Low-Code-No-Code-Terms

Low Code-No Code Jargon: 10 Key Industry Terms Explained for Everyone! (Not Just for Developers)

If you have ever run a few searches in the domain of organizational digitization, there are high chances that you would have come across low code and no-code platforms. While the technology is booming and seems quite interesting, it can be a bit overwhelming place to start without context and a brief understanding of some of the key low-code no-code terms surrounding this technology.

For those who are curious readers, tech-buffs, or technology enthusiasts without any prior technical background, comprehending the no-code/low-code industry shouldn’t be like cracking a cipher.  On this note, we bring here 10 common terms you should know to help you navigate the no-code/low-code space at ease:

NO-CODE

“No code” or “no-code platforms” are application development platforms that can be built and customized with zero programming experience. No-code platforms often feature intuitive, drag-n-drop interfaces that allow non-coders to quickly build and run business applications. No code and “low code” are often featured together in articles, but refer to platforms with different technical competency requirements.

Read more: Demystifying the Difference: Low Code vs. No Code and How to Decide Which One Is Right for You?

LOW-CODE

“Low code” or “low-code platforms” are application development platforms that require or offer the ability to build new code into the platform as part of creating business applications. These platforms are especially suitable for people who want to go beyond out-of-the-box solutions to create more complex, sophisticated business processes. Both technical-minded business users and developers can utilize a low-code platform (although programming language requirements may vary by platform). Many no-code platforms have built-in low-code capabilities, making them accessible to both non-technical and technical users.

Read More: Dispelling 5 Misconceptions Around Low Code: It’s Time to Let Them Go!

AGILE/AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Agile development is a set of processes for creating software that includes being creative and flexible in software development. This means that the code is kept simple, is tested often, and, instead of waiting for everything to be finished, incremental but functional parts of the software are released as soon as they are ready. These modules are functional and will be able to help users do some work

Why Agile Development is Important in IT?

Businesses today have different needs, and because of the ever-changing demands coming from new technologies and customers, you need to be very flexible in addressing these needs and demands. Agile development allows you to bring a quality and functional product more quickly. And because agile development puts more focus on individuals and their ideas rather than tools and processes, it creates a better understanding between IT and business leaders.

CITIZEN DEVELOPERS

“Citizen developer” is relatively a novice term coined by Gartner, a global research firm that specializes in technology-related research. According to Gartner, “A citizen developer is a user who creates new business applications for consumption by others using development and runtime environments sanctioned by corporate IT.” Specifically for the no-code/low-code sphere, citizen developers are the business users creating business apps for themselves or their company.

More to Know:

“In a general sense, this developer is not a professional developer who is paid to code applications, but an “amateur.”

Citizen developers usually have no formal training or even an educational background in computer science.  Surprisingly, these developers often work in a management or supervisory role — not in the professional developer job role that we would think. Many have limited experience and knowledge outside self-taught application and coding used for specific platforms, but they are savvy computer users.

Over time the meaning has changed and is used in a much broader context. For example, some may use the phrase citizen developer to mean any person (with or without formal developer education and job training) who creates the apps outside traditional workplace IT channels.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

While Gartner did not coin the term digital transformation, their heavy influence in the space of no-code and low-code software has greatly influenced its meaning.

‘Digital transformation is the process of using digital technologies to create new — or modify existing — business processes, culture, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements. This reimagining of business in the digital age is digital transformation.’

Digital transformation runs anywhere from the corner shop using mobile payment methods to a new website for an organization that tracks the usage of the customers. It doesn’t need to be of a certain standard, but it is the process in which the focus is turned towards making the customer’s journey easier and how value can be delivered more efficiently. There is space for digital transformation in each business unit of an enterprise and each step of a supply chain, all to make collaboration and efficiency of an organization better. No-code and low-code platforms help encourage making these changes as they make the shift easier, faster, and more affordable.

More to Know: A key element of digital transformation is understanding the potential of your technology. Again, that doesn’t mean asking “How much faster can we do things the same way?” It means asking “What is our technology really capable of, and how can we adapt our business and processes to make the most of our technology investments?”

A Real-Life Example: Before Netflix, people chose movies to rent by going to stores and combing through shelves of tapes and discs in search of something that looked good. Now, libraries of digital content are served upon personal devices, complete with recommendations and reviews based on user preferences.

Streaming subscription-based content directly to people’s TVs, computers, and mobile devices was an obvious disruption to the brick-and-mortar video rental business. Embracing streaming also led to Netflix looking at what else it could do with the available technology. That led to innovations like a content recommendation system driven by artificial intelligence.

BUSINESS PROCESS AUTOMATION (BPA)

It is a technology that streamlines business processes thus eliminating the need to perform repetitive manual tasks. This helps the workforce to restructure time to more important issues when routine work is completed in much lesser time through automation.

Read more: 5 Tedious Business Tasks & Processes You Must Automate in 2020

ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION(RPA)

RPA is an application that automates business processes through structured inputs and logic. It takes care of the routine and repetitive tasks that are usually time-consuming and monotonous e.g. generating insurance premium receipts every time an insurance premium is paid against an insurance policy. With RPA in place, you will be able to focus on other important tasks in the business process.

However, RPA is not a deep-rooted answer. It is a basic fix for repetitive tasks and low-level events that require the use of a mouse or keyboard functions. It only works to get things done faster and save human effort.

CLOUD DEPLOYMENT

Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. The data is stored on cloud (public, private, or hybrid) and the vendor takes care of the security and uptime. Businesses do not need to spend on additional infrastructure, resources, or data privacy within their own premises. It is a service that takes care of it all in one shot. You also do not need physical space because everything is on the cloud.

One of the highlights here is that you can get cloud computing solutions specific to your business needs. You won’t be paying extra for space or services that you do not use.

Also Read: The Power of SaaS: How Subscription Software can help you reduce costs and drive value

Why is No-Code/Low-code Development Important?

The digital curve is inevitable in any business. Every organization is feeling the need to up their efficiency and shift to the digital way of life. No-code and low-code platforms allow business users in these functions to unlock the hidden potential, automate processes, and build applications without overburdening the IT department.

Low code/No-Code platform is the future of application development for one simple reason- It is a faster, easier, and more efficient use of time.

It doesn’t matter whether developers are on-board with this change or not- it is inevitable because it’s the path of least resistance, and as the demand for low code platforms continues to grow, businesses & developers will find themselves rising to meet it.

Want to Learn More?

Be sure to check out some of the other blogs on Tigersheet if you want to learn more about what you can accomplish using no-code and low-code platforms. If you are ready to take the next step forward in No Code, feel free to take a free trial of Tigersheet here. We have a multitude of features and an ample support system that will help you through the process.

Help Sources:

July 19, 2020 LCNC No comments yet