When it comes to process management solutions, low code software is superior to no code. MICology, behind the LEAP low-code business process management platform, explain why.
Increasingly, senior management teams are looking to digitally transform their organisations. They are under pressure to move away from analogue methods that tie people to geography and device, to a 24/7 ecosystem.
The move from the old way to the new requires investment. Specifically, investment into software solutions that enable businesses to communicate effectively in the digital age.
Low Code vs No Code
At a superficial level, both approaches are similar. Both are designed to give people without a formal development background the ability to build business applications, quickly and easily.
Take websites. Today, a competent marketeer can build a website with little or no intervention from a software developer. The same principle applies to this new breed of business process management applications.
So why would you want to write code when you don’t have to?
In fact, when it comes to processes, we believe that low code is by far the superior option. Here’s why.
Low Code is More Flexible and Powerful Than No Code
Creating a process in both environments is similar. You get to choose from a range of pre-built functions to build your applications. Wizards will guide you through the process, and it’ll all feel pretty good.
And that’s great for simple processes. Simply drag, drop and build. But what about edge cases? If your process doesn’t quite fit, then you’ll hit a hard wall in the code-free environment.
Simply, no software can be all things to all men. To meet every business requirement of every customer, code-free vendors would need to produce a huge, possibly infinite, number of building blocks in order for the resulting solution to be truly free of code. That’s just not going to happen. Moreover, the cost of developing anything close would negate the benefits of choosing such as solution.
A No Code Solution Without the Ability to Add Code Isn’t Finished.
A code-less solution might sell itself on being the complete, finished package. But that’s not a good thing. When you can’t change a system, you’re forced either to create a workaround or stick with what you’ve got. Neither is conducive to positive outcomes. In edge cases, data escapes the process. Work is duplicated. Processes become longer, less accurate and at worst, fail to be compliant.
And here’s the main benefit: when you choose low code, you get the ability to add snippets as and when you need it. For 99% of the time, you won’t need to. But unless you have that ability to tap into that extra level, then the solution is flawed.
Yet a true low code solution will still have the benefits of its counterpart. The look and feel will be similar, and there will be lots of nice UI features to make building a process hassle-free. You’ll just have the ability to add the clever bits that turn the low code software into a custom solution.
Not Convinced? Take Microsoft Excel.
Finance Directors, CEOs and Database Admins love Excel. Why? Because it allows them to write code (in the form of macros) to manipulate data in complex and sophisticated ways. The everyday user doesn’t need macros – but they do need to manage spreadsheets. And it’s the same for low-code. With the ability to add custom snippets, you increase the power of the software significantly, while giving the majority of users what they need the rest of the time. The resulting system is stable, robust and ultimately, very flexible and powerful.
There are many other reasons to choose Low over No Code. We summarise the key ones below.
Comparison of Low Code and No Code Software
| Low Code | No Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Hosted On-Premises or within a cloud environment. | Normally hosted in public cloud |
| Integration | Through APIs and messaging servers and a little code | Can’t be integrated into other systems |
| Data Governance | Can be included in company-wide policy | Separate from other sources – can lead to duplication |
| Built in features | Many available with ability to build atypical features | Can include a range of features but can be limited, no room to build additional/bespoke features. |
| Process type | Can handle simple or complex processes | Best for straightforward processes |
| Scalable | Depends on architecture | With limits |
| Flexible | Yes | Within parameters of platform |
| Adaptable | Can be changed with minimal effort and outlay | Can be adapted but only within realms of platform |
| Ease of application build | Very. Low code presents as no code in the vast majority of cases. | Simple drag and drop interfaces. |
| Compatibility of created application | Completely tailored to fit your processes | Depends on the process/features in the platform |
LEAP, powered by MICology
LEAP, MICology’s low-code platform will provide you with all the features and flexibility you need to build an application solution to automate, improve and optimise any business process. Contact us today to find out how LEAP can help your organisation.
