Everyone loves saving money, so finding a cost-effective and quick solution is always a win, whether you're a small business owner or part of a large enterprise. Low-code application development might just be your lucky number.
Low-code offers a fast (thanks to pre-built functionality) and cost-effective (due to minimal need for large developer teams) way to develop apps. Forrester reports that 39% of firms currently use low-code development to empower developers outside of IT, with 27% planning to do so in the next 12 months. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new enterprise apps will be built using low-code or no-code technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020.
How can low-code benefit your business or industry? This article explores 15+ low-code use cases based on Levisoft's experience developing various low-code applications. We categorize these use cases by industry and explain how low-code can address different stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Keep reading to discover if these low-code examples are suitable for your industry.
What Is Low-Code Development and How to Use It
Low-code application development uses visual, drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, allowing non-technical specialists to create functional solutions without extensive coding.
Why Is Low-Code Growing in Popularity?
- Cost and Workforce: The high cost of tech talent and the rise of hybrid or borderless workforces drive the adoption of low-code technologies.
- Model-Driven Development: Low-code platforms provide an intuitive UI that allows developers to visualize and rapidly create custom applications.
- Agility and Resilience: Modular components and pre-built connectors (PBCs) enable the creation of adaptive custom applications.
However, low-code platforms still require some technical expertise and may not be suitable for all applications or complex business processes.
Common Low-Code Use Cases Across Industries:
1. UI Design: Quickly generate and update code for various devices and platforms.
2. Integration: Combine different CRMs, CMSs, and other applications into a cohesive system.
3. API Generation: Automatically build APIs based on existing application code.
4. Business Project Management: Enhance BPM systems with low-code tools for data analysis and management.
5. Docker Containers: Build development environments on various platforms using low-code systems.
Top Low-Code Use Cases for Solving Business Problems
Low-code application development minimizes the effort needed to solve smaller business problems, freeing up the tech department to handle critical issues. Here are several examples, some from Levisoft’s portfolio, of how low-code has helped real-life companies:
B2C Mobile App:
- Build cross-platform mobile apps with rich functionality. For example, Levisoft developed a healthcare app for managing treatment plans using a simple questionnaire for patients with various addictions.
Web-Based Customer Portal:
- Self-service portals reduce customer support workload by allowing users to perform basic actions independently. Levisoft created a self-service portal for a restaurant, enabling customers to browse menus, place orders, and arrange delivery via a chatbot.
Social Network:
- Develop niche social networks with specific purposes. Levisoft built Hango, a proximity-based geolocation app to help people find events and communicate in real-time.
Social Media:
- Create specialized social media apps. Levisoft developed a wellness app offering stress-free browsing and niche content consumption.
Splitting a Monolith App into Microservices:
- Containerize monolithic apps for rapid development and improved cybersecurity. This approach is widely adopted, with 49% of businesses using microservices.
SaaS Development:
- Prototype, A/B test, and deploy feature-rich SaaS apps quickly. Levisoft developed an MVP for multi-tenancy accounting software in just five months.
Supply Chain Management:
- Manage supply chain operations with mobile-based portals. Low-code apps provide real-time tracking, automated alerts, and streamlined operations.
IoT Integration:
- Quickly build apps integrating with IoT devices for real-time data capture and analysis. Levisoft upgraded a fleet tracking solution integrating 1000 IoT devices.
Capital Request Apps:
- Automate capital management and budget approvals with mobile-friendly low-code apps, integrating with centralized data systems.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Rapidly build apps to enforce internal rules and comply with regulations like GDPR, ISO, and HIPAA. Levisoft optimized a HIPAA-compliant medical app, enhancing customer loyalty and reducing IT budgets.
Booking Corporate Resources:
- Automate booking management for meeting rooms and equipment, integrating with Microsoft Outlook or Google Calendar.
Citizen Development:
- Empower non-technical users to build simple apps, allowing engineers to focus on complex tasks.
Operational Efficiency:
- Use low-code apps to enhance processes like accounting, business intelligence, and real-time monitoring. Levisoft developed a staff operation solution for an airport, significantly improving workflow management.
Business Unit IT Tasks:
- Automate internal routines with low-code apps, improving efficiency and potentially creating new revenue streams.
Omnichannel Endpoints for Core Systems:
- Capture and structure data from various endpoints, enhancing operational efficiency.
Industries That Benefit Most from Low-Code Development
Low-code apps benefit virtually any company, but some industries stand to gain more:
Education:
- Automate administrative tasks, support distance learning, and provide real-time feedback with attendance and performance tracking solutions or learning management systems.
Healthcare:
- Simplify IT systems and ensure HIPAA compliance with patient-facing apps for self-assessment and scheduling.
Logistics:
- Digitize operations and improve performance with low-code apps for inventory tracking, route optimization, and automated logistics tasks.
Finance:
- Streamline loan processing, automate credit scoring, and create interactive dashboards for real-time data analyses.
E Commerce and Retail:
- Manage order processing, supply chain monitoring, and delivery tracking with low-code solutions, avoiding limitations of big eCommerce platforms.
When No-Code Development Is Not Your Best Choice
Low-code development is beneficial but not suitable for every situation. Avoid low-code for:
High Security Demands:
- Auto-generated code requires additional security checks. Compliance might necessitate heavy adjustments, making traditional development more appropriate.
High Performance:
- Auto-generated code may not be optimized for performance, impacting execution time and efficiency.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):
- Auto-generated code can increase resource consumption. At scale, this affects TCO, making traditional development more cost-effective.
Accessibility:
- Low-code apps may need optimization for accessibility tools. Prototyping with low-code followed by manual optimization might be necessary.
Benefit from Low-Code Development Solutions by Levisoft
Low-code use cases span various industries, addressing operational efficiency, cost reduction, and time-to-market. To ensure success, partner with a reliable technology provider.
Levisoft offers end-to-end software development services, including low-code and Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) approaches. With nearly a decade of experience, we provide MVPs and enterprise-grade systems, mobile and web apps for companies of all sizes.
Our expertise allows us to choose the best approach, technology stack, and delivery model for your bespoke software development project, ensuring maximum value for your business.
Contact us for more IT outsourcing details. We’re ready to help turn your project into a successful product or service!
Sources of Information:
- Forrester: Blogs https://www.forrester.com/blogs/predictions-2023-citizen-development-and-the-metaverse-stir-up-software-development/
- Gartner: Newsroom https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-11-10-gartner-says-cloud-will-be-the-centerpiece-of-new-digital-experiences
- StackOverflow: Survey 2022 https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/
.png)
