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Next generation of Low/No-Code tools

A few years ago, businesses did not take Low/No-Code tools seriously. That changed rapidly with the rise of cloud computing and process automation. Today, Low/No-Code tools are one of the methods companies use to help them on their digital transformation journey. In this article, we will go one step further by exploring the future of these innovative software development tools.

What are Low/No-Code tools?

As the name implies, Low or No-Code tools allow businesses and individuals to develop their own software solutions using a graphical user interface with minimal (or zero) code input. This definition, although correct, falls short in explaining the potential of these tools. So, it's probably best to use examples to illustrate what's behind the concept of Low/No-Code tools before delving into why we think they're the future.

Let's start with something simple. Suppose you want to know the opinion of your employees, friends, relatives, or any other audience on a specific topic. A quick and efficient way to solve your problem would be to grab your phone and create a Twitter poll. You can carry out an online survey in a matter of seconds without entering a single line of code. Amazing, right?

What about creating a website? That's more complex than creating a survey; it involves colors, styles, visual design, and more. Well, there are a variety of Low/No-Code website builders available, like Webflow or Squarespace that allows you to create professional-grade e-commerce sites, blogs, and other types of websites in a matter of minutes without prior programming experience.

Want something even more complex? Tools like Notion or Airtable allow you to quickly develop CRMs, track expenses, publish documentation, and manipulate large databases. Before the arrival of these tools, it was unthinkable that an individual without any technical background could create such diverse and complex solutions.

As you can see, Low/No-Code tools follow a pattern. Each tool makes it easier for the user to solve a specific problem. If such challenging tasks are possible with today's technology, what does the future hold for no-code tools?

Why Next-Gen No-Code tools are the future

Although the tools described in the previous section are amazing, they only represent the tip of the iceberg of the potential of what Low-Code/No-Code can do for both individuals and businesses. 

Consider startups, for example. From the perspective of companies with limited resources, Low-Code and No-Code platforms give them access to cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and custom big data platforms, assisting startups in bringing disruptive products to market quickly and conveniently.

Google ML Kit is one example of how a No-Code approach can speed up software development and make complex technologies more accessible to beginners. This solution allows anyone to deploy and train custom ML models, even without any experience in the field. Similarly, Obviously AI enables businesses to create predictive models in minutes without any background in programming, Data Science, or AI. 

Another use case where next-gen Low/No-Code tools enables organizations to solve real business problems is harpoon. harpoon allows anyone to create a Kubernetes cluster and deploy their software in seconds. 

While it is true that Low-Code/No-Code solutions are currently limited to specific use cases, it would be a mistake to underestimate their value. The trend to make it easier for non-developers to create powerful solutions tailored to their needs is in full swing. This type of solution will become more and more common as time goes by.

Low/No-Code is the next logical step in the evolution of technology. Autonomous vehicles, fully automated factories, devices of all kinds activated by voice and gestures, virtual assistants that predict our patterns, and software created by people without advanced degrees in software. Technology is leading us to an automated world. However, we are not there (yet), so in the meantime, No-Code tools should be seen as an alternative to traditional software development that offers multiple benefits to businesses' challenges.

Benefits of Low-Code/No-Code tools

The promising future of Low-Code and No-Code solutions has a lot to do with the benefits it offers to companies of any size. 

  • Custom-tailor software. Much of the success of software as a service (Saas) has to do with its low cost and low maintenance. However, using several platforms to have all the features your business needs is commonplace. For its part, No-Code platforms allow you to create an end-to-end solution that fits your requirements.

  • Cost savings. Businesses save in different ways by using No-Code platforms. It is not only about the cost of a developer but also its low maintenance and ability to release and test new features with low investment.

  • Drive innovation. Steve Jobs wasn't an engineer or a designer. However, his vision of how to solve problems using technology led Apple to its current leadership position. Imagine the value your business can generate by providing No-Code tools to business development stakeholders.

  • Reduce complexity. Some businesses require solutions that are complex in nature. An example of this is deploying cloud-native apps in Kubernetes. Tools like harpoon allow you to deploy and configure your software in the cloud using a visual drag and drop interface. This allows your team to focus on innovating and releasing new features instead of dealing with complex, enterprise-grade cloud deployments.

Final thoughts 

No one can predict the future, yet all signs indicate that No-Code/Low-Code development tools are here to stay. These powerful tools provide businesses with an economical and efficient alternative to solving their problems by creating end-to-end solutions that are perfectly tailored to their needs. 

Start enjoying the benefits of No-Code cloud computing today by deploying your applications from harpoon's intuitive and easy-to-use UI. Contact us now to schedule a demo.