7 CEOs Share Their Insights Into Low Code/No Code Platforms

Ever tried building a website or an application before?

There are so many tech nuances involved—from planning and gathering resources, creating design roadmaps, and putting together codes to deploying the initial product for testing and making continuous updates.

Let’s not even mention the time, effort, and capital it takes to roll out something usable. It’s a lot of work, and traditional.

However, the narrative is changing with low-code and no-code (LCNC) platforms. You can now develop a minimal viable SaaS product in a few days, with fewer costs and resources and more scalability—something traditional coding agencies cannot offer at the moment, or maybe never.

In this article, we will explore the current trends of LCNC platforms and show how you can implement this growing innovation for your business.

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Low Code Vs. No Code Platforms

While both low code and no code terms are often used interchangeably, they are ultimately different.

No-code platforms, such as Bubble, are development platforms with a visual editor. You only need to drag and drop the features you need from a preset library to create your desired website or app template.

That means you don’t need a degree in Python or Javascript. Even basic knowledge of HTML and CSS is irrelevant since you have no business with what's going on behind the scenes.

On the other hand, low-code platforms are more or less like no-code platforms, but they have an additional code editor that allows you to write a few codes whenever necessary. Of course, in some cases, you barely need to do any coding at all. 

However, you can always access the code editor section and make the tweaks you need. Webflow and Mendix are perfect examples.

When it comes to choosing between No-code and Low-code platforms, Phil Strazzulla, Founder of SelectSoftware Reviews, suggests using your needs as a deciding factor. “If you’re planning to build a non-SaaS product, a prototype, or something really simple, no code platforms like Bubble and Adalo suffice. Just pick a pre-designed template, and you’re set.”

“But if your goal is a SaaS product or anything complex, leaving the work on auto-generate is not advisable. Instead, use a low-code platform like Webflow or Mendix. These platforms run both front-end and backend functionalities based on pre-existing configurations while your developer handles the necessary customizations, thus allowing for more control over final output”, he continues.

The Drift Between LCNC Platforms And Traditional Developers

In 2019, LCNC had a bare minimum recognition and was only worth USD 10.9 billion. But thanks and no thanks to the advent of COVID-19, the 2027 global market forecast for the low code no code industry is now over USD 65 billion. And this value is projected to hit USD 187 billion by 2030.

On one end, this is good news for companies that rely on or intend to rely on low-code, no-code platforms to develop their products and fast-track output. This is especially true in the wake of employee and talent scarcity post-pandemic. At least 82% of companies find it difficult to hire an employee with the expected software and coding competencies.

For most traditional developers, however, coming to terms with a system that seemingly has the capacity to do most of what they do in person might be a bit of an issue. 

Albert Kim, VP of Talent at Checkr, calls it a ridiculous moment of awakening for developers that operate within a limited scope of skills – Javascript, HTML, and CSS only. “If there’s a tool that can do your job and drastically cut the demand for your expertise in the job market, you’ll definitely feel threatened and might even take a shot against it. So, it’s not surprising to see different notions from quite a number of developers believing LCNC platforms will lead to the design of products that lack quality.”

But we also need to view this from another perspective and see how low code no code platforms can instead increase product quality. For instance, Companies like Mesh and Upwork rely on Webflow, a low-code platform, to streamline some of their marketing team outputs and increase tech flexibility. And they are recording good results.

These real-life applications show us there’s a rather common ground between LCNC platforms and traditional developers contrary to what many think. “Tech has never been its best, whether for quality or flexibility when used in silo. And traditional developers can never match up to the expected post-pandemic efficiency. The game only changes when tech and traditional developers meet at a point of collaboration”, says David Bui, Automotive Tech Expert at Schmicko.

That means the combination of human developers and low code no code platforms will yield better results than critics imagine since no party is self-sufficient, at least for now. This, in turn, eliminates the drift and ensures the collaborative development of a more usable product. A perfect depiction of what we do at Flow Ninja.

Everyone Is A Developer

A decade ago, you needed to be tech-savvy to build a fully functional website or a blog. Right now, you only need to create an account on content management systems like Wordpress or Webflow and choose a ready-to-deploy template. Viola! Your website is live.

Even if you want to create a simple finance application or maybe your personal to-do Android software, just one click on no-code platforms like Bubble. 

So, it’s safe to assume everyone can become a developer if they choose to.

The emergence of LCNC platforms has also somewhat reduced development autonomy by a set of people well-versed in programming languages. And that has led to terms such as Citizen developers—individuals employed by firms to build software functionalities with little or no programming skills by using IT-approved technologies.

A report by Gartner shows that there will be 4x more citizen developers than professional developers by 2023. That’s a shocking figure for people who barely understand how Python works.

However, Brooke Webber, Head of Marketing at Ninja Patches, says, “While citizen developers might not seem like much, they are actually becoming a crucial component of most businesses. For instance, tech companies can assign simpler dev tasks to their in-house citizen developers while savvy developers handle much more complex developments requiring programming knowledge. This increases work efficiency and helps your skilled talents focus on priorities.”

LCNC Is The New Money-saver For SMEs

Most businesses spend around 15% of their annual returns on product development. Others spend as much as 20% to 30%. That’s outside the maintenance costs and resources used for updating new features occasionally.

Breaking the cost down, it takes around $20,000 to hire a software engineer per month. Higher depending on expertise. If you prefer to put a software development team together, you might need multiples of the initially mentioned cost. 

In another report gathered by Quandary, a line of code (LOC) for a program costs $3.61. That’s about $1,083,000 per 300,000 LOC.

There are also a lot of variables to consider, such as the ROI your product is bringing in and possible space for future remodeling. It’s definitely bad news if you’re not earning enough returns on your product development.

Bring all these together, and you’ll see why most new startups and SMEs file for bankruptcy a few years after they launch.

However, things are already taking a good turn with the introduction of low-code, no-code platforms. An excellent use case is the Average Company, a brand that saved thousands of dollars in hiring costs and yielded over USD 4.4 million in three years from products developed via low-code, no-code platforms.

"While low-code, no-code platforms can be a cost-effective solution, they aren't a one-size-fits-all answer. For some businesses, investing in custom software development is a smart decision that can yield significant returns. It's about making informed choices based on your company's unique needs and budget. Custom development can provide the flexibility and specificity that low-code solutions may not offer, ensuring a perfect fit for your business objectives," says Bartosz Wrobel, CEO at Gorrion.

When Scalability Becomes A Concern

Product scalability is just as important as product development.

As Jennifer Burton, General Manager at Oaks Dumpster Rental, says, “Your primary product software should lay a good foundation for other possible additions in the future. If usage grows, it should grow as well. It should also be customizable to suit emerging trends whenever possible. That’s what scalability is about.”

But most businesses do not think low-code, no-code platforms can achieve this at the moment. In fact, 25% of companies are concerned about whether their final products can handle large usage, manipulate bulk data, and integrate safely with third-party applications.

“It’s, however, important to note that LCNC platforms are dynamic in nature, especially with the new integration of generative AI in the development process. This means they can better adapt to the loads you put on them and lay a framework that allows for seamless future integrations,” comments Sturgeon Christie, CEO of Second Skin Audio.

Also, remember we mentioned how human developers can use LCNC platforms to roll out more sophisticated products that meet businesses’ scalability needs.

The Future Of Low Code/No Code Platforms

We’re already in an era where speed and quality matter most, so LCNC platforms are undoubtedly here to stay.

According to Gartner, citizen developers, and non-professionals will build 80% of the new products in 2024, obviously through low-code, no-code platforms. Microsoft also expects over 450 million new apps on its cloud system to be created via low-code, no-code platforms within five years, starting in 2020.

While there are still certain limitations to the use of LCNC platforms, such as vendor lock-in—a situation that makes switching your product from low-code no-code platforms to custom-code solutions difficult—and security concerns, businesses can no doubt now handle their IT needs more efficiently than ever. By the way, these concerns are relatively resolvable.

For Roman Zrazhevsky, Founder & CEO of MIRA Safety, “Integration of AI also makes the idea of Low code no code platforms extremely appealing to innovative brands. First, generative AI can provide auto-complete features and help fill in your strings of codes or interpret your textual input with NLP and create corresponding codes. On the other hand, the predictive ones can suggest how to make your final product scalable.”

Wrapping Up

Low-code and no-code platforms are the new technological ninjas. And this is not just for SMEs or startups. Even the big guys like Upwork are finding the day-to-day application of these innovations necessary to enhance productivity.

Since your product defines the entirety of your brand and serves, it is therefore important to choose the right platform that allows for maximum scalability – whether low code or no code, or even a combination of both.

And if you’re stuck between the options, we can help you.