No-Code Application

Development Platform
Market Analysis

Smart ERP Solutions

Table of Contents
Introduction 3
No-Code Application Development 3
Platform
What is a No-Code development? 3
Common components of No-Code and 4
Low-Code
What can be built with No-Code? 5
Key differences between No-Code and 6
Low-Code
Market Size: No-Code/Low-Code 7
Application Development Platform
Key benefits of No-Code Application 8
Development Platforms
The increasing adoption rate of No-Code 9
Application Development Platforms
Key Drivers for No-Code development 9
adoption
Key Trends and Drivers 12
Pros and Cons of using a No-Code/Low- 15
Code approach
Real life examples for No-Code platform 16
usage
What future holds for No-Code? 18
Bibliography 19
Introduction
No-Code platforms are widely visible in companies of all sizes and for a wide variety of
reasons. Many companies are unable to hire or afford top-notch software development
talent who are becoming scarce globally. Others don’t want to wait for their IT
department to get around to their project when they have others in the organization
with good ideas eager to try something new. No-Code platforms can quickly speed
up development, provide organizations a powerful choice, and enable citizen developers
to bring about a widespread change in how software is being developed.

According to Gartner, by 2024, three-quarters of large enterprises will be using at least

four No-Code/Low-Code development tools for both IT application development
and citizen development initiatives. By 2024, it is cited that the No-Code/Low-Code
application development would be responsible for more than 65% of application
development activities across the globe.

No-Code Application Development

Platform
What is a No-Code development?
As understood from many technical resources, No-Code is a set of tools, applications,
or platforms that enables one to build a comparatively complex application without
the knowledge of programming language. But Wikipedia gives another, more concise
definition: “No-Code development platform (NCDPs) allows programmers and non-
programmers to create application software through graphical user interfaces and
configuration instead of traditional computer programming.” Essentially, it could be
stated that a No-Code platform is a Low-Code platform that makes it possible to build
applications without coding at all.
Gartner defines “No-Code” application platforms as part of the LCAP (Low-Code
Application Platform) market.

» “No-Code” is a marketing and positioning statement. It implies that the platform

requires text entry only for formulas or simple expressions and all other aspects of
application development is being enabled by visual modeling or configuration
» The LCAP market includes such No-Code platforms
» User development is often associated with No-Code application development

In a No-Code development platform, developers use a highly evolved graphical user

interface for application development and do not have the requirement of creating
frameworks, linking of the databases, and other hard-coding essential tasks. All the
aforementioned made development simpler and easier thus enabling even those with No-
Coding knowledge to develop at ease the required applications.

Common components of No-Code and Low-Code

» User Interface Builder
• It usually contains the ability to use drag and drop to compile application
components. One can also build tables and forms
» Visual Modeler
• This is a feature that allows one to manage data and the logic of the application
through a simple interface
» Reusability
• Application components can be easily reused for rapid development
» Integrations
• For full use of the application and rapid development, it is very important to achieve
a wide range of integrations with other applications
What can be built with No-Code?

Having understood the key features of No-Code application development, it is evident that
No-Code can be used effectively to provide solutions for a variety of wide-ranging problems
ranging from optimizing and/or automating existing processes to building new innovative
applications that can drive a business forward.

No-Code platforms are especially beneficial for creating the following types of applications:
» Back-office Applications
The mainstay of an organization’s internal operations is said to be its back-office
applications. Purely to be used by its internal stakeholders, this category of the
application serves as the primary data management and administration tool. In a No-
Code platform the developer uses pre-built back-office modules to help organizations
build and implement applications at the earliest. This platform means users can
access all the critical features they need to be embedded in a development platform.

» Web Applications
A web application provides an organization with an external interface to its worldwide
users. It consists of a front end visual interface and a backend. Customers always
interact with the visual interface, and what they see is usually an interpretation of
the backend system. The two modules share data between each other to maintain,
monitor, and administer data seamlessly.

In the case of web applications, if the need is to create an online space that represents
a firm’s brand, service, and product effectively, then No-Code is especially powerful.
This online space can be created because pre-built connections exist between
modules, allowing the developer to concentrate on the firm’s service and identity.
» Mobile Applications
Mobile applications have evolved to become more than just a convenience. They
have become an indispensable component for an organization as they enable users
to monitor and influence their work even when they are out of the office or while
traveling. A successful mobile application’s trait is to deliver everything a web
application can while on the move. The No-Code platforms enable multi-device
development, and no additional effort is needed for creating the mobile application.

Key differences between No-Code and Low-Code

The line differentiating the two is not extensive. The major difference between No-Code and
Low-Code is clear from the names. The Low-Code platform is expected to have minimal
coding requirements. When an implementation or software becomes complex, writing
code to cover intricate logic can be difficult.

» No-Code platforms are available to all employees, while Low-Code platforms require at
least basic programming knowledge.
» No-Code platforms are more adapted to operate in a declarative approach through
interfaces. Low-Code platforms, in turn, are configured to work in hard code mode to
configure the architecture.
» No-Code platforms most often rely on a preset user interface layer, which simplifies and
streamlines an app’s design. Low-Code platforms give more freedom in UI interfaces for
a more sophisticated software configuration.
 No -Code Low -Code
Primary Users Citizen Developers Developers

Level of Not Needed Basic

Programming Skills
App Complexity Can create basic apps Can create complex apps
Platform Lock-in Hard Medium
Level of Basic Customization High-Level Customization
Customization Features Available

Market Size: No-Code/Low-Code Application Development Platform

Often, the terms No-Code/Low-Code are used interchangeably to describe the same platform.
The reason is mostly due to the fact that the line differentiating the two platform is not that clear.
Market sizing mentioned below is for the No-Code/Low-Code application development market.

Though the experts forecast the market to be growing at more than 40% annually since 2018,
we at SmartERP estimate that based on the historical market data and the COVID-19 related
uncertain market conditions, a realistic annual growth percentage to be at ~ 28%.
The NCDP market (services and solutions) was at 2.8 billion USD in 2016 and is expected to
reach 33 billion USD by 2026, growing at a rate of 28% annually over a period of time.
Key benefits of No-Code Application Development Platforms

» Better Agility
Because No-Code web application development is built visually using pre-
built modules, it’s faster to build apps. That allows an organization to be
that much agiler. The advantage here is not only that of less coding, but also
that the testing process is also automated. This advantage enables one to cut
down the time spent on app development time and start working, rather than
preparing to work.

» Reduced Cost
Developers are becoming scarce and expensive, and talented developers
are becoming even more so. The No-Code solutions take away a lot of the
overhead cost that comes with requiring a to have a full-time skilled team of
developers on staff. Also, because one can build apps faster, it becomes less
expensive in the long run.

» More Productivity
Agile organizations and reduced costs mean nothing if one is not getting work
done. Since these No-Code apps can be built at a much faster pace, the IT staff
aren’t overloaded with requests from every other department. In turn, fewer
people are waiting for the IT department so they can get their work done.
They’re already making their apps and working. What used to take months or
even years, can now be done in hours or a few days.

» Easily Changeable
With traditional hand-coding, the problem is that one can’t change a
functionality or a feature at an instance. Especially when the coding language
is not hard to tackle. A No-Code development platform is an exact opposite.
If one needs to change something in an app developed, all it takes is the new
logic, and one can implement the change in a matter of hours.
 The increasing adoption rate of No-Code Application Development Platforms

Presently, global surveys state that

one-quarter of IT organizations
use No-Code or Low-Code tools.
An additional 41% plan to do so
within two years at a projected
growth rate of 165%. Over half
(52%) of IT organizations have
progressed their operations to
embrace serverless computing,
enabling their development teams
to scale resources up or down
without organizing additional
infrastructure. By 2022, 83% of
IT leaders are expected to follow
this trend. Serverless computing
growth will accelerate the trend of
no code application development
and cloud deployment.

Key Drivers for No-Code development adoption

The increasing adoption rate of the NCDP is mainly due to the following key factors/
drivers:
» Dynamic market conditions and shorter reaction time to drive the need.
Globally, organizations are changing as a response to the evolving and uncertain
market conditions. The resultant pressure will be passed on to the next level, and
the amount of time to react will continue to shrink. This is one scenario where
NCDP would be of great help. The immense need of business people to solve
problems at their end quickly would be a key driver.
» Traditional software developers are critically in short supply around the world.
Currently, traditional software developers are in short supply around the globe.
The idea that non-programmers, who are often a line of business personnel, can
use a No-Code platform to create applications, has become more appealing to
enterprises in desperate need of development help. Such demand for ‘citizen
developers’ is seen as a key factor in increasing the demand for No-Code
development platforms.

» Digital Transformation needs to drive market adoption.

Digital transformation has been a disruptor to the workflow of many industries
such as manufacturing, oil and gas, banking financial services and insurance
(BFSI), and automotive. Adopting digital technologies by these industries
has become a success factor in staying competitive in their respective
markets. As per the World Economic Forum, industries, majorly retail, BFSI,
and manufacturing, were projected to grant about $1.2 trillion for digital
transformation in 2019, with an 18% year-on-year increase. Under these
circumstances, the No-Code/Low-Code development platform is capable of
playing a significant role for different organizations in these specific industries,
as it can help reduce time and resources while developing applications.

» Based on organization size, the SMEs segment to lead the market in 2020.
Small businesses are likely to observe higher growth by accepting No-Code/
Low-Code development platform and services. The growing awareness of
process automation benefits, the increasing focus of governments on digital
transformation, and business expansions by global vendors are expected to
be the driving factors for the growth of the No-Code/Low-Code development
platform market. The adoption rate for No-Code/Low-Code development
platform and services is high in SMEs and is expected to dominate the No-Code/
Low-Code development platform market, in terms of market size, during the
forecast period.
» Based on industry, BFSI to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.
The BFSI industry needs a No-Code/Low-Code development platform and
services at a large-scale due to the large quantity of information produced
across these organizations. A No-Code/Low-Code development platform and
services would help the BFSI industry hearten the customer experience using
new financial products and services driving the overall market during the
forecast period.

» North America will hold the largest market share during the forecast period.
Several prominent market players delivering advanced solutions to all the
global end-users are in North America. Thanks to their strong economies, the
US and Canada are expected to be major contributors to the growth of the
No-Code/Low-Code development platform market. Needless to say that the
factors like the geographical presence, strategic investments, partnerships, and
significant research and development (R&D) activities are all contributing
to the substantial deployments of Low-Code development platform market
solutions. Key pure-play vendors, such as Salesforce, Microsoft, Appian,
and Oracle, offer enhanced No-Code/Low-Code development platform and
services to cater to the needs of customers. Such factors are anticipated to fuel
the growth of the global No-Code/Low-Code development platform market
in North America.
Key Trends and Drivers

» Increasing preferences toward cloud-based No-Code/Low-Code Development.

Platform is the key market trend
Operational costs are much lower in cloud-based systems as compared to the
on-premises set-up. These lower costs are because cloud-based systems do
not require on-site data servers, which otherwise leads to huge operational
expenditure (OPEX) for organizations. Moreover, with cloud-based No-Code/
Low-Code development platform, feature updates are pushed automatically,
which ensures that it is running on the latest software version. Furthermore,
the scalability of the cloud-based No-Code/Low-Code platform is limitless.
Cloud deployment enables an organization to simply scale up or scale down
when needed without any additional purchases of hardware by themselves. Such
factors are leading to the rising trend of the adoption of cloud-based No-Code/
Low-Code platforms.
» Increasing demand for business digitization is profoundly impacting the market
growth.
It is not surprising to note that with the digital transformation, organizations
operating in banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI); manufacturing;
automotive; oil & gas; and several other verticals are forced to adopt digital
technologies to stay ahead in the market. No-Code/Low-Code development
platform plays a critical role in the digital transformation journey of an
organization as it helps to reduce time and resources, as compared to the
traditional software development process. With the increase in demand for
business applications across industries, the platform is expected to play a
pivotal role in enabling quick digitization of business processes, such as sales,
accounting and finance, and operations. Thus, the rising focus on digitization
results in increased growth of the Low-Code development platform market,
globally.

» Less dependency on IT professionals is moderately impacting market growth.

Application development backlog is the principal obstacle faced by the IT department
across industries. Numerous business departments, such as human resources (HR),
operations, and accounting and finance, require different applications to improve
process efficiency; however, interruption in applications’ delivery affects the overall
productivity. Organizations have started to adopt No-Code/Low-Code solutions to
reduce the workload from the IT department. These solutions help citizen developers
(non-professional developers) develop business applications, reduce the overall cost,
and minimize the workload for the IT professionals, which, in turn, drives the growth
of the No-Code/Low-Code development platform market. It is noted that a No-Code
platform is never a replacement to a firm’s existing IT department. Instead, No-
Code/Low-Code functions as an extension of the IT team, which allows for a better
collaboration between the organization and IT.
» Stringent government norms moderately impacting the market.
With the growing number of data breaches, the European Union has introduced
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Act, which defines how organizations
are permitted to use personal data. Therefore, organizations need to comply with
such strict regulatory norms before processing personal data, which complicates the
application development process. However, with No-Code/Low-Code development
platform, organizations can develop business applications in compliance with
governments’ rules and regulations. Therefore, stringent government regulatory
norms are said to be driving the growth of the market, globally.
Pros and Cons of using a No-Code/Low-Code approach
Pros
» Fast prototyping
» Fast learning curve
» Cost Reduction: Developers are expensive these days, and good developers are even
more expensive. No-Code platforms allow replacing developers with people without a
technical background
» Speed: With the help of a graphical user interface and pre-built components, it is faster
to build web-based apps. It also allows an organization to be more agile
» Easy to update: When one uses reusable components and builds applications using the
UI interfaces, it’s easier for them to make changes to the application
» Higher productivity: People can make more apps and features without any coding
skills
» Deployment to several platforms is possible
» Easy maintenance: One can update an app in minutes instead of the long process of
changing something by digging into the code
» Collaboration is a definite plus point

Cons
» Security problems: The safest application is always the one that is written in the
company and hosted on their servers. If something happens with a Low-Code
platform, there is a considerable risk of losing the application
» Dependency on the platform: which leads to hiring engineers at sometimes even
higher costs than would be the case with regular developers
» Lack of deep, complex features: One never knows when they might need a feature that
cannot be done using only the drag and drop interface
» Debugging: It is not an easy task to debug an app made with the No-Code/Low-Code
platform, because one doesn’t know what’s under the hood of the app
» Lack of customization: Often, components in No-Code/Low-Code applications
cannot be deeply modified. In other words, one will have to change business processes
instead of tailoring the program to their needs
» Lack of integrations with legacy systems
Real-life examples for No-Code platform usage
» Zurich
Zurich Financial was using Excel sheets for CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote). This
methodology was slow, manual, and very cumbersome. Using a No-Code app
development platform, they were able to create a web app that automatically does this
for them. It even lowered the manual overhead when they had to add new product
lines and update prices. They didn’t spend millions of dollars on a custom solution,
and they didn’t even throw away the spreadsheets that they were using. They retained
all their data, without zero loss whatsoever.

» General Electric
Before No-Code development platforms came along, GE used a manual, multiple-step
proposal generation process for internal work, and it cost them way too much time.
With No-Code development tools, they were able to create a streamlined web app
that simplified and automated proposal creation and they were able to add
scenario modeling to the app.

» Amlin
Data input is probably one of the most error-prone areas one would find in a
company. With a No-Code web application development platform, they created their
browser-based application to prevent the errors that came with Excel. The best
part about this was any device could access it, had secure authentication, and
even allowed their staff to audit the data more efficiently.

» Pfizer
For Pfizer, it’s of paramount importance that they have software that is easy to use and
runs reliably. But internally, their usage was too cluttered, and shadow-IT was causing
issues. Using a No-Code BPM software, they created their own internal
app store to accumulate apps that they could verify and have custom apps
built by their staff. This No-Code BPM software gave their staff a single source to look
for apps, instead of relying on shadow IT.
» Continuous process and employee improvement
Whenever something needs to get fixed, or there is room for improvement, Citizen
Developers can instantly work towards a solution. Instead of being dependent on
IT staff, the ease-of-use of a No-Code platform allows them to proactively and
continuously enhance efficiency.

» Diminish the risk of shadow IT

Shadow IT is the risk one runs by not monitoring development activity outside of IT
departments. Employees might set up their servers, or store sensitive company data on
their personal cloud accounts. Citizen Development prevents this runaway
software from becoming a mess as a central IT department governs all its activities.
What future holds for No-Code?
Given the difficulty many business users have getting IT to change existing applications
and workflows, the use of No-Code/Low-Code platforms to solve point problems
makes a sense. But, building large-scale, enterprise-class applications that power entire
organizations still requires high-skilled programmers. No-Code/Low-Code platforms
will not replace other ways of creating software because low-code breaks down when the
solution’s complexity increases.

Low code is not expected to fully replace traditional programming methods anytime
soon. Regarding big, complex applications it is just that, big and complex and no amount
of abstraction will replace the need to understand how an application functions at the
Line-of-Code level.

Four biggest areas in which a No-Code platform can change the ways of doing business
for the better are:

» Align Business and IT

Benefit from the knowledge of the entire workforce to meet the needs of the business.
Because Citizen Developers are working throughout various departments in the
business, they know exactly what they need to do to improve processes, reduce
inefficiencies and increase productivity. It has to be seen only as an extension of a
firm’s IT team which allows for better collaboration between the business and IT
department.

» Accelerate Innovation
Citizen Developers can unburden IT as a No-Code platform empowers them to
prototype their own software solutions. This minimizes the time between identifying
the need for a new application and its actual completion date by months. Plus, giving
the Citizen Developers the tools to take application development into their own
hands motivates them to think of creative solutions. By sparking the creativity of ones
workforce, a mindset of continuous innovation is put in place that can help drive
business (and employees) forward.
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