Building applications yourself with a Low-Code platform

In today's world, every company needs more and more software. Think of applications that improve processes, and applications that help you with your core business. Usually you need programmers for that, but where do you find that many developers who also know your business?

Ideally you would let your own people build their own software. After all, they know exactly what is needed to deliver on the business goals. That is possible with a Low-Code application development platform.

With a Low-Code application development platform, anyone can build software themselves.

A lot of time is often lost between thinking up innovations and producing them. There are simply too few developers and too many tasks to carry out. You would rather let your people build their own tools. This is also known as Citizen Development: employees with little or no programming knowledge building applications themselves using Low-Code technology. That way business and IT can work together better.

What is Low-Code?

Low-Code is part of the Rapid Application Development method (RAD). This means the time needed to build something is shortened considerably, by making use of ready-made building blocks. It also means that little or no coding is involved in development. So no programming knowledge is needed to work with a Low-Code platform.

A Low-Code platform is visual and user-friendly in its set-up, and contains a wide range of tools for building applications. Many of the things you need for the application are already taken care of in the platform. Think of omnichannel options, for instance, to make the app work well across all sorts of channels. But also of setting up the server, hosting, security, updates, back-ups and much more. As a result you do not have to concern yourself with the peripheral matters, and can focus on the functionality you need. That means you can develop faster and more easily.

One caveat of Low-Code is that some things are simplified, which means there is less flexibility. That can cause problems if you need something slightly different from what the platform offers. Fortunately the solution is simple: unlike No-Code, with Low-Code there is always the option of supplementing the platform with your own code. This allows the IT team to adapt the application exactly as required.

The benefits at a glance

• Build applications yourself without programming knowledge
• Quickly build the tools you need, and go live straight away
• Employees can do their work better with tools they build themselves
• Time saved for the IT team, which can take on more complicated tasks
• Business and IT work together smartly in one environment
• Easy to understand how the app fits together, and more efficient communication thanks to the visual environment
• Low start-up costs, training costs and maintenance costs

Mendix

To use this method, you need a High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service (hpaPaaS). This is a platform within which you can build applications using Low-Code.

At JAM-IT we have chosen to work with Mendix, the largest Dutch Low-Code application development platform. Mendix offers everything you need for an enterprise application.