Discover why everyone is getting started with low-code application platforms

According to research firm Gartner, demand for app development in 2021 will grow at least 5 times faster than IT's capacity to deliver. Traditional development methods clearly cannot keep up with this growing demand and, moreover, do not match user needs well. This is exactly why low-code application development platforms are becoming increasingly popular. Find out in this blog what low-code means and discover what these platforms can do for your business.

Growing demand

Organizations are developing more and more applications for employees, customers and suppliers, such as expense claim apps, shopping apps and customer portals. This growing demand for applications creates pressure to deliver more, in less time, with the same people. Traditional application development methods are not fast enough to make this happen. What's more, these methods do not always involve the right people to deliver good apps at a rapid pace. The video below clearly explains the problems with traditional development and gives you an example of how things can be done differently.

What is a low-code application development platform?

Low-code is a visual way of developing in which you can create various mobile and web applications using drag-and-drop techniques and model-driven logic. One of the main differences from traditional development methods is that you need to do little or no manual coding. This means developers of different experience levels can get started, because they do not need knowledge of programming languages. It also saves IT time, because repetitive tasks such as setting up infrastructure are no longer necessary. But these platforms are also interesting for experienced developers, because some platforms let you write additional script yourself (JavaScript, CSS). This can be useful for extra styling or functionality, for example. As a result, business and IT can work together in a single low-code application development platform to create, edit and deploy applications in a fraction of the time required by traditional development methods.

The Mendix platform

Mendix is an example of a low-code application development platform. It is the only platform that offers integrated tools for the entire application lifecycle, from idea and development to testing and management. The Mendix platform was developed based on 3 pillars: speed, collaboration and control. These pillars come together in Mendix's strong focus on bringing IT and the business together, making it possible to develop apps up to 6 times faster.

The collaboration between IT and the business, combined with needing little to no coding, together form the strength behind Mendix. It is no surprise, then, that companies such as ING, Heijmans, KPN and Eneco use the platform. The main reasons companies use the Mendix platform are to develop applications and portals in order to work more efficiently, improve the customer experience, replace legacy systems and drive innovation. Think, for example, of applications for submitting insurance claims, monitoring your energy consumption, managing orders, submitting expense claims, simplifying mobile data entry and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Developing applications with the Mendix low-code development platform offers several benefits, such as:

• Fast and visual application development, including model-driven development
• Scalability with one-click deployments and the use of public and (virtual) private clouds
• The ability to respond quickly to changing needs
• Easy integration with current and new systems in the cloud or on-premise
• Templates can be created to safeguard corporate identities
• Easy to manage and always equipped with all the necessary security measures
• Build apps in less time by reusing components (templates, functionality, widgets, etc.)

Applications for your organization

Traditional development methods and the average capacity of an IT department cannot keep up with the demand for applications, which means alternatives need to be considered. If organizations fail to do this, they run the risk of the business making investments without the support of IT. For IT and business leaders, it is therefore important to find a platform that suits the needs of the organization, not only now but also in the future. When looking at these platforms, it is therefore important to put together a collection of use cases and (various) pilot applications to help with decision-making. Curious about the possibilities of applications within your organization? Then leave your details below. We will contact you soon to tell you more about low-code possibilities and about Mendix.