The Rapid Adoption of Low-Code Development Platforms

The writing is on the wall: more businesses are adopting low code as a viable alternative to traditional software development. According to Forrester, 75% of application development will use low-code platforms by the end of 2021 — up from just 44% in 2020.

Companies are trying to keep up with the technology demands of today’s complex and competitive business environment. Slow, resource-intensive hand-coding simply won’t cut it.

But what exactly makes low code ideal in today’s digital landscape?

Learn more about Caspio’s low-code database platform to create powerful custom apps without coding.

Low-Code vs. Traditional Development

In traditional software development, programmers write code to build an application from scratch. The process can be time-consuming and requires technical expertise and costly IT infrastructure. It also puts the burden of app development solely on the shoulders of the IT department.

On the other hand, low code encapsulates the entire app development process behind a simple, user-friendly visual interface. Low-code platforms allow users to point-and-click and drag-and-drop elements to build their desired workflow and logic.

The good news is, there’s something for everyone in low code: while business users quickly build and deploy apps using visual tools, tech-savvy professionals can inject code when necessary to extend their apps.

Low code shortens the app development process, allowing developers to work smarter and deploy mission-critical projects faster. And because platforms are cloud-based, development can start immediately, without having to procure additional IT infrastructure.

Why Businesses Are Turning to Low-Code Platforms

More and more companies are using low-code development to expedite tasks, improve business efficiency and drive cost savings. Here’s why you should, too.

Faster Software Delivery

Low-code development ensures faster software delivery by letting the people closest to the problem to solve it, said Caspio CEO Frank Zamani in a Software Development Times article, “How Low-Code Gives Power to the (Business) People.”

“You can respond to user feedback more quickly, and the business community can now take advantage of iterations that have advanced science for years. It’s a more scientific approach to application development,” he explained.

Our research shows that low-code adopters deliver apps on time while staying within scope and budget. Users significantly reduce the time-to-market of their apps using Caspio’s robust online database, visual point-and-click tools and scalable cloud infrastructure.

Seamless Cloud Automation and Integration

In a digital era, companies are embracing the cloud – another important factor in the rapid adoption of low-code software. IT leaders recognize the economics and efficiency of the cloud, while business users enjoy the “anywhere, anytime” access.

“For process automation and data management, the market is believing in it,” Zamani said. “The cloud is gaining more recognition and trust, and people are asking, ‘What tools are available if I move my data to the cloud?’”

Migrating company data online opens up possibilities, from publishing web databases to connecting your new applications to third-party software and services you already use. With Caspio, users can connect to over 5,000 cloud-based services and repositories, including Google Sheets, Mailchimp and Box, through our built-in integration with Zapier.

Strict Security Measures and Compliance

As app development continues to ramp up, businesses need to stay on top of privacy and security measures to protect their data. “The needs in privacy and security will continue to rise,” Zamani said.

More businesses will start trusting low-code platforms as providers add more stringent security and compliance features. This will also allow highly regulated industries to start launching digital transformation initiatives without worrying about potential regulatory breaches.

Caspio meets rigorous security, privacy, industry and regulatory requirements for storing sensitive data. Its infrastructure runs on AWS data centers certified for SOC 2, PCI DSS Level 1 and ISO 27001/27017/27018. Caspio’s low-code development platform also provides turnkey compliance for regulated sectors, such as HIPAA for healthcare, FERPA for education and GovCloud – FIPS 140-2 for government.

Reduced IT Costs

It’s no secret that professional developers are in short supply.

In the U.S., over 920,000 software engineer positions were left unfilled in 2019 — with only 165,000 potential applicants. The overwhelming shortage has resulted in the growth of developer salaries, quickly transforming IT into one of the highest-compensated sectors.

However, the talents of many working developers today are often wasted on simple development projects and tasks that business users can accomplish with an intuitive low-code database platform. With low-code, business professionals build their own applications without compromising security, allowing scarce IT talent to focus on more critical projects that require highly technical skills.

Caspio helps businesses save a significant portion of their IT budget by enabling users — both software engineers and non-technical business professionals — to develop new systems faster.

Growing Low-Code Adoption Across Industries

The rapid adoption of low-code platforms is also expanding to more sectors, including highly regulated industries.

Here’s how they are using low code to bring their vision to life.

Healthcare

Patient data security and regulatory compliance are two of the top challenges users face when creating healthcare apps. That’s why low-code platforms must ensure the security of protected health information (PHI).

Clinical research support company Paragon Global CRS once struggled with increasing data entry tasks while complying with HIPAA regulations. With no technical background, Director of Business Development Danielle Baxter used Caspio’s low-code platform to create a HIPAA-compliant online patient portal that cut report generation time from two weeks to just a matter of seconds.

“There’s nothing our software can’t do,” Baxter said. “What we’ve been able to do with Caspio is turn a business problem into an opportunity for growth.”

Government

Legacy tools remain a crucial component in many government workflows and processes. However, the limitations of outdated tools hinder government agencies from fully addressing the needs of their constituents. By automating processes and improving data accuracy, low code helps public offices get the job done.

The Tennessee Department of Health used to manage data with Microsoft Access and Excel, resulting in data silos and workflow inefficiencies across the organization. Using Caspio, the agency migrated their Access databases to a unified cloud location and converted their Excel spreadsheets into online databases — and they did all that by clicking, not coding.

“We save a lot of taxpayer money with Caspio. What used to be an eight-person project is now managed by just two people,” Director of Operations Analysis Alfredo Ramirez said.

Retail

Low-code platforms empower retailers and manufacturers to adapt to ever-changing customer needs by facilitating custom workflow management apps for various departments, including sales, finance and inventory management.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores revolutionized operations by replacing outdated systems with robust cloud-based apps using Caspio.

Application Administrator and Developer Christopher Carlson used Caspio’s low-code platform to build over 40 custom applications accessed by 5,000 users. The cloud apps solve unique business challenges in different areas — from operations, accounting and logistics to inventory, emergency management, and service and repair.

“We’re using the Caspio platform to fulfill and satisfy business requirements as they’re ever-changing in the world of retail,” Carlson said. “It helps us quickly adopt new operational processes and applications.”

Explore more Caspio case studies in other industries by visiting our Customer Success page.

Join the Low-Code Revolution

Low code empowers both developers and non-coders to take charge of their own workflows and processes. By allowing users to build the apps they urgently need — helping the person closest to the problem to solve it — businesses across various industries accomplish their digital and business goals faster.

Recognized by Forrester as a “Leader” in low-code development platforms for business developers, Caspio helps thousands of customers build and deploy cloud applications with little to no coding — reducing time-to-market by a factor of 10. Caspio also allows third-party integration while ensuring security and compliance, even for highly regulated industries.

“Caspio has quietly built a product that provides both deep functionality for enterprise apps and an easy start for business developers.”

– Forrester Research

Ready to join the low-code revolution? Try the world’s leading low-code development platform.

Start your free Caspio trial today and accelerate your digital transformation journey.