No-code development is a codeless approach to building software, allowing non-technical business users and those without programming proficiency to design and deploy their own working applications.
The terms low-code and no-code are sometimes used interchangeably in business. But the reality is that they represent two different approaches to application development.
Although similar in purpose to the more widely used low-code approach, no-code development takes things a step further. Low-code development is designed to provide easy-to-use coding solutions, allowing less-technically trained users to work within a platform, using pre-built templates and drag-and-drop elements to rapidly develop custom applications. It allows them to get a head start on projects by configuring settings and leveraging pre-built components, instead of needing to build everything from scratch using code. Junior-level developers and business analysts are also able to take advantage by contributing more to projects than they would otherwise be able to.
However, at some point it does require some limited knowledge of coding to ensure full functionality. Low-code still provides several advantages over hand coding, such as shortcuts that take developers past the framework and testing phases, and directly into building the app. But at the end of the day, someone with at least a basic understanding of coding will need to polish up and finalize the project.
No-code is exactly what it claims to be: a development approach for people with absolutely no coding experience. It goes beyond simply providing shortcuts, and instead uses declarative programming to build applications based on user inputs. In other words, no-code development allows you to skip coding entirely, telling the system what you need, and then allowing the system to build the application itself.
The major difference between low- and no-code is that no-code allows users to build apps from start to finish, without ever having to implement a single line of code. No-code is all about the citizen developer being able to create simple but effective apps on their own to automate more of the business. No-code is about configuration over code.
Essentially, low-code targets developers, while no-code targets business users.
No-code technologies are development tools (often in the form of platforms) that allow users to build software applications without needing any coding expertise. No-code platforms offer organizations greater flexibility by allowing business users to develop solutions that address specific operational needs. These tools streamline app creation, reduce reliance on professional developers, and allow businesses to innovate and scale more efficiently.
No-code platforms operate by hiding the complexity of coding behind a user-friendly interface, so that users without coding or development experience can create applications. While business users interact with visual tools (such as drag-and-drop interfaces), the platform handles the underlying code, using data abstraction and encapsulation to manage the more technical aspects of app development.
Similar to low-code, no-code platforms leverage a visual integrated development environment (IDE) that consolidates essential tools for building and testing applications. These platforms often adopt a model-driven approach, mapping out the application's functionality before generating the code. Once the app is built, it undergoes model-based testing to ensure that the software is functional before it can be deployed.
Because no-code platforms are designed for those with little-to-no programming experience, they are supported by design to simplify the application-building process. These features make it possible for users to convert their ideas into functional software efficiently, applying their institutional knowledge and expertise in creating effective solutions. Among the most essential no-code features are:
- Drag-and-drop interface
Traditionally, creating a software application was like writing an extremely detailed instruction book—programmers would write lines of code telling the software how to react when faced with specific input. To do this, the software developers needed an in-depth understanding of specific coding languages. Modern drag-and-drop coding tools eliminate this qualification. Using drag-and-drop, users can build applications visually, selecting and assembling elements and placing them within a graphical representation of the app layout. This approach undermines the need for manual coding, instead offering an intuitive interface that makes it possible for anyone to design custom apps. - Data connections
No application is an island—at least not if you want it to operate effectively with external data sources. Data connections are the bridges that allow your no-code application to interact with various databases, APIs, or external services. This feature allows users to pull in data from multiple sources, such as Excel spreadsheets, SQL databases, or even third-party services. Users can set up these connections through a straightforward and coding-free configuration process, again avoiding the need for manual coding. - User interface builder and visual modelling
The user interface (UI) builder and visual modeling features offer a high-level overview of your application's structure and appearance. Instead of coding the UI from scratch, users can assemble pre-configured components. These components come pre-scripted, and the user only selects and arranges them. These tools further empower organizations to apply features to their apps that would otherwise be difficult to include without extensive program-development experience.
Businesses are increasingly adopting no-code development platforms because they offer a practical solution to the challenges of traditional software development. No-code makes it possible for non-technical users to build and customize applications quickly, alleviating the burden on IT departments and allowing them to focus on more complex initiatives. This flexibility accelerates digital transformation by enabling faster app delivery, improving process automation, and enhancing collaboration across departments. By offering a simpler, faster way to create business-critical applications, no-code helps organizations stay agile in an evolving business environment.
More specifically, no-code development in businesses offers a number of advantages over hand-coding.
No-code allows stakeholders that know the business, the business processes, and the business-user experience requirements better than anyone, to be able to create apps that best address those requirements. This results in better app functionality and improved user experience.
Traditional coding depends on many manual tasks. No-code development streamlines these essential, yet time-consuming responsibilities. This not only promotes faster development and increased productivity, but it also allows for improved visibility and tracking of the processes themselves.
No-code significantly cuts down on the time investment in creating new applications. By automating key processes and providing complete, modular functionality, no-code development makes it possible to create even complicated, enterprise-level apps in a matter of weeks or days—and simpler apps may only take hours. No-code developers are also able to self-service their own apps instead of waiting on traditional IT app dev teams. This means increased productivity and better agility to respond to emergent needs.
Professional developers can focus their skills and time on high value tasks. No-coders can get projects started and the pro-coders can selectively step in to do 'finish' or elevate the work. At the same time, rather than fielding entire development teams, businesses can provide individual citizen developers with tools and resources when necessary to create professional applications. This also allows in-house experts to focus their energies on other vital responsibilities.
Changing key aspects of an application by hand is complex and time consuming. No-code makes it simple, allowing users to easily implement new logic using intuitive controls. Rather than having to write a hundred lines of code to implement a simple change, a no-code solution might use a simple pull-down menu. In no time, you can update or alter your apps to better service your business and your customers, impacting accessibility, testing, risk, and more.
By making app development available to everyone in the organization, you can connect different departments and levels like never before. Those with the clearest understanding of the business need can build the app on their terms, rather than trying to explain their vision to a separate development team. And when it comes time to integrate other capabilities associated with other areas of the organization, responsibilities can be delegated to relevant stakeholders.
Effective no-code platforms incorporate the most up-to-date frameworks, designed to provide exceptional experiences for end users. Working within these frameworks, you can focus on meeting specific requirements, secure in the knowledge that your users will enjoy a fully modern experience.
As your enterprise grows, so does its need for applications. No-code empowers businesses to keep up with this need, inaugurating new citizen developers to create new app solutions at scale. As long as you have people who understand the need and the function of a desired app, no-code development gives you the tools to make it happen.
Taking into account improved productivity, increased efficiency, and reduced development-team bloat, the biggest advantage of no-code development is cost. No-code simplifies and democratizes the entire app-building process, allowing for better applications delivered faster, at less cost than traditional development.
Challenge: One hurdle with no-code platforms is the potential for difficulty when integrating with other existing applications and data sources. Although the best platforms provide integration solutions, others do not, and some claim to still require some basic programming skills.
Solution: To navigate this challenge, companies can look for no-code platforms that offer potent integration capabilities with popular APIs and services. For businesses with specialized needs, it may be beneficial to have a blended approach where information technology (IT) professionals assist in the more complex integrations, while the day-to-day application creation and maintenance can be carried out by citizen developers.
Challenge: Designed to be accessible to non-programmers, no-code platforms are designed for simplicity. Unfortunately, this sometimes comes at the expense of more advanced capabilities. For organizations who want to build complex or heavily customized applications, basic no-code solutions may not provide sophisticated enough tools.
Solution: One way to extend the capabilities of a no-code platform is using "escape hatches"—features that allow users with technical skills to add custom code for more advanced functionalities. Alternatively, working with a platform that allows for more advanced functionality and that offers thorough training and support options can help non-coders get more out of their no-code solution.
Challenge: Not all no-code platforms provide sufficient tools for tracking data and changes throughout the development process. This can lead to issues in managing project records and version control—particularly in highly regulated industries where comprehensive documentation is required.
Solution: To mitigate this challenge, businesses should prioritize no-code platforms that offer built-in record-keeping and versioning tools. These features allow for detailed tracking of development changes, user inputs, and data sources. Additionally, businesses can integrate third-party project management or auditing tools to promote transparency and maintain proper documentation.
While no-code development has the capacity to change nearly every aspect of business, it most directly affects three specific groups:
No-code provides citizen developers with a simple and intuitive environment in which to build applications. Using guided templates and pre-built assets, non-technical professionals can design the applications they need. They can also easily revisit applications to implement important changes, without having to involve busy IT or development teams.
No-code may seem like an attempt to cut IT out of the app-development loop, but that is simply not the case. In fact, no-code development empowers IT with the ability to easily conduct health checks and enforce guardrails on the development process. IT must deploy and manage apps created across the enterprise. With less complexity, which is characteristic of a no code platform, IT can more easily gain end-to-end visibility into how apps are performing and any operational impacts or disruptions they may be contributing.
When citizen developers can build their own apps, what does that leave for professional developers to do? Experienced developers can turn their attention away from traditional app building, and instead dedicate more of their time towards building high-value components.
The advantages offered by no-code make it an ideal solution for a range of use cases:
New businesses without the resources or demand to establish a development department can remain competitive by creating viable products on limited funding.
Emergent market gaps require fast action. Organizations who want to take advantage of emergent situations can use no-code development to help establish themselves in the market quickly.
Not every application needs to be fully polished and ready for the public. When you need a prototype to help demonstrate a particular concept or test out a product-market fit, no-code development is a fast and reliable solution.
In all likelihood, the people within your organization have demonstrated a range of talents, skills, and expertise. Share that knowledge across your company. No-code for knowledge management means that anyone can optimize workflows and business processes based on their own experiences.
The extent of what you can build with no-code depends heavily on your choice of platform. That said, some of the most-common and effective application-types to come out of no-code development include the following:
Gather, analyze, and apply data insights with customized back-office applications designed in compliance with your existing workflows.
Optimize your online presence with highly functional, exceptionally easy-to-build web applications. No-code development allows you to connect back- and front-end systems, implementing custom branding, widgets, check-out functionality, and more.
Give users powerful applications, optimized for the mobile experience. No-code platforms include mobile-development tools and components, so you can create the apps that users will want to keep with them at all times.
- Finance
Financial institutions use no-code platforms to automate customer onboarding, streamline loan processing, and create customized dashboards for real-time data analysis.
- Insurance
No-code tools help insurers build claims management systems, automate underwriting processes, and enhance customer service portals, allowing for faster response times and personalized services without relying too heavily on IT teams.
- Business Services
Consulting firms and professional services organizations leverage no-code to develop project management applications and create customized client-facing solutions.
- Retail
Retailers use no-code solutions to quickly develop eCommerce platforms, manage inventory, and optimize customer engagement through personalized marketing campaigns and loyalty programs.
- Healthcare
Healthcare providers employ no-code platforms to develop patient management systems, automate scheduling and billing processes, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.
No-code makes up the difference in software development, giving citizen developers the resources and support they need to create their own applications. To do this, more no-code platforms are embracing the coding potential of advanced artificial intelligence (AI). AI-enhanced no-code platforms can analyze user inputs, optimize workflows, and even predict the best ways to structure applications, allowing non-technical users to build smarter, more efficient apps with minimal effort.
In essence, AI handles the technical complexity, while users focus on defining the goals and success criteria for their development projects.
Given the ease of low- and no-code solutions, some cannot help but wonder if professional developers are becoming obsolete. But while no-code may open app development to nearly everyone, it still cannot take the place of professional experience.
Professional developers with an innate knowledge of coding will always be needed for developing complex components, implementing truly custom ideas, exploring new coding capabilities, and even building and maintaining low- and no-code platforms. In fact, professional developers benefit from no-code development, because it allows them to be more efficient in applying their knowledge towards the complex problems that only they can solve.
As no-code platforms become increasingly advanced and globally adopted, these intuitive tools are poised to significantly alter the landscape of business operations and IT development. Simply put, the long-term implications for businesses that integrate no-code development into their strategy are substantial—as are the competitive advantages these strategies represent.
As such, experts are predicting that no-code development will impact the business world in the following ways:
- Reduction in legacy maintenance costs
Traditional software solutions often involve complex coding and architectural design, leading to high maintenance costs. Keeping these legacy systems up to date, secure, and in line with changing business needs can be a drain on resources. No-code platforms, with their modular and easily updatable design, offer a way out. Given that non-technical staff can easily make updates and improvements using no-code tools, the costs associated with hiring specialized development teams for maintenance are likely to decrease. Those costs can then be applied to other strategic pursuits.
- Reduction in IT dependence
Traditionally, IT departments have been the gatekeepers for any business solution requiring coding or technical implementation. This often creates bottlenecks, as IT teams are often overwhelmed with tasks ranging from bug fixes to new feature developments. No-code platforms empower 'citizen developers' within different departments to create their own solutions without constantly relying on IT, freeing up IT professionals to focus on more complex and strategic initiatives. The result is not only less dependence on IT but also more efficient use of these valuable resources.
- Increase in business agility and speed
In an increasingly dynamic business environment, the ability to adapt quickly to market changes is critical. No-code development enables rapid prototyping and deployment of business applications, empowering organizations with the speed to respond to changing demands and opportunities like never before. Whether it is automating a manual process, launching a new service, or implementing a customer feedback loop, no-code platforms make these tasks quicker and easier. Additionally, by cutting down the time from ideation to implementation, businesses can operate more agilely, pivoting to match market changes in real-time, and get a leg up on the competition.
The landscape of no-code development is rapidly changing, and staying up to date with current trends is essential for organizations looking to remain competitive. Below are some pivotal no-code trends to keep an eye on:
- Increased no-code adoption by enterprise businesses
Large enterprises are increasingly adopting no-code solutions to streamline operations and drive innovation. These platforms are no longer the domain of just startups or small businesses; companies of all sizes have started to implement no-code tools to speed up their digital transformation efforts while also boosting productivity.
- Improved security and governance
As more critical business applications are built using no-code platforms, there is a growing concern that software designed using no-code solutions may be vulnerable. These concerns are creating an increased focus on not only agility and ease of access, but also ensuring reliable cybersecurity measures. This includes layered permissions, user authentication, data encryption, and compliance tools. Additionally, audit logs that track changes and monitor for suspicious activities are becoming common features in no- and low-code tools.
- More app development by citizen developers
Long gone are the days when software could only be designed and deployed by IT experts. As more non-technical teams become empowered to create applications, there will be an increased emphasis on educating and training citizen developers to build secure, efficient, and powerful apps.
- Increased demand for integration
Organizations are seeking no-code platforms that can effortlessly connect with a variety of applications and services. Platforms offering higher degrees of customization, along with API and plug-in capabilities for quick integrations, are increasingly in demand.
- Heightened interest in open-source alternatives
The need for solutions that meet strict data requirements—especially among large organizations like banks and governments—is driving interest in open-source no-code alternatives. These platforms supply the required customization and compliance features that many enterprise-level organizations require, without the risk of vendor lock in.
- Increased focus on scalability
Until recently, it was an accepted fact that no-code solutions were best utilized in building simple products and tools. That said, as no-code platforms evolve, there is a clear trend towards developing capabilities that allow for the creation of more complex and scalable applications. Extensive integrations, automated workflows, and powerful management features are all becoming more standard in no-code platforms, creating a world where no-code development goes hand in hand with scalability.
- Integration of no-code solutions with AI, ML, and IoT
No-code is designed for simplicity, but that does not necessarily mean it is limited to simple technologies. AI, machine learning, and the internet of things (IoT) are all opening new doors for no-code development, making it possible for users to build more advanced applications that leverage increased extensive data backed by intelligent programming.
- Emergence of new no-code tools
Finally, as the no-code market continues to grow and evolve, we are seeing new platforms and tools entering the space on a near-constant basis. Although this may begin to feel like a crowded market, it will foster increased competition, leading to better features, capabilities, and value for the end-users.
No-code is designed to eliminate the heavy lifting involved in software development, but that does not mean integrating low-code into your business is effort-free. To help ensure success with your no-code initiative, consider the following essential steps:
- Evaluate available platforms
Research different no-code platforms and assess their features based on your specific business needs. Consider factors such as security, scalability, and user support.
- Obtain leadership support
Present your no-code development strategy to management, highlighting its potential benefits for operational efficiency and innovation. Securing approval ensures alignment across the organization.
- Plan your development process
Create a detailed roadmap for your no-code initiative, covering everything from project goals and tool selection to learning the platform and balancing day-to-day tasks with development efforts.
- Use built-in tools and templates
Accelerate app development by leveraging pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop components, and other ready-made features that no-code platforms provide. This simplifies the development process, especially for non-technical users.
- Incorporate RPA solutions
Consider integrating robotic process automation (RPA) into your no-code strategy. RPA platforms can automate repetitive tasks and workflows, further enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of your no-code applications.
- Test and refine your solution
Conduct thorough testing to ensure your application meets business requirements and functions as intended. Iterate based on feedback and resolve any issues before launching the final product.
- Deploy and manage
Once testing is complete, deploy the application and ensure it runs smoothly in production. Regularly monitor and update the app to keep it aligned with evolving business needs and objectives.
Huge demand for applications has inspired many organizations to grow capacity even further with citizen developer resources on no-code platforms. ServiceNow Creator Workflows offers a simple, single platform environment where citizen developers can quickly be empowered with pre-built templates and easy-to-use low code tools. This same single environment can optimize multi-skill collaborations among developers with varying levels of experience. No- and low- code builders can assemble, and reuse components built by professional developers to both accelerate delivery times and promote standardized experiences—regardless of the development source.
To avoid any negative impacts to the operational integrity of the business, Creator Workflows provides a safe development environment that removes complexity and risk. Novice users are only exposed to features and components that are battle-tested and well-governed, to ensure consistent standards for high quality and compliance across all necessary enterprise requirements.
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