Top 5 Advantages of No-code Platforms for Startups
In today’s world, technology is front and center. Smart home assistants, virtual chatbots, self-driving cars… All these are modern world innovations that seemed impossible a decade ago! And with the rise of the tech industry, the market for IT professionals has also become intensely competitive.
As the demand grows for skilled developers and software engineers, businesses are in a race to offer the sweetest deal to land the services of these professionals. The result? Startups and small businesses are finding it difficult to keep up with large corporations, as they lack the means to attract the best talent in a tight job market.
The good news is that startups and SMBs no longer have to struggle as much just to keep up with the big businesses, thanks to no-code and low-code development platforms! These technologies have changed the digital landscape. Previously, only professional developers could build functional programs and software. But today, even citizen developers can build applications in a matter of minutes.
No-code and low-code platforms appeal to startups for a number of reasons. If you are a startup looking to build a complex application quickly and efficiently, a no-code or low-code platform may be the right choice for you! Check out the advantages of no-code and low-code development below.
What are no-code and low-code development platforms?
In 2022, global enterprises are projected to spend a whopping $675 billion on enterprise software alone! And a big chunk of that will go to no-code and low-code development platforms. But what are they and how do organizations utilize them?
Both no-code and low-code development platforms require zero to minimal coding or programming knowledge to create applications and software. This means that anyone, regardless of their technical skills, can create apps and software using these platforms.
No-code is often used by businesses to develop customer-facing apps, including customer portals and forms. But these platforms may also be used to create internal tools such as HR or CRM systems. On the other hand, businesses utilize low-code platforms to build customized applications such as data management systems.
While traditional code is usually written by professional developers with years of experience, both no-code and low-code platforms are designed for use by citizen developers to quickly build applications without writing code from scratch.
With the minimal technical skills required by both no-code and low-code platforms, they become much more accessible to a wider range of users. This also makes these platforms more appealing to startups because they can create working prototypes quickly and without the need to hire expensive developers.
What are the advantages of no-code and low-code development for startups?
No-code and low-code development are becoming increasingly popular among startups. This is because these platforms offer a number of advantages that are appealing to companies in their early stages. Here's a list of five advantages of no-code and low-code development:
1 - Saving on resources
No-code and low-code development platforms allow startups to build complex applications quickly and efficiently. This can be done without the need for costly and time-consuming custom coding—effectively helping startup’s save on its valuable resources.
Instead of spending limited funds on hiring developers, no-code and low-code platforms allow startups to create their own applications using a drag-and-drop interface. This means that startups can focus their resources on other areas of their business, such as marketing or product development. In a company where resources are scarce, every last penny counts. In this aspect, no-code and low-code development can be a real game-changer.
2 - Reduced time-to-market
Another advantage of no-code and low-code development for startups is the ability to get to market faster. Startups often have to move quickly to gain a competitive edge and no-code and low-code platforms allow them to do just that.
These platforms make it possible for startups to create a working prototype, called a minimum viable product or MVP, with ease. By using these platforms, an MVP could be built in a fraction of the time it would take with traditional development tools!
3 - Keeping the focus on the product, not the technology
Many startups begin with just an idea. And an idea can grow and evolve with the use of technology until it is successfully transformed into reality! However, with traditional development tools, technological challenges often take center stage. This can be a problem for startups that don’t have the time or resources to focus on the nitty-gritty of various technological tools.
When using no-code or low-code platforms, startups can focus on developing their product. Although technical limitations may still arise on these platforms, these platforms can help alleviate the said limitations and make it possible for users to create complex applications.
This is a major advantage for startups as these platforms already take care of the technical aspects of application development, such as hosting, scaling, and security. By using no-code or low-code platforms, startups can avoid these problems altogether and focus on what’s important: Developing a great product!
4 - Increased agility
Agility is the ability to rapidly respond to change. In the startup world, being agile means prioritizing flexibility over fixed —and sometimes unrealistic—goals. The willingness to quickly pivot within a dynamic environment and accommodate the necessary changes contribute to creating an agile organization. Basically, startups need to be able to swiftly adapt and change their products and processes to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers.
In an agile environment, startups can validate their ideas quickly and efficiently, without spending months or even years developing a product that may not be successful. Developing an MVP also allows startups to test their products with potential customers and get feedback early on, which can be invaluable in the development process.
No-code and low-code platforms are the perfect tools for startups that need to be agile. These platforms make it possible to quickly apply development changes. This means that startups can rapidly respond to customer feedback and make changes to their products on the fly.
Being agile gives startups a major advantage over their competition. They can quickly pivot their products to meet the evolving needs of their customers and stay ahead of the curve. This increased agility can also spell the difference between success and failure for a startup.
5 - Expanding into new markets
New markets are constantly emerging, and startups need to be able to quickly enter these markets to stay ahead of the competition. No-code and low-code platforms make it possible for startups to enter these markets with minimal effort—markets that would otherwise be inaccessible!
For example, a startup that wants to enter a certain market such as the healthcare or finance industry may need to develop an application that needs to comply with strict regulations. No-code and low-code platforms would allow them to do this quickly and efficiently, without the need for expensive developers.
The bottom line
Overall, no-code and low-code development platforms offer a number of advantages that can be incredibly helpful for startups. And as the adoption of these technologies continues to grow, the outlook is extremely positive for the years to come. By 2030, an estimated 75 percent of businesses worldwide are projected to adopt no-code or low-code platforms - or both! The market for these platforms is also forecasted to grow by approximately 23 percent in the same period. So, if you are a startup looking to create internal applications with ease to remain competitive and relevant in the years to come, then no-code and low-code development are definitely worth considering!