What is low-code/no-code development?

Imagine sitting down at a piano and being able to play a complicated tune without knowing how to read music or even play the instrument. In its own way, low-code/no-code (LCNC) development is a bit like that. For decades, software application development required professionals who could speak programming languages and write complex code from scratch. But as demand for custom software solutions grew – and untenable pressures were put on IT teams – businesses became focused on finding less specialised, less complicated ways of meeting this burgeoning need for apps.

This is where low-code and no-code application development comes in. These elegant solutions were built to provide a visually simple and intuitive, drag-and-drop approach to application creation, without the need for coding skills and programming language fluency. 

A citizen developer is a non-technical user who creates applications using LCNC platforms. These individuals don’t need formal coding expertise but are called “developers” because the LCNC tools give them the power to build applications on their own or with less IT assistance than ever before.

Steve Jobs once famously said: “It takes a lot of hard work to make something look simple”. The whole point of LCNC tools is to make application development simpler and more intuitive from a creator’s point of view. But in order to achieve this level of ease, a lot of advanced technologies need to work together seamlessly. These include:

• Visual development interface: Traditional coding requires writing detailed instructions in languages like C++ or Java, but LCNC platforms replace this with an intuitive, drag-and-drop builder. This means users can visually assemble components like forms, dashboards, and workflows, making application development more accessible to citizen developers while still offering deeper customisation for traditional developers.
• Pre-built components and templates: LCNC is like having a well-stocked pantry: Instead of making everything from scratch, you have ready-made ingredients to combine into a finished product. These platforms provide a library of reusable UI elements, logic blocks, and integrations. This helps both non-tech-savvy users and seasoned developers alike.
• Workflow automation: Many business processes involve repetitive manual tasks, such as data entry, approvals, and notifications. LCNC platforms let users automate these tasks by simplifying rules-based logic protocols. This includes things like if-this-then-that (IFTTT) conditions such as “if the invoice is under $500, approve automatically. If over $500, send to manager”.
• Integration capabilities: Applications don’t work in isolation. Most businesses rely on a mix of ERP, CRM, accounting software, and third-party tools to run operations. LCNC platforms often include pre-built connectors and APIs to easily integrate new applications with existing enterprise systems, ensuring data continues to flow smoothly across the organisation.
• Cloud deployment: Instead of installing software on individual machines, most LCNC applications are cloud-native, meaning they run on secure, scalable cloud infrastructure. This allows teams to build once and deploy anywhere, making applications accessible from web browsers, mobile devices, and different operating systems without complex installations.
• Security and governance controls: While LCNC makes app development easier, security can’t be an afterthought. Enterprise-grade platforms include built-in security features such as user authentication, role-based access, audit logs, and compliance certifications to ensure that applications meet regulatory and corporate security standards.

While they both serve the same purpose of simplifying and streamlining development, low-code and no-code each have some distinct features and intended purposes.

Code-free tools are evolving quickly and becoming relevant to a growing range of business processes and operations. Here are a few of today’s most common use cases:

• Reducing emails and document loads

From finance and payroll to HR, marketing, and supply chain operations, there are countless repeating and administrative tasks. Instead of handling them with endless emails and spreadsheets, LCNC tools let your teams build internal apps that are exactly fit for purpose.

• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools

Increasingly, businesses are finding that a one-size-fits-all CRM solution is not quite flexible enough, so they use LCNC to augment CRM capabilities. This allows users to customise workflows, automate follow-ups, and track leads – without relying on IT teams.

• Temporarily augmenting legacy systems

Many companies are in the process of modernising to fully cloud-based systems. But in the interim, low-code/no-code tools help extend functionality, automate workflows, and enhance usability. This helps keep you competitive at every stage in your digital transformation journey.

• Internal dashboards and reporting

Increasingly, you’ll need custom reporting dashboards that pull data from various sources. Instead of waiting for IT to build one, your teams can use low-code/no-code tools to connect databases, create visualisations, and share reports quickly.

While low-code and no-code platforms offer speed and efficiency, you need to consider potential challenges when implementing them at scale. Below are four key considerations and strategies for managing them.

CHALLENGE 1: Scalability and complexity limitations

While LCNC platforms excel at streamlining workflows and automating tasks, they may struggle with highly complex applications that require deep system integrations, advanced logic, or high-performance processing. In these cases, traditional development might still be necessary. For example, if you’re trying to automate complex risk assessments, you might find that a low-code/no-code platform can quickly create workflows and dashboards, but still requires custom development for advanced data modelling or regulatory compliance rules.

Solution: To ensure scalability, you can adopt a hybrid approach, using low-code/no-code for rapid development while integrating traditional coding when deeper customisation is needed. This way, your business users can build functional solutions quickly, while IT teams handle performance-heavy or mission-critical applications.

CHALLENGE 2: Security and compliance concerns

LCNC platforms abstract much of the development process, which can lead to reduced visibility into security configurations, access controls, and data handling practises. If not managed properly, this could expose sensitive data to unauthorised users or create compliance gaps in regulated environments. For instance, you might deploy a self-service customer portal using a no-code tool, but without strict role-based access controls, sensitive customer data could be inadvertently exposed to users who shouldn’t have access.

Solution: Organisations should choose enterprise-grade LCNC platforms that include security best practises by default, such as built-in encryption, authentication, and compliance monitoring tools. Additionally, IT should establish clear security policies to ensure that applications built by business users adhere to company-wide data protection standards.

CHALLENGE 3: Balancing flexibility with standardisation

LCNC platforms let teams build apps that fit their unique needs, but without a clear framework, app sprawl can occur. Too many custom-built solutions create overlap, inefficiencies, or inconsistent user experiences. Shared LCNC platforms allow for smooth team collaboration – but only if people use them. You still need to ensure that guidelines and clear communication protocols are in place.

Solution: Establishing governance guidelines for LCNC ensures that applications remain scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise architecture. By providing pre-approved templates, integration best practises, and user role controls, businesses can strike the right balance between innovation and consistency, allowing teams to build solutions efficiently without losing oversight.

CHALLENGE 4: Managing performance bottlenecks in citizen-developed apps

Citizen developers can inadvertently add features to apps that result in slow load times, redundant queries, or scalability issues as usage grows. For example, a user might build an internal reporting app that pulls large datasets without optimising queries, causing unnecessary strain on system resources. Over time, these inefficiencies can accumulate, affecting overall system performance.

Solution: To maintain performance, IT teams should provide guidelines and best practises for data handling, process optimisation, and load balancing within LCNC tools. Many enterprise-grade LCNC platforms offer performance monitoring tools – leveraging these ensures that applications remain efficient, scalable, and optimised for enterprise needs.

The ability to democratise application development is an exciting and empowering advancement. It lets you directly involve your most subject-qualified people in the creation of your most important business apps. What’s more, it frees up your IT professionals to actually be IT professionals, rather than glorified order takers, buried under hundreds (or thousands) of service requests for this little change or that. LCNC empowers developers and programmers to step away from the IT take-out window and really dig into what they’re best at: innovating and refining your most complex applications and optimising your systems for a more competitive future.