When Opportunities Become Setbacks: Understanding the Basics of Low-Code Deployment

Coding has become increasingly influential for software developers. From low code solutions that bring inclusivity to business-side shareholders to corporate governance, the current airflow of the coding environment seems busy, to say the least. Despite all these benefits, some steel-colored clouds loom on the horizon. 

Last week, I wrote about Low Code Application Platforms' recent boost in influence. Amongst all the information provided, Gartner’s famous forecast analysis report came up. It predicted how the low code market value would amount to a total of $13.8 billion by the end of 2021. So far, the prediction has come true. As I mentioned before, LCAPs have managed to bridge the gap between expert developers and citizen developers, creating a financial boom in the tech world. 

In a world where technological awareness has become so entrenched in our business models, understandable coding practices are a godsend. However, this does not mean that the struggle is over for upstart web developers: far from it. In fact, a good enough prediction would be to assume that organizations that understand the true value of low coding will become the real market drivers in the following years. 

The IT Race

Businesses have shifted focus from individualized market trends. Gone are the days of a separate market for software solutions, telecom, and related ilk. The deployment of low code tools has managed to raise awareness of comprehensive strategies that bring in all sectors of the tech market. Not satisfied with a simple tech revolution, every company has proceeded to include software development into their portfolio.

Businesses face a lot of pressure to build products and to stay ahead from their competitors. However, given that the talent gap has been widening, a parallel competition has risen: the need to acquire skilled professionals and developers to satisfy those needs. Companies from all areas need this; clients like Versapay needed our help in the past with the onboarding process in order to accelerate their digital transformation. It’s no surprise that low code looms as an attractive option.

Still, deploying low code solutions without much forethought leads to catastrophic results. Just like assuming your Agile-led methodology will work against any setback, LCAPs can only withstand so much pressure. It is therefore imperative to understand when it’s time to deploy these tools.

Navigating the (Work)Flow of LCAPs

Delivery speed and successful corporate synergy are both elements that have been correctly addressed in the past by LCAPs. Our clients can greatly benefit from reduced work hours and automation, and it’s something that needs to be understood above all else: Low code solutions, when properly understood, are a panacea of opportunities for startups.

But those words are the key to all this: properly understood. The crux of the matter is then to define what one means by saying those words. Having a thorough understanding of this new process involves a lot of elements, but most of them can be boiled down to a few elemental  strategies.

The Fundamental Practices

Just like any trend, many web developers are quick to try to update their skills in order to engage with low code tools. Jumping in without assessing what your objectives are is a risky proposition, however. In order to benefit from faster development cycles, one must have a clear agenda in mind.

In other words, progress for the sake of progress rarely yields good results. Seychelle Media, for example, already had a mapped out plan of action before we engaged with them in conversation. Their software needs were to serve their long term goals, not the inverse. If a company doesn’t have a clear business model, a defined target audience, and a willingness to meet an unmet need, the technology will not suffice.

Skill (Still) Matters

By bridging the gap between seasoned and new developers, low code might seem attractive to a lot of startups - in fact, it may seem attractive to any startup. On the other hand, we must never underestimate the importance of learning high level coding skills, as they ensure that our products remain scalable and maintainable beyond the initial product launch. 

Experienced developers know that they can’t always write low code solutions, as it limits their potential outreach. Sure, it’s cost effective at the moment, but it leads to a future strain on resources once the product needs updating. With a plethora of tools at their disposal, such as hiring dedicated developers to lighten up the load, industry leaders should think twice before resorting to low coding platforms.

The Business Side of Things

Nobody likes restructuring. Cost-effective strategies are implemented with the long term goal of eliminating setbacks permanently. This is often more the exception rather than the rule, as setbacks will occur. However, whether those setbacks are minor annoyances or a major headache depends on the cooperation between the IT department and the business side. 

If stakeholders, CEOs and other individuals are left out of the loop, it could lead to major re-engineering and budget/schedule variances. Similar to the fundamental practices mentioned above, one needs to create an environment dependent on the collaboration between all parties involved. One possible risk is what’s known as Shadow IT - that is to say, when citizen developers overlook common mistakes due to their unfamiliarity with the app they’re working on. If a whole sector of your company is in the dark regarding the development cycle, and the other half only has a mild idea of what they’re currently working on, you create uncertainty and risk rather than assertiveness and prosperity.

The Right Way

All these risks can be avoided by treating the advent of LCAPs as just another useful tool in your business. Instead of treating it as the one and only perfect solution for any problem, developers and CEOs alike should strive to thrive in multi-solution environments. The people who excel in these environments recognize the virtues that low code offers, but also seek to implement other viable strategies, such as the Agile methodology and staff augmentation practices.

Low code development still has its uses, and they must be taken seriously. Automation, mobile app design, and configuration management benefit greatly from LCAPs. Perhaps the key to all this is to simply orient ourselves and assess where our interests lie.

If You Need Additional Help…

In time, most startups will implement low code applications. Of course, this still creates a climate of doubt for a lot of potential developers out there. Teravision has over 17 years of experience helping startups and interested individuals achieve their goals. From low code to agile solutions, we seek to ensure your vision becomes a reality.