Ever since non-coders discovered they could put together a fully-functional software/application using no-code and low-code platforms, the market for these development tools has been rising.
If the numbers of Grand Review Research are to be believed, the market for no-code and low-code platforms will register a compounded annual growth rate of 22.7% between 2020 and 2027.
Seeing how 85% of people said that no-code tools have added value to their lives, it is understandable that the consumer pool for no/low-code applications has increased. With that said, no-code platforms come with their own set of caveats that need to be considered to unlock their true and full potential.
Users often end up making a few common mistakes in no-code app development and tool deployment, which takes away from the efficiency of the process. Let’s see what these mistakes are and how you can avoid making them.
Every no-code software is unique. Each one would have its own specialties and drawbacks.
One of the most common mistakes companies make is to take the most popular no-code tools for their face value and acquire them without a prior internal needs analysis.
More often than not, the software acquired thus has functions that are redundant, tools that the business doesn’t need, or lacks a few key functionalities that were required in the first place.
It is essential to scrutinize every no-code platform on your list to understand if it fits your needs. Always take stock of the following aspects:
Every project has a development cycle that defines the tasks and activities to be accomplished. Right from storyboarding to testing, the development cycle comprises differing technical and technological needs at each stage.
Unfortunately, this is where the second mistake happens when deploying a no-code tool.
Projects with unclear, inefficient development cycles lead to the adoption of no-code platforms that can’t perform the tasks at hand.
For example, frequently changing the project properties (like UI design or functional features) results in pauses in the project. The chosen no-code platform may or may not have the tools to let you isolate and modify certain project tasks.
In such cases, a complete rework may be needed, ultimately wasting more time than the no-code platform saves.
Every business has a list of short-term goals with the app or software project it undertakes. Whether it is to get more users to sign on or to deliver a better service experience to consumers – the goals differ with the nature of the app.
Similarly, the long-term goals expected from the project also need to be defined clearly.
The third most common mistake companies make is putting long-term goals on hold while choosing no-code tools. Let’s consider an example.
Suppose a company used a no-code platform to develop an eCommerce app. This app did extremely well in the market, and the company now has to deal with an unprecedented increase in users.
However, the no-code platform they implemented does not have the right tools to help them scale the app to cater to the new audience size. This is where problems begin.
An initial goal-defining session would work best to solve this problem and help you select the right no-code platform for future scaling, like Hubler.
Some applications have more user interactions by nature, while others don’t.
One potential mistake is choosing a platform that causes business logic (the part of the program that handles communications between the end-user and the server/database) to come to the front-end and mess with user experience. The end product is a glitchy app with a problematic interface that doesn’t communicate well with a server.
An example is developing a gaming app that requires a lot of user inputs to deliver an experience versus developing an e-reader app that requires few touches. The business logic for both these projects would vary.
Some no-code platforms are good at handling applications with heavy business logic, while some are not - make your selection wisely.
For some businesses, data security is of paramount importance while developing an app.
However, one common mistake while selecting a no-code platform is that companies fail to check the reliability and security protocol of the servers that the platform uses.
Many a time, the no-code platform servers are foreign. This could translate into breaches, hacks, or leaks. Furthermore, it is also important to check the compliance of the no-code platform data policy with the laws prevalent in your region.
Non-coders usually have no idea how to put an app or software together.
When they are empowered to do so with no-code platforms, their creativity is likely to get carried away and result in a confused, incoherent, and sloppy business process of app development. This not only delays the project but makes it utterly difficult to understand.
It is of great importance, therefore, to select no-code platforms that allow logical process flows and help keep things organized.
A business frequently shifts between clouds and servers with its data with each new implement or simply to streamline things. This often results in problems with no-code platforms that make the process of migrations complicated.
While selecting a no-code platform, always ensure that there are easy integrations and data migration options available at your disposal should you need them.
Developing an application/software using no-code platforms is supposed to be easy, not problematic. Paying attention to avoiding the problems listed above, in addition to thorough planning based on needs analysis, will help you find the right no-code platform for your business. For information on how to use a no-code platform for your business needs, book a demo with us.
