-code, visit: https://www.creatio.com/page/low-code.
