Things may change in an instant, with little or no notice, causing long-term plans to crumble. Even the most negative forecaster did not predict that huge parts of the world economy would shut down, that billions of knowledge workers would be compelled to work from home, or that the United States would be lingering over 15% unemployment.
Things are unlikely to return to normal in the near future, if at all. Businesses must include application development for more flexibility in their organizational and business models. The risk of more instability must be factored into the decision-making process for both how people work and how they wish to work.
What is the significance of low-code application development?
Businesses are more scattered than ever before. Not only are many individuals still working remotely a year after the outbreak, but the digital era has given businesses a lot more data to deal with. When these factors are taken into account, business processes become difficult to perform. But what if it was as simple as designing a process to create a new, automated application that users need to complete their duties no matter where they are?
That is precisely what low-code application development accomplishes. Low-code allows for the quick delivery of applications with minimum coding. It is an approach to application building that is based on visuals. Users design a workflow diagram that depicts the operation they wish to automate, and then the low-code platforms take care of the rest. Gartner forecasts that by 2024, 66 percent of businesses will have used this strategy.
Low-code solutions can also help software developers keep up with the backlog of IT projects and configuration management by allowing them to construct enterprise-grade apps faster. A customer service center, for example, might utilize a low-code platform to integrate several systems with diverse client data into a single mobile-ready interface, making it much easier for front-line personnel to deliver excellent support.
What are the top 10 best practices for low-code development?
Let’s take a look at the top ten application development best practices in this post to assist your organization in reaping the benefits of low-code solutions.
- Get to know your platform: The best aspect about low-code and no-code development, and it’s been claimed, is that it requires little or no work to get started. It’s true, but don’t let it deceive you into thinking you’re safe. Low-code development allows nearly every department in your organization to build apps, but it requires some technical skills, unlike no-code platforms. You don’t need to know all there is to know about coding, but mastering the basics of the platform you select will boost your likelihood of creating a great app. Ensure that everyone on your team, especially product managers and business analysts, spends enough time learning about and experimenting with platform integration, API generation, UI design, etc.
- Utilize pre-built apps and components: The availability of out-of-the-box components is one of the primary advantages of low-code systems. Because low-code platforms are so versatile, it’s a smart idea to start with ready-made features and build your program from there. Because the bulk of apps have identical functions, starting from scratch is not a smart idea. Finding platforms like Kissflow Low-Code and utilizing its preset components is the most time and cost-effective method. Create the 10% of a program that makes it stand out, then delegate the rest to a low-code platform.
- Get faster feedback. Release apps frequently: It’s preferable to release a half-baked application than it is to release a fully-baked solution. To succeed with low-code, you must break your program down into manageable parts and publish them as frequently as possible. The goal is to collect quick field input from users and make modest adjustments regularly. Conduct frequent feedback sessions with your team members to learn more about how the app works and where it falls short. Adopt an agile mindset and iterate your software frequently to receive instant feedback.
- Pay close attention to the low-code community: You should always connect with the low-code community and your customers if you want to keep building a solid product. If you have an issue, someone in the low-code community may have previously solved it and be able to share it with you. Because users are so important to your business’s success, you should give them as much control as possible over your product and how they engage with it. A good platform allows users to collaborate with the development team to produce useful outcomes. You can ensure that your users enjoy the greatest possible experience by identifying and meeting their requirements.
- Select a platform that follows UI/UX best practices: Low-code platforms offer ready-to-use UI frameworks with standardized components. They’re straightforward to use, and creating a simple application that leverages the finest features from industry leaders is a smart approach. It will save you time and money compared to building a custom UI/UX, and it will allow you to deploy your app sooner. UX professionals add value at the start of a project, but their involvement diminishes as the project progresses. It is highly recommended that UX and Visual Design experts may be brought in on an as-needed basis as their inputs and involvement are relatively infrequent and ad-hoc.
- Attract decently skilled developers to create your low-code applications: Once you’ve decided to employ a low-code development platform, you should consider hiring part-time or on-demand developers to evaluate your app, find problems, and, if required, release new features. Businesses frequently hire inexperienced developers with little understanding to work with low-code platforms and apps. Still, developers must grasp the elements’ default behavior, construct visual structures, and comprehend the implications of configuration changes.
- Align application value to security and governance standards: Low-code development and apps are not all made equal. At the same time, a company’s integrity of data should not be jeopardized owing to a lack of control. The number of controls given to the data must match the app’s value and threat. Software that includes personally identifiable information (PII) or sensitive IP and interface to transactional systems should be regulated more strictly than single-purpose, stand-alone apps. Every organization should develop its own set of management and oversight criteria and levels.
- Select a platform that fit your digital transformation needs: Many platforms excel at one of two key aspects of digital transformation. One provides a straightforward authoring environment that works well for small departmental projects but lacks the capabilities and tools needed to expand to larger corporate implementations. The truth is that digital transformation is a continuum, and many initiatives fall somewhere in between. Choose a vendor that provides a consistent platform for building across the complete variety of use cases, competencies, and ecosystem needs, as well as one that can expand with your digital transformation plan.
- Keep your prospects in mind: You should always connect with the low-code community and your audience if you want to keep building a solid product. If you encounter an issue, the low-code community may have previously addressed it and can share the answer with you. Users are critical to your business, so give them as much control and interaction with your product as feasible. A good low-code app development platform is one in which users can collaborate with the development team to achieve useful outcomes. By determining and meeting your users’ needs, you can ensure that they enjoy the greatest possible experience.
- Maintain consistency in language: Do not simply label whatsoever that comes to mind immediately. Use industry-standard vocabulary and maintain a consistent tone and language across the platform. It will assist users in swiftly developing a mental model.
Why is Kissflow Low-Code the best choice for businesses?
Kissflow Low-Code enables users to develop and modify enterprise grade apps without the need for coding. While the notion of automating businesses by developing apps may appear difficult, it is actually extremely simple. Thanks to Kissflow Low-Code’s drag and drop capabilities. Kissflow is popular among businesses due to its low-code platform. It gives business users the ability to develop their applications without relying on IT or consultants. It includes a WYSIWYG editor, a form builder, third-party connectivity for all of your favorite tools, and rich training material to assist you in getting started. There’s a free demo available to help you understand the product and see it in action to determine whether it’s appropriate for you.
Wrapping up
Low-code platform might account for 65 percent of all application development activity in a few years. That’s a compelling incentive to give it a shot, even if it’s a little scary at first.
Application development solution has captivated companies across a wide range of sectors. If you’ve never worked with a low-code platform before, you may be concerned that it may be too restrictive for your needs. Going the low-code path, on the other hand, can be a big benefit. All you have to do now is conduct some research (which you’ve already done by reading this post) to learn the basics and then choose the best platform for you. There’s no need to depend on subpar off-the-shelf goods or purchase a costly custom solution when you have a way to build software fast and easily.
These app development best practices will help you avoid problems and build better apps faster, resulting in a huge uptick in the overall app-building experience. You will be well on your way if you combine optimal software with a well-thought-out app development strategy. Businesses can run their operations seamlessly using low-code app development platforms like Kissflow Low-Code than they could with conventional hand coding techniques . If you want to give it a shot, you may do so with Kissflow Low-Code’s free demo and see if it’s suitable for your enterprise.