What is a no-code platform?

Definition

What is a no-code platform?

A no-code platform is a specialized development environment for software applications that does not require any code input or traditional programming skills. Instead, applications can be created using graphical user interfaces and tools. These are often simple selection dialogs and drag-and-drop editors that combine ready-made modules to map a desired process.

No-code platforms are primarily aimed at so-called citizen developers. These are people who do not have advanced IT or programming skills, but do have specialized knowledge in their own field.

Many no-code platforms specialize in individual areas, such as production, logistics, administration or project management.

No-code platforms for creating business applications are sometimes also referred to as “no-code app builders”. Apart from these, there are also no-code platforms that can be used to create websites without programming, so-called “no-code website builders”. In this article, we will focus on the former, even though no-code website builders offer many of the same features and benefits.

Companies that use no-code platforms enable employees from a wide range of departments to develop specialized business applications – in cooperation with the IT department, but much faster and more independently than in traditional programming. They not only benefit from the experience and specialist knowledge of citizen developers, but also prevent the existing shortage of developers and IT specialists.

In the context of the ongoing digital transformation and the emergence of new technologies, no-code platforms are an important tool for companies to accelerate software development processes and respond to the requirements of employees, customers and regulators.

No-code platforms are often mentioned together with low-code platforms. The difference is that the latter require at least basic coding skills, while no-code platforms rely entirely on graphical tools.

Functionality

What can you do with a no-code platform?

The functionality of a no-code platform is highly dependent on its intended area of use.

As an example, many no-code platforms are focused on the development of applications to automate and simplify administrative processes. Such platforms include functions such as the configuration of notifications and e-mails, the management of databases and the creation of forms.

However, there are also specialized no-code platforms in areas such as logistics, project management and IT system integration, which allow the creation of warehouse management and calendar apps or control data flows between different systems.

Another example of a specialized no-code platform is our product manubes. The cloud-based manubes platform enables the development of applications for industrial production management. Not only can manubes be used to collect, store and visualize production data from various sources, but also to automate a wide range of production processes with the help of workflows. Like many other no-code platforms, manubes makes use of easy drag-and-drop editing as well as pre-built modules.

Typical features of a no-code platform

Even if many no-code solutions differ in their specialization, there are still a few typical functions that can be found among numerous platforms:

• Workflow automation
• Creation of forms
• Database functionality
• Integration diversity
• Data visualization
• User management and access control
• Mobile device support

Workflow automation: Many no-code platforms offer the option of automating recurring processes. Typically, defined modules (e.g. sending an email) can be combined into complex workflows with triggers and conditions. Instead of code input, no-code platforms rely on simple drag-and-drop editing and similar options.

Creation of forms: Many no-code platforms allow for the creation of custom forms for data collection. These forms can include various input types such as text fields, drop-down lists, checkboxes, etc.

Database functionality: No-code platforms often offer built-in database functionality that allows users to store, organize and query data. This can include creating tables, adding records, performing queries and managing relationships between data.

Integration diversity: Many no-code platforms allow integration with other systems and services via APIs or pre-built integrations. This allows users to retrieve data from external sources or connect applications with other tools and platforms.

Data visualization: Users of no-code platforms can often create reports and dashboards to visualize data in many different ways. These visualizations can include charts, graphs, tables and similar elements.

User management and access control: Most no-code platforms offer user and permission management features to protect certain areas and data from unauthorized access.

Mobile device support: Many no-code platforms offer the ability to create and optimize applications for mobile devices, allowing users to access applications from anywhere.

Our no-code platform manubes supports all of the above features, specifically tailored to industrial production management.

Benefits

What are the benefits of a no-code platform?

No-code platforms offer numerous opportunities to increase efficiency in the development of business applications. Not only can software solutions be put into operation more quickly, they can also be adapted and tailored to individual use cases. The main benefits of using no-code platforms are:

• Accelerated development
• Incorporation of specialized expertise
• Rapid customzation of applications
• Freeing up the IT department
• Innovation
• Security and consistency

Accelerated development: No-code platforms enable companies to develop applications and solutions much faster than with conventional development by replacing long code entries with just a few clicks. This allows companies to save both time and money.

Incorporation of specialized expertise: With the help of no-code platforms, solutions can be developed by the end users themselves. This means that problem awareness and specialist knowledge are incorporated more strongly into the development process.

Rapid customization of applications: Most no-code platforms offer a high degree of flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt, version and therefore continuously improve the created applications.

Freeing up the IT department: By using no-code platforms, employees from a wide range of business areas can be involved in application development. This frees up IT specialists and traditional developers to concentrate on projects that would otherwise be left undone.

Innovation: No-code platforms enable employees to develop creative solutions to business problems without having to rely on traditional development teams.

Security and consistency: No-code platforms rely on reusable building blocks from which the resulting applications are assembled. This ensures a certain uniformity among the solutions developed, making them easier to manage and troubleshoot.

Outlook

Outlook: The increasing importance of no-code development

A constant demand for new and more efficient software solutions can be observed in a wide range of industries and business areas. At the same time, software developers are in high demand on the job market and many companies lack capacity for digitalization projects.

No-code platforms provide a remedy here by involving end users themselves in the development process as citizen developers. The market research company Gartner is forecasting strong market growth for low-code and no-code solutions and an increasing importance of citizen development.

In addition to a growing range of no-code platforms for a wide variety of use cases, an expansion of the functionality of existing platforms can also be observed. In addition to improving user-friendliness, new integration options with other systems, services and technologies are constanty being developed.

When choosing the right platform, companies should carefully check in advance whether the required functionality is supported – not only with regard to the current use cases, but also with future projects in mind. In addition to user-friendliness, accessibility and interface support, security also plays an important role.

You can find the security concept of our manubes platform here: manubes Security Assurance | Our security concept