Biju Unni, the Vice President at Cloud Box Technologies, says by democratising the software creation process, LC/NC platforms can accelerate organisations’ digital transformation efforts
How do low code/no code (LC/NC) break down barriers and democratize the software creation process?
Unlike traditional methods of software development, Low-Code/No-Code (LC/NC) platforms have transformed the way applications are developed by reducing barriers to entry. These platforms are user-friendly and equipped with pre-built templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, and visual workflows that allow individuals—often referred to as ‘citizen developers’—from any background to create applications without needing to write a line of code.
The pre-built templates and modules on these platforms cover a wide range of use cases, enabling users to create anything from simple dashboards to complex data-driven applications. This eliminates the need for IT departments to allocate or prioritize resources, which would otherwise cost a business significantly in terms of money, effort, and time.
By democratising the software creation process, LC/NC platforms can accelerate organizations’ digital transformation efforts. Citizen developers can work on applications that address specific pain points or seize new opportunities, bridging the gap between business needs and IT capabilities.
How have LC/NC platforms evolved from niche tools into essential components of modern IT strategies?
LC/NC platforms initially started as niche tools designed to accomplish simple tasks without burdening IT teams. However, these platforms have quickly evolved into essential components of modern IT strategies due to significant improvements in security, functionality, and scalability. Modern LC/NC platforms are now capable of developing mission-critical applications and supporting complex workflows, integrating with legacy and external systems while offering enterprise-grade security features.
Traditional application development often struggles to keep pace with growing demands and competition. This is where modern LC/NC platforms play a vital role, as they can quickly meet these demands and promise faster development cycles to fend off competitive pressures that enterprises face today. Another key advantage of using LC/NC platforms is that they enable non-technical users to develop and maintain applications, allowing IT teams to focus on strategic projects that require their expertise.
What sort of impact is being felt across various sectors, from finance to healthcare to manufacturing when it comes to LC/NC platforms?
LC/NC platforms are having a significant impact across various industries, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, by enhancing operational efficiency and addressing industry-specific challenges. For instance, in the financial sector, LC/NC platforms can be used to build customer-facing applications such as online investment tools and mobile banking apps that can swiftly respond to customer demands. Financial institutions can deploy new features and adapt to market trends quickly.
In healthcare, LC/NC platforms can improve operational efficiency by enabling the development of apps that manage patient records, telemedicine services, appointment scheduling, and data entry. This minimizes friction between patients and healthcare providers, improving the overall experience. The manufacturing sector can leverage apps built on LC/NC platforms to optimize supply chains. These applications can coordinate logistics, manage inventory, and monitor production lines in real time. Similar impacts can be seen across other sectors, where LC/NC platforms deliver unprecedented performance.
How can issues with security, compliance, and integration be properly managed in an LC/NC ecosystem?
Organizations using LC/NC ecosystems to build applications must effectively manage issues related to security, compliance, and integration to ensure these systems are reliable on a large scale. Security is a primary concern when building applications. It can be addressed by integrating features such as data encryption, role-based access control, and multi-factor authentication within the LC/NC platform. These measures prevent unauthorized access and manipulation of data.
Compliance management is another critical area that LC/NC platforms need to address. Organizations should look for platforms that support governance frameworks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR and configure their applications to comply with these standards. Continuous monitoring is also essential to take corrective actions when needed, reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Lastly, LC/NC applications should be interoperable with existing platforms, databases, and third-party services. This can be achieved through API integration, which allows the apps to communicate with other systems. LC/NC platforms often come with pre-built connectors, enabling seamless integration with ERP, CRM, cloud services, and other existing IT infrastructure.
How are technologies such as AI and ML further enhancing the capabilities of low-code platforms?
The future of LC/NC platforms lies in their integration with AI and ML, which unlocks new opportunities for innovation. For instance, AI can enhance these platforms by suggesting best practices, optimizing workflows, and even generating code snippets that improve upon what a user might traditionally create. AI algorithms can be trained to detect inefficiencies in workflows or errors in logic, offering corrective measures that streamline the development process.
Pre-built ML models can also be integrated into applications, adding features like image recognition and sentiment analysis. As AI and ML learn from historical data and user interactions, they can automate tasks such as customer service queries, data entry, and report generation, allowing users to focus on more strategic initiatives.
The applications of AI and ML on LC/NC platforms are extensive, ranging from integrating NLP for automated chatbots and virtual assistants to personalizing user experiences in real-time based on behaviour. These technologies are set to significantly enhance the capabilities and potential of LC/NC platforms.
