# Unlocking the code – How to benefit from low code platforms Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2016-09-16 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: The Rise of Low Code Platforms in Business Development Meta Description: Discover how low code development is empowering employees to create custom business applications, improving efficiency and customer experience. URL: https://financedigest.com/unlocking-the-code-how-to-benefit-from-low-code-platformshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/businessman-standing-and-wo-1736844510606-compressed.jpg) _By Kieran Saunders, senior business consultant at_ [_FileMaker_](http://www.filemaker.com/) Software development has long been seen as an important skill. Initially when someone said they wanted to become a software developer, it would require years of training, practice and experience. However, today software development can be carried out by almost anyone with little technical knowledge required. The rise in [low code platforms](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-make-low-code-platforms-more-effective-for-the-enterprise.html "How to make low-code platforms more effective for the enterprise") is fuelling this capability within businesses and unleashing a new generation of business coder.  It has become far easier and accessible for employees unskilled in IT to become a [citizen developer](http://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/citizen-developer/), creating new business applications sanctioned by corporate IT. Low code platforms provide the opportunity for citizen developers to [build apps](https://www.financedigest.com/building-a-successful-enterprise-app-and-the-pitfalls-for-getting-it-wrong.html "Building a Successful Enterprise App (and the pitfalls for getting it wrong)") which may not be complex, but can integrate with existing systems which are already in place. For businesses, this means there wouldn’t be the need to completely change the IT infrastructure to adapt to a custom app in order to solve inefficient processes and [improve customer experience](https://www.financedigest.com/improving-customer-experience-and-profits-with-embedded-payments.html "Improving customer experience and profits with embedded payments"). The coming years are set to see a surge in the growth of low coding; [Gartner](http://www.techrepublic.com/article/citizen-developers-are-ready-to-fill-the-gaps-in-enterprise-applications/) predicts 70 per cent of businesses will have citizen development policies in place by 2020. However, for companies to adapt to this development, they must be open minded to the opportunities presented by low coding and incorporate them into their wider [business strategy](https://www.financedigest.com/foot-orthotic-insoles-market-to-generate-us-5-billion-by-2026-growth-key-business-strategies.html "Foot Orthotic Insoles Market to Generate US$ 5 Billion by 2026 | Growth & Key Business Strategies"). **[Changing the business](https://www.financedigest.com/lane-change-assist-systems-market-overview-business-growth-development-factors-application-and-future-prospects.html "Lane Change Assist Systems Market Overview – Business Growth, Development Factors, Application And Future Prospects") mind set** The main challenge for low code platforms and citizen [development is finding where it can fit into the business](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-appoints-a-raft-of-new-business-development-representatives-as-the-technology-companys-client-roster-grows-by-more-than-50.html "impact.com appoints a raft of new Business Development Representatives as the technology company’s client roster grows by more than 50%") structure. Normally, a [technology development](https://www.financedigest.com/nano-one-awarded-10-million-from-sustainable-development-technology-canada.html "Nano One Awarded million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada") is purely created within the IT domain, with no integration from other areas of the business. If an employee outside of the IT department creates a custom app, it can halt the integration process, as either the IT team will need to take over or external experts will be drafted in by executives to ensure it is suitable for [business](https://www.financedigest.com/the-four-pillars-of-data-integrity-what-finance-businesses-need-to-know.html "The four pillars of data integrity: what finance businesses need to know") needs. However, as [digital transformation is becoming increasingly central to business success](https://www.financedigest.com/why-digital-transformation-in-finance-is-crucial-for-post-lockdown-success.html "Why digital transformation in finance is crucial for post lockdown success"), companies and their high level management need to adapt to the change of departments integrating within the business and lines starting to blur. Agility and the [adoption of technology across](https://www.financedigest.com/how-ai-looks-set-to-power-facial-recognition-passport-adoption-across-southeast-asia-post-covid.html "How AI looks set to power facial recognition passport adoption across Southeast Asia post-COVID") the business is the first step, but ensuring the company is adapting to this change and making room for innovation is also crucial. Without this, citizen developers will not be able to thrive and [businesses will ultimately miss out on lost opportunities](https://www.financedigest.com/title-gallium-68-market-research-methodology-business-opportunities-and-analysis-report-by-2031.html "Gallium-68 Market Research Methodology, Business Opportunities and Analysis Report by 2031"). **How [low code](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-democratisation-through-low-code-the-future-of-finance-success.html "Digital democratisation through low-code – the future of finance success") platforms create results** One of the underlying [benefits of citizen developers is their knowledge of the business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-choosing-the-right-mtd-for-vat-software-can-maximise-business-benefits.html "How choosing the right MTD for VAT software can maximise business benefits"), its daily processes and what is required in order to improve efficiencies within the organisation. The end result will be a [custom app fit for the business’s own needs](https://www.financedigest.com/you-dont-need-magic-to-anticipate-your-customers-needs-just-the-right-tech.html "You don’t need magic to anticipate your customers’ needs, just the right tech"), compared to an off-the-shelf app which has a one-size-fits-all approach. Eoin Kavanagh is the [managing director](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-theory-promotes-ines-martins-to-global-head-of-product-names-sean-badlishah-managing-director-of-apac-region.html "HYBRID THEORY PROMOTES INÊS MARTINS TO GLOBAL HEAD OF PRODUCT; NAMES SEAN BADLISHAH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF APAC REGION.") of Granby Sausages, which manufactures a range of pork and beef products to consumers. Having completely overhauled the business’s internal processes by creating a custom app on a low code platform, he understands the importance of getting creative to solve [company needs](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-windfall-tax-on-energy-companies-needs-to-be-rewritten-pm.html "Italy’s windfall tax on energy companies needs to be rewritten – PM"). Eoin says, “Previously when we were completely paper-based, we would waste time hunting through filing cabinets to find the correct documentations. However, as we now have developed and deployed our own custom app and incorporated it fully in our [food production](https://www.financedigest.com/why-are-commercial-food-products-manufacturers-adopting-insect-growth-regulators.html "Why are Commercial Food Products Manufacturers Adopting Insect Growth Regulators"), we are able to quickly pinpoint any information required.” Ultimately, the business can [see development](https://www.financedigest.com/the-next-upcoming-years-to-see-the-dental-lasers-market-develop-on-an-organic-note.html "The Next Upcoming Years To See The Dental Lasers Market Develop On An Organic Note") occur quickly and gain quick wins with low coding, compared to businesses working with external companies. Businesses can also gain access to functionality which could take citizen [developers years to learn](https://www.financedigest.com/prioritising-employee-wellbeing-in-finance-firms-through-learning-and-development.html "Prioritising employee wellbeing in finance firms through learning and development") if coding more traditionally, compared to on a low code platform. This responsiveness of the custom app solves [business issues](https://www.financedigest.com/a-taxing-issue-ten-tax-invoicing-pitfalls-that-international-businesses-must-avoid.html "A taxing issue: Ten tax invoicing pitfalls that international businesses must avoid") quickly, efficiently and ensures employees have the right tools to complete the job successfully. By focusing on what the app does, not the how, developers can concentrate on the functionality and user [experience of the custom](https://www.financedigest.com/getting-customer-experience-right-in-financial-services.html "Getting customer experience right in financial services") app, rather than the routine code. A recent [study](http://mlabs.boston-technology.com/blog/the-ultimate-list-of-50-enterprise-mobility-statistics) revealed 43 per cent of smartphone users and 41 per cent of tablet users are unimpressed with the corporate mobile apps they’re expected to use at work. It’s clear [businesses need](https://www.financedigest.com/3-reasons-your-business-needs-customer-reviews.html "3 reasons your business needs customer reviews") to ensure they’re creating apps which has employee needs at the heart of their development. **The [key to unlocking](https://www.financedigest.com/digitalisation-can-be-the-key-to-unlocking-growth-in-audit.html "Digitalisation can be the key to unlocking growth in audit") code** Once [businesses realise the potential](https://www.financedigest.com/the-real-potential-of-web-3-0-and-blockchain-for-business.html "The Real Potential of Web 3.0 and Blockchain for Business") of low coding, it opens the doors to a new breed of software development within the company. Having two or three citizen [developers working](https://www.financedigest.com/property-development-exit-loans-what-they-are-how-they-work.html "Property Development Exit Loans: What They Are, How They Work") on a custom app within the business means a greater number of company issues can be resolved. Start with a small [project and then see how it has the potential to grow](https://www.financedigest.com/power-management-integrated-circuit-pmic-market-is-projected-to-grow-at-6-4-during-2021-2028.html "Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) Market is projected to grow at 6.4% During 2021-2028") into something bigger, especially as development can occur across iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and the web. In house [development doesn’t mean businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/dan-hodgson-joins-verasity-as-director-of-business-development.html "Dan Hodgson joins Verasity as Director of Business Development") are alone. Platforms such as [FileMaker](http://www.filemaker.com/) provide online training and support forums for expertise on prototyping, development or deployment issues citizen developers may be experiencing. Controlling the custom app development in house with a skilled citizen developer has the potential to create new [opportunities for the business](https://www.financedigest.com/electric-vehicle-transmission-market-emerging-growth-analysis-future-demand-and-business-opportunities-2027.html "Electric Vehicle Transmission Market Emerging Growth Analysis, Future Demand and Business Opportunities 2027"). With the right tools available, companies can create a customised solution to solve their real company issues, resulting in a tailored strategy which can only be [offered through creating a custom app](https://www.financedigest.com/community-fintech-11onze-to-launch-el-canut-a-super-app-offering-universal-banking-accounts-and-digital-debit-cards.html "Community fintech 11Onze to launch – EL CANUT – a super APP offering universal banking accounts and digital debit cards"). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---