The Definitive Guide to Low-Code Development

Picture this: You're the operations manager at a growing construction firm. Your days are a constant juggling act between project timelines, resource allocation, and client communications.

But you have a problem – you've got a hodgepodge of systems - a clunky spreadsheet for scheduling, an outdated database for inventory, and a stack of post-it notes for last-minute changes.

To put it nicely, your team is drowning in contextless (useless) data.

In a moment of desperation, you decide to invest in an off-the-shelf project management solution. It promises to streamline your operations, but reality hits hard.

The software is rigid, unable to accommodate your unique workflows. Your team can’t adapt, and you find yourself creating workarounds just to complete basic tasks. What was supposed to be a solution has become yet another problem to manage.

Business from construction to healthcare require systems that work fast and work right. Yet many sacrifice quality for a cheap alternative to the traditional spreadsheet, and find they are still lost.

For those in need of bringing their data to light, low code app development is here. With the ability to quickly build custom low code applications that offer the precise uses your company requires, a low code app may be just what you need.

But is it right for you? When margins are tight, investing in another solution or tool may be a challenge. Let’s explore the world of low-code development and how it's empowering companies to create custom applications without the need for extensive coding knowledge.

What Is Low-Code Development?

Low-code development is a modern approach to software creation enabling users to create and implement applications without the rigorous requirements that come with hand-coding software.

Instead of writing tons of complex code, low-code platforms provide a visual development environment where users can design, build, and deploy applications using graphical user interfaces and configuration.

At its core, low-code development is about abstraction. It takes the complex principles of software development and presents them in a more accessible, visual format. 

This abstraction allows a wider range of people - from professional developers to business analysts - to participate in the application development process.

Here are some of the pillar concepts that serve low-code development:

1. Visual modeling: Applications are designed using diagrams and models rather than text-based code.
2. Drag-and-drop interfaces: Pre-built components can be easily arranged to create application logic and user interfaces.
3. Declarative tools: Users define what they want to achieve, and the platform determines how to execute it.
4. Reusable components: Libraries of pre-built elements speed up development and ensure consistency.

How does low-code differ from traditional coding?

Traditional coding requires developers to write out every line of code manually, a process that can be time-consuming and prone to errors. In contrast, low-code development automates much of this process, allowing developers to focus on the unique aspects of their application.

• Speed: Low-code development can significantly reduce the time it takes to build and deploy applications. What might take months with traditional coding can often be accomplished in weeks or even days with low-code platforms.
• Accessibility: While traditional coding requires extensive knowledge of programming languages, low-code platforms can be used by individuals with varying levels of technical expertise. 
• Maintenance: Low-code applications are typically easier to maintain and update. Changes can be made quickly through the visual interface, rather than digging through lines of code.
• Standardization: Low-code platforms often come with built-in best practices and standards, ensuring consistency across applications and reducing the risk of errors.
• Integration: Many low-code platforms offer pre-built connectors to common systems and databases, simplifying the process of integrating new applications with existing infrastructure.

While low-code development offers many advantages, it's important to note that it doesn't completely replace traditional coding. Complex, highly customized applications may still require some level of hand-coding. 

However, for a wide range of business applications, low-code development provides a powerful alternative that can dramatically accelerate the software development process.

What Are the Benefits of Low-Code Development?

Low-code development platforms offer a wide range of advantages that can significantly impact an organization's ability to innovate and respond to market demands. 

Let's look at some of the benefits your company can enjoy when you invest in a low-code developer for your next company-wide software solution:

Increased productivity and faster time-to-market

One of the most significant advantages of low-code development is the dramatic increase in productivity it offers:

1. Rapid prototyping: Low-code platforms allow developers to quickly create functional prototypes, enabling faster iteration and refinement of ideas.
2. Accelerated development cycles: What might take months with traditional coding can often be accomplished in weeks or even days using low-code platforms.
3. Reduced debugging time: Visual interfaces and pre-built components minimize coding errors, reducing the time spent on debugging.
4. Faster deployment: Many low-code platforms offer one-click deployment options, streamlining the process of moving applications from development to production.

This increased speed allows businesses to respond more quickly to market changes, customer needs, and emerging opportunities, giving them a competitive edge.

A cost-effective development process

Cost is always a conversation point with any development process. Luckily, low-code development can help with that:

1. Reduced development costs: By accelerating the development process, low-code platforms can lower the overall cost of creating and maintaining applications.
2. Lower training costs: The intuitive nature of low-code platforms often requires less extensive training compared to traditional programming languages.
3. Minimized technical debt: Standardized components and built-in best practices can result in cleaner, more maintainable code, reducing long-term technical debt.
4. Optimized resource allocation: Low-code platforms allow organizations to make better use of their existing talent, potentially reducing the need for specialized (and often expensive) development skills.

Low-code development bridges the IT skills gap

Sometimes you can’t afford to build-in house, even though that would help with creating a solution that serves your unique needs. Low-code development helps organizations address the persistent shortage of skilled developers:

1. Empowering citizen developers: Business users with minimal coding experience can create simple applications, reducing the burden on IT departments.
2. Enhancing existing developer productivity: Professional developers can use low-code platforms to handle routine tasks more quickly, freeing up time for more complex problems.
3. Easing recruitment challenges: By lowering the bar for entry-level development, organizations can more easily find and train new talent.

Enhanced collaboration between IT and business units

Low-code platforms foster better alignment between IT and business objectives:

1. Common language: Visual interfaces provide a shared understanding between technical and non-technical team members.
2. Iterative development: The speed of low-code development allows for more frequent feedback and adjustments, ensuring the final product meets business needs.
3. Reduced shadow IT: By empowering business units to create their own solutions (within governed frameworks), low-code can reduce the proliferation of unsanctioned software.
4. Agile methodology support: Many low-code platforms align well with agile development practices, supporting sprint-based development and continuous improvement.

How Low-Code Development Features Can Help You

As you can imagine, having the benefits above are excellent when you need a quality, bespoke solution built out fast. But what about when you’ve invested in the tool and begun to implement it? What can you start to see once you’ve taken the first step in low code app development?

You’ll accelerate your digital transformation

Rather than spend months (or years) on a single solution’s development, low code developers can create, test, iterate, and recreate solutions fast – and you can enjoy an even faster time to market.

• Rapidly prototype and iterate on ideas
• Quickly respond to changing market conditions
• Bring products and services to market faster
• Empower non-technical staff to contribute to app development

For instance, your marketing team can use a low-code app to create a customer-facing portal in weeks instead of months, allowing you to capitalize on emerging opportunities before your competitors.

Reduce IT backlog and costs

When you have an easy to use and maintain low code app, you don’t have to worry about losing hours and days in fixes for a product you didn’t make. This will enable your organization to:

• Drastically cut development time for common applications
• Minimize the need for specialized (and often expensive) coding skills
• Repurpose existing components across multiple projects
• Standardize your application ecosystem for easier maintenance

Enhance quality and reliability

A key feature of low-code development is the ability to automate testing and deployment – which can help you and your development team:

• Catch and fix bugs early in the development process
• Ensure consistent quality across all your applications
• Streamline the process of moving apps from development to production
• Align with modern DevOps practices for continuous improvement

For instance, your quality assurance team can automate testing processes, reducing human error and ensuring that your customer-facing applications are always reliable and up-to-date.

Easily connect your business ecosystem

Any low code developer worth their salt will build a customized solution that connects to your existing processes. This means you don’t have to waste time trying to connect loose wires, and instead:

• Easily connect new applications with existing systems
• Break down data silos across your organization
• Automate workflows between different departments
• Quickly adapt to new technologies and platforms

Future-proof your operations and applications

Scalability and performance optimization are baked into low-code development, so your company can:

• Create applications that can grow with your business
• Easily adapt to changing user demands
• Optimize application performance without deep technical knowledge
• Leverage cloud technologies for cost-effective scaling

How VeilSun Delivers Bespoke Low Code Solutions

At VeilSun, we understand that every business has unique challenges and requirements. 

That's why we specialize in delivering tailored low-code solutions that align perfectly with your specific needs. Our approach combines deep expertise in low-code platforms with full-stack development capabilities to create powerful, customized applications that drive your business forward.

Our Low Code Development

1. Discovery and Assessment: We begin by thoroughly understanding your business processes, pain points, and goals. Our team works closely with you to identify areas where low-code solutions can have the most significant impact.
2. Custom Design: Leveraging our extensive experience with platforms like Quickbase and Mendix, we design a solution that fits seamlessly into your existing workflows while addressing your unique challenges.
3. Rapid App Development: Our skilled developers use low-code platforms to quickly build the core of your application, significantly reducing development time compared to traditional coding methods.
4. Full-Stack Enhancement: Where low-code platforms reach their limits, our full-stack development steps in. We use modern technology to extend the capabilities of your low-code app, ensuring it meets all your requirements without compromise.
5. Ongoing Support and Optimization: Our partnership doesn't end at deployment. Through our Ongoing Development Plan (ODP), we provide continuous support, updates, and optimizations to ensure your solution evolves with your business needs.

Why Choose VeilSun?

• As an Elite Quickbase Partner and with extensive experience in Mendix, we bring unparalleled knowledge to your project.
• Our unique blend of low-code and full-stack capabilities means we can overcome any technical challenge.
• Our low-code focus allows us to deliver solutions faster, providing quicker ROI for your business.
• We don't believe in one-size-fits-all. Every solution we create is custom-built to address your specific needs.
• With over 17 years of experience and 600+ successful projects, we have the expertise to ensure your project's success.

At VeilSun, we're not just building applications; we're crafting solutions that empower your business to thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape. Let us bring your vision to life with our bespoke low-code solutions.

FAQ

What is low-code development and how can it benefit my business? 

Low-code development is an approach that allows for rapid application creation with minimal hand-coding. It can benefit your business by significantly reducing development time, lowering costs, and enabling faster adaptation to changing market needs. VeilSun specializes in leveraging low-code platforms to create custom solutions that streamline your operations and drive growth.

How does VeilSun combine low-code and full-stack development?

VeilSun uniquely blends low-code expertise with full-stack development capabilities. We use low-code platforms like Quickbase and Mendix to rapidly build the core of your application, then enhance it with custom full-stack development.This approach allows us to create powerful, tailored solutions that overcome the limitations of off-the-shelf software.

What types of business problems can VeilSun's low-code solutions address? 

Our bespoke low-code solutions can address a wide range of business challenges, including project management, resource planning, compliance and safety management, customer relationship management (CRM), and workflow automation. We've successfully delivered solutions across various industries, tackling complex problems in areas such as planning and scheduling, work order management, and financial processes.

How long does it typically take to develop and implement a custom low-code solution with VeilSun? 

The timeline for developing and implementing a custom low-code solution can vary depending on the complexity of the project. However, our low-code approach typically allows for much faster development compared to traditional coding methods. Many of our projects are completed within weeks rather than months.

Can VeilSun's low-code solutions integrate with my existing systems?

Absolutely! One of the key advantages of working with VeilSun is our expertise in system integration. We can seamlessly connect your new low-code application with existing systems such as Salesforce, Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and many others.

What ongoing support does VeilSun provide after implementing a low-code solution?

VeilSun offers comprehensive ongoing support through our Ongoing Development Plan (ODP). This service includes regular maintenance, updates, and enhancements to ensure your solution continues to meet your evolving business needs. With VeilSun, you're not just getting a one-time solution, but a long-term technology partner.