Technology is exponential and today rather than a supporter, technology is an enabler, and any organization or an individual who does not keep up with its pace is non-agile and behind the race. Any organization that wants to innovate business ought to develop contemporary or advanced, or futuristic tech that is state-of-the-art and on par with global tech. If you are an entrepreneur, the options for tech adoptions are either, you outsource it or you develop the software yourself by hiring full-stack developers. If the latter is your option, then you need the ability to develop quality software and the time at your end to do so and if you want to outsource you have to be ready to spend money to hire a professional development team. Either way, it is time-consuming, expensive, and challenging.

Developing software of high quality, irrespective of coding abilities or outsourcing is a dream project of any business. In that context, is there another way or an easy way? Here is where the efficient use of LCNC comes in.

Nonetheless, whether it is the best tool, the right tool, or a good-to-have tool, the Low-Code No-Code (LCNC) is becoming increasingly popular. So, what is this LCNC?

LCNC invariably permits non-developers also to develop software. While software development requires developers to write code in order to create logic for the interface or other app components, LCNC is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that uses a system of visual interaction or components for computer software. With just a bare minimum of computer skills, anyone can build their dream apps.

LCNCs are ideal for development purposes, as they offer a wide range of features like analytics, predictions, automation, admin tools, application development, deployment automation, data connectors, APIs and visual development tools which can be used to create websites.

Some of the Analytics & Predictions platforms are Amplitude, Obviously, and Mixpanel, while platforms for scaling businesses are K2.Com, QuickBase.com, InRule, Decisions, FlexRule, KiSSFLOW, Pipefy.Com;some LCNC Admin Tools are Retool.Com, Skuid.Com; a few LCNC Application Development platforms are Claris FileMaker, Salesforce Lightning, Outsystems, Appian, Pega, Microsoft Powerapps, Radzen, Zoho.com; LCNC Deployment Automation platforms are Netlify, Heroku, Firebase; LCNC Data Connectors and API automation are Zapier, IFTTT, Unito, Airtable, Segment; a few LCNC Visual Development Tools are Mendix, Parabola, M-Productivity; a few LCNC website development platforms are Webflow, Squarespace, Wix, etc.

By adopting LCNC platforms any business can scale up on its own enterprise-level app, with no coding experience or a peripheral knowledge of coding knowledge, in sync with the name Low Code – No Code. Many companies. LCNC platforms like KiSSFLOW, Appian, and DWkit, claim that, drag and drop tools, help you to build new software like arranging Lego blocks without hiring any software developer, and developing world-class applications will be at your fingertips, since this software writes itself for you, without any developers, end-on-end meetings or myriad expenses.

What are the challenges of using Low-Code No-Code?
Developing applications are made easier, but your business is held by the low code no code platform, there may be a surprise change in the price model of the platform, temporary hiccups, or any associated major change, like the sudden shutdown of the user apps, disabling and enabling at intervals and such associated risks may happen. Another possible challenge is that although this LCNC is comparatively cheap, it may scale up to your tax segment. You must make sure that the required features for your business, new or existing, is possible on this platform.

How do Low Code – No Code (LC-NC) compare?
LC uses a rapid application development approach enabling code generation (automated) via drag and drop/visual blocks/pull-down menu interfaces allowing the users to concentrate particularly on the differentiator instead of the common denominator of programming. As the name suggests, LC, or low-code is indeed a ground with less coding, and NC or No-Code platform contains auto-generated code over which users, if needed, may add code. NC is also a rapid application development approach and can be considered as a subset of the LC development approach. Whilst LC has some form of scripting or manual coding by developers, NC is completely hand-off on coding and depends cent percent on visual tools.

Where can it be used?
LCNC platform can immensely be used in business process management platforms, mobile app development, website, and cross-department tools for appraisal management software, and apart from that machine-learning libraries, robotic process automation, and legacy app modernization platforms could integrate with external plugins and cloud-based technologies using LCNC. Another empowerment through LCNC is to build their own bots for businesses using LC robotic process automation. NC may be used in business for self-service apps, web apps, mobile apps, dashboards, building data pipelines, content management platforms, rapidly building standalone apps, UIs that are straightforward, calendar planning tools, BI reporting apps with columns and filter configuration, facility management tools, and simple automation.

LC platform is also a low-code development platform, with an integrated development environment, with built-in salient features like code templates, APIs, graphical connectors to automated application development, and reusable plug-in modules. They are typically a cloud-based Platform as a Service (PaaS) Solution that works on the principle of low complexity with high visual tools and techniques for users to utilize visual tools to define workflows, and business rules for process modeling, wherein developers automate the aspects of coding using the LCAPS. A few such automation platforms are L-C application platforms, Citizen development platforms, business process management solutions, and many other rapid application development tools.

Though there is a line of overlapping between the two approaches of LCNC, LC is more useful for professional developers to avoid replication and focus more on complex development aspects through the automation of standard coding aspects through this syntax-agnostic approach, while also creating talent pool expansion and reskilling. NC is advantageous for business users with domain knowledge and skills but less footage on coding or writing codes. NC can be ideal for front-end apps through quick drag-and-drop interfaces and can replace mundane tasks for reporting through Excel or the like, which is a huge time saver for business teams. NC is also helpful in building internal apps, whereas LC can be used for business logic to scale the performance, integrate with other apps and also to connect to multiple data sources, and build systems.

Wrapping up, both low-code and no-code focus on abstracting the complexities of coding utilizing visual interfaces and pre-configured templates. With a smooth workflow design in defining the logical progression of data and, with benefits such as technology democratization, increased productivity, reduced risk through rapid customer feedback, in the buy vs. build scenario, LCNC focuses more on build than buy, ensuring design and code consistency through architectural consistency. LCNC is more cost-effective and gives better ROI and more so, development teams will be able to have a better balance and understanding between business and IT, rather than a push-pull relationship. Compared to traditional coding, LC is faster, and an open system to extend functionality, whereas NC is even faster with plug-and-play features and low testing time with a more closed system with template feature sets. Businesses need to have a goal-centric approach rather than a user-centric approach selecting low-code over no-code for complex, business or customer critical.