Low-code platforms have revolutionized the way software applications are developed and deployed. They enable organizations to quickly create and deploy digital solutions with minimal coding and technical expertise. With so many low-code platforms on the market today, choosing the right one for your business can be a daunting task. In this article, we will outline the relevant low-code platform selection points and provide you with valuable reference.
1. Related cases
Company A is an emerging technology company, they are growing rapidly and need to quickly develop and deploy new digital solutions. They believe that choosing a low-code platform is the best way to achieve this goal. However, Company A encountered some problems when choosing a low-code platform.
First, they use certain low-code platforms that have limited customization options, making it difficult for Company A to tailor the application to their specific needs. In addition, integration of the platform with existing systems and applications is also an issue. Company A wanted their new application to be able to integrate with their existing system and be able to easily use other third-party applications, but the platform provided limited functionality, which resulted in additional integration challenges and costs.
Second, Company A's business needs are constantly changing, and they need a flexible low-code platform to support rapid expansion of the application's functionality and number of users. However, the platform does not provide sufficient scalability, which results in limited app accessibility and functionality.
Additionally, Company A is very concerned about security. They needed a low-code platform that could keep their applications safe from cyber threats and data breaches. However, the platform lacks necessary security features, which exposes their applications to various security risks.
In the end, Company A discovered some hidden fees. When using the platform, they need to pay additional fees to get the required features, such as integration, reporting or user management. These additional charges resulted in unnecessary expenses, which disappointed Company A.
Company A's low-code platform selection process encountered many challenges. They spend time and money, but end up not getting a complete platform that fits their needs. This case shows that when choosing a low-code platform, one must carefully evaluate enterprise needs and choose a low-code platform that offers flexibility, scalability, customization options, security features, responsive support, and transparent pricing. Only in this way can enterprises turn their digital transformation process into a successful business practice.
Some of the selection problems encountered by company A are also encountered by many companies when choosing a low-code platform. Next, let's take a look at the points worth noting when choosing a low-code platform to prevent us from stepping on thunder.
2. Selection points
1. Business needs.
The first step in choosing a low-code development platform is understanding your business needs. This includes identifying the features and functionality your organization needs to achieve its goals. You should also consider the user experience, scalability, and security requirements of your solution. This information will help you choose a low-code platform that meets all your specific needs.
2. Integration ability.
The ability of a low-code platform to seamlessly integrate with other systems is critical to ensuring a smooth deployment. Consider the number and types of integrations offered by the platform, including API integrations, third-party software, databases, and cloud services. You should also consider how easy it is to connect to existing systems, and whether there is community support to handle integration-related issues.
3. Customizability.
Every organization has unique needs that a low-code platform should be able to meet. A platform should offer customization options that allow you to modify or extend functionality, layout, and style to suit your specific use case. Customization should be easy to implement without requiring extensive coding knowledge or technical expertise.
4. Barrier-free.
All team members involved in the development process should have access to your low-code platform. This includes developers, designers, project managers and business stakeholders. It should provide an intuitive user interface that can be easily navigated by individuals with varying technical expertise.
5. Supplier support.
Vendor support is critical to maintaining the stability and security of low-code platforms. It's important to evaluate the level of support a vendor offers, including online documentation, training resources, community forums, and technical support. You should also consider the vendor's responsiveness to support requests and whether there are any additional costs associated with support.
6. Cost.
Low-code platforms can be a cost-effective way to develop software applications. However, the cost of a platform is more than the upfront purchase price. Consider total cost of ownership, including hosting and infrastructure costs, ongoing maintenance, development costs, and licensing fees. As your business needs evolve, it's important to choose a platform that offers transparent pricing and scalability options.
The above are the various points we should pay attention to when choosing a low-code platform. An easy-to-use and complete low-code development platform must be able to meet the diverse business needs of the enterprise, have strong integration capabilities, be customizable to meet the unique business structure of the enterprise, and have cost advantages at the same time. Zoho Creator is a low-code application development platform that helps you simplify the development process, shorten the development cycle, improve development efficiency, and save development costs. With our low-code platform, it's easy to design, develop, and run business software, enabling you to quickly build powerful industry solutions.
3. Product features
1. Visual application building tools:
Zoho Creator provides an intuitive, visual interface that enables users to easily build applications. The interface uses a drag-and-drop design and requires no coding.
2. Custom forms and fields:
Users can easily create customized forms with Zoho Creator and add any number of fields. This enables users to meet various business needs.
3. Responsive application design:
Zoho Creator can automatically adapt to multiple devices and screen sizes, so the application can be viewed optimally no matter what device the user is using.
4. Integrate third-party services:
Zoho Creator can integrate third-party services such as CRM, email services, etc. These integrations allow users to manage multiple systems on the same platform.
5. Data analysis and reporting:
Zoho Creator can generate various types of reports, analyze data and display important key performance indicators (KPI).
6. Teamwork:
Zoho Creator can collaborate with other users, share applications and data, and assign different permissions to different roles in the application.
7. Security and privacy protection:
Zoho Creator adopts multiple layers of security measures, including SSL encryption and data backup, to ensure user data is safe and secure.
All in all, choosing the right low-code platform is critical to ensuring the success of your digital transformation initiatives. By considering these six key points, you can choose a low-code platform that meets all your specific needs, integrates seamlessly with existing systems, and provides an intuitive user experience for all team members. With the right low-code platform, organizations can quickly create and deploy digital solutions that drive innovation and growth.