5 myths about low-code platforms

Low-code platforms are very popular in the United States and Western Europe, but in Poland they still remain a niche solution. One reason for this situation is the limited knowledge of domestic companies about low-code.

The popularization of low-code platforms is not helped by the fact that there is a lot of false information about these tools in the public space. We present the five most common myths about low-code platforms.

Myth 1. Low-code is only for simple applications.

It is true that low-code platforms allow you to build simple applications, e.g. for generating leave applications, in the proverbial five minutes. This significantly accelerates the automation and optimization of many processes taking place in the company. An undoubted benefit of using low-code platforms is the quick and easy digitization of many processes still handled on paper. This generates measurable savings.

However, it is not true that low-code platforms are only used to create simple programs. It is the features of low-code that allow for much more. Increasingly, low-code platforms are used to build advanced applications such as systems for inventory management, CRM, hiring employees or budgeting.

You can often hear that applications developed using low-code tools are not scalable. Meanwhile, in addition to the fact that they scale from several to several thousand users, they allow for the free expansion of processes introduced in one department to the entire company, including its foreign branches. What's more, applications created using low-code technology also cope very well with processing data from various sources.

Myth 2. Low-code contributes to the emergence of the Shadow IT phenomenon.

Shadow IT is a concept that covers IT purchases and projects implemented without the knowledge of the IT department. At first glance, it seems to be a beneficial phenomenon, because business departments receive innovative tools almost immediately. They do not have to wait for the IT department to implement the project on its own, or to agree to purchase the application or service.

Is this the right approach? Such actions firstly lead to chaos - not all applications are compatible with each other, which causes problems related to their updates, and secondly, they pose a security risk - IT departments are unable to protect applications if they do not know about their existence, and the lack of such protection affects the security of the entire organization.

Low-code platforms connect the IT world with business, and even encourage cooperation, thus contributing to the limitation and consequently elimination of the shadow IT phenomenon. They can be used by business department experts who do not have to have extensive knowledge of programming. Such people are often called citizen developers. Citizen developers not only operate with the consent of IT departments, but also work closely with them. Cooperation leads to improved communication efficiency between IT teams and the rest of the staff and thus the creation of refined business applications.

Myth 3. Low-code platforms lead to vendor lock-in.

Vendor lock-in, or dependence on vendor products, is an almost eternal problem in the IT industry. Companies using ERP, CRM systems and many other programs and hardware solutions have to face it. Most often, implementing such solutions covering core areas of the company is associated with high costs, and their users, in order to avoid additional expenses and risks related to the necessary migration process, very rarely decide to replace them. 

Dependence on the supplier of low-code tools is incomparably smaller. Companies can use several low-code platforms at the same time to reduce risk and quickly and easily transfer data between platforms. In the near future, it is expected that migrators will appear on the market for transferring data and maybe even simple application schemas between low-code platforms from different manufacturers.

In addition, platforms differ from each other and offer different possibilities in terms of extending functionality using custom code or scripts or integration with other programs. Therefore, to minimize vendor lock-in, it is best to check the platform for compatibility with solutions from other suppliers during the purchasing process, with particular emphasis on popular solutions.

Myth 4. Low-code platforms are no different from each other.

People unfamiliar with the subject of low-code usually do not notice the differences between tools from different suppliers and put an equal sign between them. However, the same could be said about the smartphone market, which at first glance look almost the same and perform identical functions. Of course, this is not the case, because individual models have characteristic distinguishing features, and their selection is sometimes determined by minor nuances.

The situation is similar with low-code platforms. Although they all pursue similar goals (faster implementation of processes in digital form, automation, system integration), they differ in terms of functionality, philosophy of approach to the issue, interfaces, and finally the method of licensing and price. It happens that some platforms do not offer certain solutions because they focus on other selected functional areas. It is worth spending some time before choosing a platform to analyze the functions it performs and compare it with competitive solutions.

Myth 5. Low-code platforms are expensive and will not replace applications created using traditional methods.

We do not have to invest in low-code platforms because we have our own, great programmers. This is an argument often put forward by opponents of low-code. In their opinion, investing in an additional tool that facilitates application development only generates unnecessary costs.

Programs created by professionals are ideally suited to the needs of the organization. However, most programmers are overloaded with work, as a result of which the time it takes to create an application is longer. The possibilities of making quick changes to existing programs are also decreasing. The situation is further complicated by the deficit of developers on the labor market, and as a result, their salaries are increasing from quarter to quarter.

One way to solve the above problems is to use low-code platforms. Contrary to popular stereotypes, they do not take away the work of programmers, but allow them to be relieved of excessive duties. The use of low-code tools significantly speeds up the writing of applications, and also allows for their relatively easy modification. Ultimately, for many organizations, investing in low-code tools will be cheaper and faster than hiring more developers.