Why You Should Use Low-Code Tools to Build Internal Applications

Low-code accelerates the speed of the software development process by reducing the need for writing code. Low-code is a modern approach that makes use of visual development that automates and abstracts the steps required for application development. Low-code platforms come with a drag-and-drop interface for building applications and provide ways to access data from different sources. But why should you use it?

In this article, we'll discuss what low-code tools are, their capabilities, and the top reasons why they can be beneficial to you.

Low-code development refers to the process of developing software using little to no code. And the tools or platforms that enable this capability are called low-code tools. They use basic logic, visual interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, and plenty of features to support the development process.

It saves you from writing longer lines of code and programming languages. Instead, you can use uniform and reusable lines of code for different processes and features for building the applications.

Low-code tools are transforming the software development world and offering a quick alternative to traditional development processes. Non-coders or "citizen developers" with no prior coding skills can learn it quite easily and start developing applications.

Low-code platforms aim to reduce the need for coding while no-code platforms eliminate the need for code. Now you might start thinking if something can be done without code, why the low-code platforms are relevant. There are some advantages to low-code platforms since it allows coding. Low-code platforms support the usage of code ( JavaScript in the case of ToolJet ) almost anywhere within the app builder. This allows the developers to have dynamic logic in their application

Low-code platforms are built for developers to reduce the time spent on coding applications by abstracting the application development steps. Technical business users can also be very productive with low-code platforms.

Some of the features of low-code tools are:

• Drag and drop interface: It is a common feature in low-code tools and is a highly beneficial element that eases the app development process. They allow you to drag and drop UI elements easily so that you can build applications visually.
• Visual tools and IDE: Low-code platforms come with visual tools and IDE that further make it easy to develop applications using visual models and approaches. They allow you to represent data visually so everyone in your team, programmers or non-programmers, can understand.
• Reusable code: You get lots of pre-configured functionalities and modules for fundamental functions that you can reuse in your apps. You can customize them if you need and build feature-rich internal applications.
• Useful capabilities: Useful capabilities in your low-code tool promise the best results. It may include tools for lifecycle management, debugging, maintenance, deployment, production, staging, and more. In addition, it can support connectors to help you plug in back-end services, APIs, and databases.

Now, you may confuse low-code and no-code; they are not the same. Low code minimizes hand-coding while no-code eliminates hand-coding. It's beneficial for non-coders who want to build an application without writing a single line of code.

So, let's now look at the reasons why you should use low-code tools to build your internal applications.

Traditional development processes take a significant amount of time and engineering effort.

According to a Redhat study, low-code solutions can reduce the app development time by 90%.

Low-code offers many capabilities like accessible code, visual builders, built-in connectors, forms, and templates, to help you develop your internal applications faster than hand-coding.

During the development cycle, there are lots of moments where you think something is off or needs modification. At this time, you must be able to make changes quickly without hassles so that your development process never disrupts.

Low-code tools are built to offer you this flexibility of making changes rapidly, which you can call rapid iteration. You can experiment with your code schema, etc., and compare them to choose the best one for your development goal without the financial overhead.

This is why low-code platforms are also excellent for prototyping. It lets you test your idea on a small scale, and if everything looks good, you can build its full-fledged model. Hence, low-code tools give you the freedom to innovate so you can build the applications you dream of.

The internal applications you build will need some fixes and updates over time. Whatever the case, you must be able to do it effortlessly. Low-code tools allow effortless iterations.

Low-code tools offer smooth digital transformation by allowing you to automate your development processes to meet the changing business environment and demands. They also assist in accelerating your transformation cycle and innovate and adapt easily.

The cost of development is one of the main factors that developers and companies consider. It is evident, especially if you are a start-up or small business wanting to develop a low-cost internal application.

You can develop internal applications at a lower price compared to traditional ways using low-code tools. Low-code tools require less time and effort and thus is cost-efficient.

Instead of using a myriad of development tools and hiring more developers with a fat paycheck, you can use a low-code tool for cost-efficient development without compromising quality.

Forget about writing so thousands of lines of code; use the power of automation with low-code tools. Low-code tools help increase your productivity so you can build more internal applications in less time.

Another report states that 80% of respondents feel low-code tools can save time so that the developers can work on other projects.

You can find a lot of application developers across the globe, but talent is relatively rare. Alternatively, not all developers can produce the same level of results against the unique requirements of an organization.

Surprisingly, the number one roadblock that keeps CIOs worldwide from accomplishing their development objective is tech talent, according to Gartner.

This is the reason you must utilize every resource you have smartly, including your developers. Low-code tools help your developers to build applications at increased speed using their unique capabilities.

The bottom line of your internal applications is to facilitate efficiency within your organization while providing excellent customer support. Well, this is possible with low-code solutions.

It's because it will help your developers work efficiently, increase their productivity, and save time to build powerful, high-quality applications to serve your customers better.

For example, whether you are developing a customer support application or help desk software, your high-quality apps will help address your customers' issues easily, which in turn, improves customer experience.

Last but not least, low-code tools can easily adapt for any organization of any scale or skill level. Even people with no experience in coding can learn and use it quite quickly and contribute to the development process.

Check this report by Mendix that states 70% of developers without a programming background learned to use a low-code tool in a month or less.

ToolJet is an open-source low-code platform to build and deploy internal applications.

We would love to know your feedback about ToolJet, here is the link to our GitHub repository: https://github.com/ToolJet/ToolJet