Modern organizations face a litany of innovation challenges, starting with the development staff. Experienced mobile developers are hard to find, design agencies’ talent is expensive, and offshore sourcing makes delivering quality at high speed difficult. According to Jeffrey Hammond at Forrester, one way to solve the challenge is through mobile low-code development platforms, which occurs by changing the nature of the work that mobile developers do through prescription of action and abstraction from detail. In the end, this expands the pool of mobile development talent while accelerating the efforts of already existing mobile developers.
There are numerous low code platforms on the market today at differing price points. As is the case with any solution, developers and leadership must do their research for the best fit. Here are some of the evaluation criteria that we follow when making recommendations to our customers:
- Integration of Systems: Integration is a common theme for applications today, and low-code platforms are no different. Common examples include field or plant inspections, purchasing approvals, inventory management, and expense approvals. In this case, mobile low-code developers must integrate with existing systems of record, either by building an app on top of an existing web application or through APIs or connections into underlying database storage systems. Integration with packaged applications such as ERP systems are also common.
- Reports and Dashboards: Another common theme in modern application development are reports and dashboards, mixed with notifications. Notifications alert interested parties that data has changed, and large-screen mobile devices or tablets provide enough space to replicate executive briefing books or interactive reports with drillable charts and graphs. As a result, usage information is accessible anywhere, anytime, without having to open a browser.
- Applicable to Variable Skill Levels: In addition to multiple workloads, mobile low-code development platforms must appeal to different types of developers with widely varying skill levels. The best low-code platforms can assist everyone from aspiring to even the most seasoned of developers while offering the best features for all groups.
- User Experience: Digital transformation always means a transformed user experience, and low code platforms are no different. Mobile low-code development platforms allow developers to create interactive experiences, or even chat bots, that guide a user through a data collection process, capture only the information needed. As chat bot automation grows, it’s likely that the low code market will become even more saturated with solutions.
Are you exploring low-code platforms for your organization? Let us know how your experience has been in the comments below.
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Are you looking to explore what low-code can do for your organization? Reach out to us at sales@perficient.com for more information about our partnership and work with Appian, and a conversation with one of our experts.
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In today’s innovative enterprise, IT exists in an ecosystem. In contrast to the past where many implemented solutions existed in individual silos, today’s implementations work together to influence positive business outcomes. This post is part of a series focused on guiding enterprises through an overwhelming process to compete, scale, and innovate in a fast-moving world. Follow more of the series here.
