Recently, the big term on everyone’s lips is this low code concept and I must admit it piqued my interest – even as a test analyst. With the growing advent of digital technologies, it seems to have become impossible for manufacturing and distribution businesses to chart their success in the absence of applications supporting their internal and external functions and code for the future.

Low code platforms enable businesses to develop apps with the help of a visual development approach in place of the alternate development route that requires writing thousands of code lines. They remove the complexity involved in developing solutions. Since it is easy and quick, it serves as a platform to imagine, integrate, and innovate seamlessly.

According to Business Wire, the future is low-code or no-code with an expected growth rate of 44.4% by 2022 to $27.23 billion. The main perk that is being touted is that these software applications provide the platform where enterprises can develop products and services faster, with minimal technical debt and low code maintenance, minimizing the costs associated like setup costs, training, and deployment.

The pros

Access: Low code has lowered the barrier for development. Now, citizen developers without a lot of coding experience can create their own software specifically for their needs.

Staffing: Talent shortages are a number one concern for manufacturers and distributors, and Low code allows organizations to use the staff they have to fill gaps.

Innovation: Not every developer is an ideas person, and not every creative individual knows how to code. Low code can drive innovation by giving development tools to those with creative skillsets.

The cons

Security: As more individuals without a lot of coding experience move into development, there will be security holes, as they may not be familiar with the tests and tactics that make software safe.

Overconfidence: There’s a standard low code/no code misconception that no code = no bugs. This is incorrect. There are still risks inherent in the coding process that must be addressed.

Over-saturation: As anyone can code anything using this environment, it stands to reason that creation will accelerate. This can result in a saturated marketplace that makes it challenging to choose the right software.

How ERP enables low code

It seems that low code/no code is here to stay for a while longer than just a fashion trend and the one thing that we can all agree upon is that it is a disruptor. Not only does it empower the entrepreneur to move into a market with their idea much faster and to a broader audience at a more affordable rate but empowers the business to innovate.

As a manufacturer or distributor, it is also vital that your low code tool can connect with your ERP solution as a central point of data. Without an ability to connect, operational visibility may be lost, and product specifications may have to revert to being manually created.  With low code tools you have an opportunity to improve workflows, speed up implementations and even innovate.

The creativity and problem-solving abilities developers possess can be turbocharged by using low-code apps effectively. If you’re new to this booming area, take a look. You might find yourself hooked. You might also find yourself delivering value to your customers at a rate you didn’t previously think possible.