Why SMEs should consider low code platforms

Rewind just a few years, digital transformation was expensive and unrealistic for small  to medium-sized businesses. As larger and better funded enterprises began to adopt emerging technology, SMEs discovered that they simply didn’t have the resources or knowledge to deliver similar applications, such as onboarding systems and invoicing tools – not to mention the resources to maintain them – and the ongoing complexity made it hard to justify the initial investment. Not only that; it just didn’t seem that urgent. Digitisation was still fairly new and businesses still operating the ‘old’ way were doing fine – no rush. 

The same cannot be said today. 

Digital transformation is now not just a luxury but a necessity. Like it or not, the world is heading rapidly towards a completely digital future, with agility at its core, and the harsh reality is, those businesses that fall behind… will most likely get left behind. 

“Every company is now a software company,” said the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella. 

The reality is that the majority of SMEs do not have the resources to employ talented developers or the skills to design multi-tiered business applications. By utilising innovative systems, such as low code development  platforms, high-performing teams within an SME can level the playing field with larger competitors by working to map out and execute new digital processes and services. 

As digital transformation continues across the UK and the world, more and more organisations are becoming aware of the speed and power of low code to help facilitate change in the way they do business. It is not an exaggeration at all to say that the potential of low code for SMEs is very exciting, and worth paying attention to. Here are three reasons why SMEs should consider low code platforms:

1. Low code is cost-effective

Being able to plug developer skill gaps and also leverage the skills of existing staff to create complex digital apps is extremely valuable for businesses with limited resources. Low code was designed to shortcut the traditional development cycle and to be used by internal teams, with the end result being a dramatically shortened development time and less reliance on those with traditional (and expensive) web development expertise. The focus is now on Minimum Viable Product (MVP), getting products to market, and iterating accordingly with accurate data and feedback. That isn’t to say that developers aren’t needed (they 100% are), but non-coder business members can have a far more prominent role in shaping business processes. 

2. It’s easy to maintain 

Maintenance and ongoing updates for traditional apps can be extraordinarily expensive. For older applications that are not mobile responsive, development can be both costly and disruptive. With low code platforms, any apps that are created can be fully-integrated with back-end databases and systems. Changes and updates are also easy to make and will be applicable across all devices, saving on development time and minimising disruption to critical processes.

3. It’s inherently scalable 

The ability to grow and change with evolving business environments is inherent to the low code ecosystem. Businesses can start small with their transformation, perhaps choosing only one or two processes to digitise initially, only moving on when they are confident the project is a success. The most powerful thing about low code is that it enables businesses to create apps quickly, test them, and then rollout or discard depending on the feedback. This agility and capacity to scale is priceless, and not to be underestimated.