LOW-CODE DEVELOPMENT IS A NEW PROGRAMMING APPROACH THAT FACILITATES THE CREATION OF APPLICATIONS (INCLUDING AT THE ENTERPRISE LEVEL) WITH SHORTER LEADTIMES. LOW-CODE APPLICATION PLATFORMS (LCAPs) MINIMISE THE NEED TO WRITE CODE, THANKS TO INTUITIVE INTERFACES AND SIMPLE INTEGRATION MODELS. THIS ADAPTIVE AND SCALABLE METHOD IS CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH SPACES AND WORKFLOWS.
LCAP (Low-Code Application Platform) is an acronym coined by Gartner. It has been universally adopted and only partially expresses the contents and characteristics of these platforms.
From an economic sustainability and time-to-market point of view, significantly reducing reliance on code is becoming increasingly important. In addition, the most significantly innovative aspect of this concept is the use of a model-driven approach that puts processes at the heart of development.
The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms report, published in September 2021, describes LCAP platforms as the vanguard of digital transformation. According to the study, 65% of application development will be low-code by 2024. Gartner also reports that software-as-a-service (SaaS) and hyper-automation can help promote the adoption of a low-code approach. Most major SaaS players have started incorporating low-code development technologies into their service offerings.
Business process management and automation solutions are gaining ground and becoming increasingly widespread. As a result, they are stimulating the emergence of new workspaces and the adoption of new ways of designing, developing, monitoring, and governing applications. AI (Artificial Intelligence), RPA (Robotic Process Automation), and LCAP development platforms will improve processes in companies big and small across all industries, including Industry 4.0, Services, the Public Sector, and Finance (Banking and Insurance).
An LCAP (Low Code Application Platform) is a platform that allows you to
quickly develop and deploy applications using declarative and model-driven application design and development and simplified one-step application deployment.
Low-code is a legitimate approach. It emphasises the decision to place processes at the heart of development and to create applications of varying complexity using visual tools and drag-and-drop interfaces. The method thus makes development more efficient thanks to intuitive interfaces and simple integration models.
It is an adaptive method which ties in with a broader process automation strategy and can be combined with machine learning and AI techniques.
Using modular and reusable elements, predefined components, and graphic features allows developers with less experience and other stakeholders (in business, marketing, and communications divisions) to exploit the value and efficiency of applications within a company. It also speeds up and makes environments and workflows more collaborative and scalable.
A few benefits:
Reduces the amount of effort required
Low-code solutions use visual templates and graphic design capabilities to create software and integrate it with IT infrastructures. As a result, it can reduce development times, from design to release, by an average of 50% (based on the SCAI Group’s experience).
Solves productivity-related roadblocks
LCAP can better address backlogs, circumvent a lack of expert staff, and render the work of development teams more efficient. Doing so allows them to focus on innovation instead of routine tasks, and apps can be quickly created and adapted to meet business needs.
Governance and security
The LCAP approach provides senior management with a control centre that offers excellent visibility into a complex scenario of apps, software, and infrastructure that needs to be increasingly integrated and tailored to market needs.
Streamlines procedures and reduces costs
Developers who adopt the LCAP approach can better interact with the ethos of companies by using agile methodologies and automating processes to support the activities of internal end-users, business partners, and customers. Using low-code platforms reduces costs and guarantees a higher ROI by ‘democratising’ process logic.
