Is no-code development truly the future of programming? Judging by the buzz that no-code has created lately, it seems that it is the go-to solution for app development. Yet, like all programming technologies, no-code is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
There are times where no-code is the ideal solution to bring your app to life. Likewise, there are moments when you’ll want to resort to old-school custom development. What’s important is to understand what’s the perfect circumstances where no-code development is the best option.
Here are 4 typical use cases of no-code that you may relate to.
Case 1: Need a Quick MVP/Proof Of Concept
As startup founders, you’re constantly racing against time to get your product to the market. To mitigate risk, it’s important that you first prove that your idea is viable. Therefore, it’s best to stick with an MVP, where you only have the basic functionalities coded into an app.
Building an MPV sounds like a simple task, but it’s anything but. On average, it could take 2-3 months to develop an MVP with custom software development. It’s unlikely that you could reduce the timeline if you’re sticking with the conventional programming approach.
If you need quicker delivery, your best option is no-code development. With no-code platforms, you can achieve the same feat in 2-3 weeks. That’s a 75% reduction in development time. To top it off, no-code apps are equal in quality to their manually-coded counterparts.
No-code platforms feature drag-and-drop elements and existing templates. Using the existing elements and templates gives you the quickest turnaround. Alternatively, you can seek out professionals to build no-code MVP from scratch and still finish quicker than custom development.
Case 2 : Don’t have a Technical Co-Founder
It’s challenging to run a tech startup when none of your co-founders are coding wizards. In such circumstances, you’ll instinctively reach out to someone who could, either via hiring an in-house programmer or outsource to a software development firm.
Either way, the move puts app development beyond control. You’ll need to ensure that your ideas are translated accurately into project specs and hope that it will be delivered as you’ve imagined.
Some founders may entertain the notion of picking up programming skills to build a mockup for the app. That itself isn’t a good idea, as the time is better spent on marketing, sales, training, and other parts of your business. Besides, it takes an awfully long period before one becomes proficient in coding.
With no-code solutions, you can take app development into your own hands. No-code development is exactly what it implies. Even if you lack coding skills, you can still build an app thanks to the visual drag-and-drop tools.
You can customize the app as you wish without having to write a single line of code. No-code solutions also save you the trouble of recruiting developers when your startup is still in its infancy.
Case 3: Limited Budget
Not all startups are blessed with venture capitalist backings. With a limited budget to work on, building an app is incredibly challenging. Hiring in-house developers is often out of question and that leaves you the option of working with freelancers.
However, such arrangements are often met with uncertainties. In exchange for a cheaper rate, you’ll be working with an individual who could be juggling a few projects simultaneously. You can’t guarantee that you’ll get the most of the limited budget you have.
Thankfully, you’ll now have various no-code platforms (like Bubble, Webflow, Adalo, Glide, Thunkable, AppGyver) to choose from and get your app built without breaking the bank. You don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars, just to get an MVP done.
Instead, it’s possible to build an app from existing templates on no-code platforms for just several hundred dollars or sometimes for free. If you’re building a no-code app from scratch, you can get professionals to do that for a few thousand dollars.
Regardless of your choice, you’ll still enjoy massive savings and can channel the budget for other parts of your business.
Case 4: You have a Well-Defined Use Case
If you’re building a complex app or one-of-its-kind software, you’ll be better off with custom software development. However, no-code is definitely the better option if you have a well-defined use case for your app.
In other words, you’re building an app that shares a common structure with existing ones in the marketplace. For example, food delivery apps, online stores, membership apps, and Uber-like apps have their respective features and structures. They are built and improvised based on feedback from real users.
Thus, it’s more viable to use existing templates from no-code platforms than reinvent the wheel for such apps. Using no-code platforms spare you the tedious process of the traditional software development lifecycle.
With ready-to-use templates, you don’t have to run through the specs with the developers. Nor go through stages of testing that could take a huge, valuable portion of time. As the templates have been tested by no-code developers, you’ll also have fewer technical issues when releasing the app.
For example, Equina Scheduling, an employee scheduling app, connects healthcare employees together and ensures shift changes are communicated effectively to them. The first version was built and delivered on Bubble.
Or, you can take this example and launch your AI app in a few days.
A stable, functional, scalable app goes a long way in user engagement and retainment. Besides, sticking to templates that are proven in terms of user experience is likely to boost conversion.
Summary
No-code development has changed how startups strategize and launch their products. Speed has taken a new meaning when you’re able to build apps without coding. The cost of building apps has drastically fallen with the many no-code platforms available.
It’s high time to re-evaluate your app development needs. Chances are, you have much to gain for your next project by adopting the no-code approach. It’s hard to dismiss the advantage of agility and cost brought by this revolutionary software development approach.
Coding as a prerequisite of building an app is a thing in the past. Talk to our team to find out how you could bring your ideas to life with no-code apps.
