No-Code: Advantages and Challenges

We live in a world with significant and constant changes regarding technology and business. The ability to adapt ideas and solutions to scenarios is a reality that companies need to deal with in order to remain in a competitive market. Technologies have evolved to support these changes, by creating platforms that streamline software development processes, as an alternative for presenting a result capable of meeting expectations quickly and assertively. One such platform is No-Code, which is very similar to Low-Code, covered recently in an article on our blog. Despite being aligned for similar purposes, these platforms have differences in their applicability and target audience.

What is No-Code?

In a literal translation, No-Code means delivering an application entirely without code, or without the need to use code and programming language. The main idea behind No-Code is to decouple the need for a developer when designing a product, making maintenance easier and more accessible. Bringing the idea of templates that can be chosen, flows that can be defined and reports that can be customized through an intuitive interface, No-Code allows people with no programming knowledge to quickly customize and define a functional system.

No-Code X Low-Code

While Low-Code decreases the need for a developer’s interference to create a product, No-Code dismisses the use of the developer, leaving the creation in charge of people who do not have knowledge in software development, but in business, marketing, and design. Each of the platforms has a different target audience: No-Code targets business users, while Low-Code focuses on developers who can create interconnected applications faster. When using No-Code, all the technical part is abstracted and although it is still applicable for a few cases, it makes usage easier.

Advantages of No-Code

Productivity for the team: Professionals who know the rules of the business can support the creation of the product. The intervention of a professional in the area of software development is not necessary to make adjustments to the application. Thus, any professional can collaborate with the product conception process.
Adaptable projects: Adapting changes and testing new versions of the application is simpler. With clear rules and ready-made components, it is possible to switch between different options quickly and in a testable manner.
Cost reduction: With the use of No-Code, the need for the involvement of many professionals is reduced. As a result, the costs to create a functional product are lower and the response time for validation is reduced.
Autonomy for the company: Due to the platform’s ease of use, it is possible for any professional to carry out validations of ideas and tests, putting improvements and changes into practice without having to implement a lengthy process.

Disadvantages of No-Code

It is not all roses in this future that don’t require the intervention of developers, however. Despite being a platform that opens possibilities for professionals from other areas to create functional applications, No-Code is limited to the functionalities implemented by the platform. Imagine that No-Code allows us to create a car capable of driving around town, opening the windows, and filling it up. However, we cannot define whether the lights will automatically turn off when we turn off the vehicle, whether the fuel cap is internal or whether we will have fog lights. We are able to build a car that only performs certain functions. Customizations that are more specific require the intervention of a developer, in addition to the use of another platform that allows such changes.

The future is just around the corner

According to projections of FutureScape, in 2021 the IT market (during and after the pandemic) will have to deliver ever faster, responding to changing requirements and scenarios. In addition, it will have to serve an increasingly broad audience. This projection demonstrates the need for companies to adapt their business to a universe with different opportunities and challenges. To this end, new tools appear. In this panorama, technologies that accelerate product conception processes stand out and gain relevance. No-Code together with Low-Code emerges as valuable tools to support this ever-changing landscape. When we think about ways to deliver results with less effort, we are actually thinking about how to adapt solutions quickly and correctly. The State of Agile annual report for 2020, informs that companies are looking for three main goals when seeking new methodologies: accelerate delivery, manage and prioritize change, and increase productivity. With that in mind, we can see that tools that speed up processes and mitigate errors are a trend now. Therefore, No-Code fits perfectly in this aspect.

Does No-Code work for my business?

In order to answer this question, you first need to structure the digital product. Both a new application or system as well as the evolution of a platform need to be well-thought-out and planned before choosing the best form of development. It is very likely that No-Code may come to represent part of a larger strategy during the roadmap of your product or digital business. To assist in this process, we offer Product Conception, a service that aims to elaborate the idea of the digital product, understanding the problem it solves, who its users are, and what technology is suitable for it. Want to learn more? Fill in the form below, we will contact you!