In today’s fast-paced world, companies are under pressure to innovate more quickly than ever. The demand for custom applications tailored to specific business needs is soaring, but there’s a challenge—there simply aren’t enough developers to meet the demand. This is where low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms provide a solution. These platforms allow businesses to develop applications without depending solely on professional coders. It’s a significant shift in the tech industry, enabling more people, even those without coding expertise, to contribute to app creation.
Let’s explore what LCNC platforms are and how they’re changing the way businesses approach application development.
What Are Low-Code/No-Code Platforms?
Low-code/no-code platforms are tools that enable people to build applications using drag-and-drop features, templates, and visual interfaces instead of traditional coding. In a sense, they “lower the bar” for who can develop apps. For many organizations, this opens up new possibilities by empowering non-technical employees—also known as “citizen developers”—to create and manage applications.
In a traditional setting, creating an app from scratch requires significant time and coding expertise. Businesses often have to wait in line for their IT department to complete projects. Low-code and no-code platforms help break this bottleneck by allowing more employees to handle certain development tasks themselves. Think about a marketing department needing an internal app for tracking campaigns. With LCNC tools, they don’t need to wait for a software team to build it—they can do it themselves.
Low-code platforms still require some coding skills for complex customizations, but no-code platforms eliminate the need for coding entirely. This distinction makes LCNC platforms incredibly versatile for different use cases, whether it’s a small business automating workflows or a large enterprise managing supply chains.
How Low-Code/No-Code Coexists with Pro-Code Development
While low-code/no-code platforms offer a lot of advantages, they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For larger, more complex projects, traditional coding—often referred to as pro code development—is still essential. Pro-code developers have the expertise to handle advanced functionality, complex integrations, and long-term scalability that LCNC platforms may not fully support.
One of the key strengths of pro-code development is its ability to build highly customized applications that fit specific business needs. For example, an enterprise-grade e-commerce platform or a large-scale financial system requires not only robust functionality but also tight security and seamless integration with existing systems. This level of complexity typically falls outside the capabilities of low-code/no-code platforms. That’s where pro-code developers come in, ensuring the final product meets high-performance standards.
However, the real magic happens when businesses combine the two approaches. Low-code/no-code can handle quick, straightforward tasks, freeing up professional developers to focus on more complex challenges. This hybrid model speeds up app development without sacrificing quality. LCNC tools empower non-technical employees to address immediate needs while pro-code developers handle the fine-tuning and scalability needed for long-term success.
Benefits of Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
So, why are low-code/no-code platforms gaining popularity? The benefits are substantial, especially for businesses looking to accelerate their development processes without overburdening their IT departments.
- Faster Development: One of the most significant advantages of LCNC platforms is speed. Since users don’t have to start from scratch, apps can be built in days or even hours rather than weeks or months. This speed is a game-changer, allowing businesses to respond quickly to changes in the market or internal needs.
- Cost-Effective: Because these platforms enable non-developers to build apps, companies can reduce the costs associated with hiring full-time developers for every project. This also reduces the need for external software vendors, making app development more affordable for businesses of all sizes.
- Increased Innovation: When more people in the organization can contribute to app development, the potential for innovation increases. LCNC platforms democratize app creation, allowing employees across various departments to turn their ideas into functional tools. The result? More solutions and faster problem-solving.
- Reduced IT Workload: IT departments often get bogged down with routine app requests. By allowing other teams to take on smaller development tasks, LCNC platforms free up IT staff to focus on larger, more strategic projects. This redistribution of work can lead to more efficient use of resources across the organization.
- Easier Iteration: With low-code/no-code platforms, iterating on applications becomes simpler. Users can easily make updates or adjustments without having to rewrite entire sections of code. This makes it easier to refine and improve applications over time.
Challenges and Limitations
While the benefits of low-code/no-code platforms are clear, they do come with some limitations. For one, not every app can be built using these tools. Applications requiring a high degree of customization, advanced security features, or complex integrations may exceed the capabilities of low-code/no-code platforms.
One potential issue with LCNC platforms is scalability. While they work well for small to medium-sized projects, larger projects may suffer from performance issues if not properly planned. Additionally, apps created on LCNC platforms may have limitations when it comes to integrating with legacy systems or expanding as the business grows.
There’s also the risk of creating “shadow IT” projects—applications developed without the oversight of the IT department. While LCNC platforms empower more people to create apps, it’s essential to have proper governance in place to ensure these apps meet security and compliance standards.
The Future of Application Development with Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Looking ahead, low-code/no-code platforms will likely continue to grow in popularity. According to Gartner, by 2026, at least 80% of users for low-code tools will come from outside traditional IT departments, highlighting the rise of business technologists and citizen developers. As businesses embrace this shift, the role of the citizen developer will become more prominent, with employees from all departments contributing to app development.
However, low-code/no-code platforms won’t replace pro-code development anytime soon. Instead, businesses will adopt a hybrid approach that blends the strengths of both. Pro-code developers will focus on building robust, scalable applications, while LCNC platforms will empower other teams to solve smaller, more immediate challenges.
In conclusion, low-code/no-code platforms are revolutionizing how applications are developed. They allow businesses to innovate quickly and efficiently without relying solely on developers. By combining these platforms with pro-code development, companies can build faster, collaborate better, and meet the challenges of the digital age head-on.
Gianluigi Cuccureddu is co-founder of Damarque, helping you to improve your commercial performance through better engagement with your employees, customers and strategic business partners.
We offer high-impact training, coaching and consulting services for professionals, teams and organizations to help improve people ánd organizational performance and innovation capability in an efficient and sustainable way.
