“Why should you use low-code platforms? Due to speed, adaptability and limited software development resources”
Build your business applications with Ninox — 70% faster than the traditional way
Ninox — the no-code database from Germany
Software development rethought using no-code/low-code technology — simple, fast, flexible and innovative. According to Gartner, low-code is currently one of the twelve most important IT trends. Hyperautomation focuses on three priorities: improving work quality, speeding up business processes, and improving decision making.
Digital experts rely on Ninox
A flexible platform for your digital solutions
Ninox is a collaborative cloud-based database that enables users to create individual digital software solutions via drag & drop — independently and without any programming knowledge. Simple lists or comprehensive solutions for complex business processes — everything is possible in a powerful and user-friendly platform, customizable and available everywhere. All of this is possible based on no-code/low-code technology. Ninox is therefore ideal for agile teams and innovative companies that are looking for customer-specific software and expect fast results, transparency and efficiency at the same time.
Tailored applications for high transparency, efficiency and fast results
Create your individual Ninox apps for desktop, iPhone, iPad & Android in all packages that can be used free of charge - try it yourself!
Forms, reports and evaluations can be created simply by dragging and dropping.
No communication overhead: All employees are always up to date with the latest information.
Ninox runs on all devices. Even when there is no Internet connection.
Flexible software solutions for various applications, industries and company sizes.
One platform — endless possibilities
This is how Ninox creates additional benefits:
“Our Ninox solution has developed very well, is absolutely easy to use, fast and stable, even on the iPad. ”
“We wanted to replace paper and organize reading management more flexibly. Ninox solved both problems. ”
“With Ninox, we didn't have to make any compromises. Our solution is more comprehensive than we thought possible — and we're continuing to develop.”
FAQ to Senior Forrester Analyst, John Bratincevic
Do you still have questions? Here you can find answers to the most important questions:
John, in your opinion, what are the main advantages of low-code — especially for small and medium-sized companies? Are there business processes that are particularly suitable for familiarizing yourself with low-code?
I generally recommend that all companies introduce a low-code platform. In my opinion, virtually every company must have digital capabilities (the ability to create custom software and constantly change that software), regardless of size — even sole proprietors. The ability to build applications that enable you to reach your customers, keep tailored records (without the gradual clutter that comes with paper or calculation-based systems), automate processes or administrative tasks, make your business visible in software and make it dynamic, etc. is both a tactical and strategic advantage. You can't just buy a bunch of SaaS apps and call yourself “digital” — it doesn't work.
As for getting started, it's obvious to start with processes that are currently managed using paper forms, spreadsheets, or manual workflows involving email. These are often underserved processes, such as warranty claims.
Furthermore, how do you think SMEs should rate low-code providers like Ninox?
When evaluating a low-code platform, consider these things:
License costs for your use cases (especially external use cases)
Licensing per end user is typical of low-code, but if you're planning to use the platform for customer-side use cases, this structure is often impractical. In this case, you should choose a platform that offers a different licensing scheme.
Whether the platform offers enough development services to be considered an “all-purpose solution” Many individual solutions describe themselves as “low-code” solutions because they have an area of the product that allows individual configuration. However, for low-code to be an effective alternative to traditional programming, you need tools that cover several basic development concepts in your chosen product (s):
Relational data modeling and data storage
Business logic/workflow/automation
Usability/frontend development
Integration
Does the platform have features that are specifically useful for your industry? For example, if you're a service company that sends technicians to customers (and needs to digitize these processes), you'll want to choose a platform with good mobile features and (possibly) pre-integrated options for electronic signatures, payments, etc.
Who in a company (e.g. management, IT, business teams) should drive such a transformation process and initiative in order to also use low-code within a company?
Company executives must recognize that they must be digital (i.e. software-driven and highly automated) and that low-code is the key to the digital journey. They should also have a clear idea of how the company's business model and value streams will benefit from a more digital approach (e.g. digital channels for reaching customers, more automation, the ability to respond to market changes, etc.). The IT department should generally be involved in choosing the low-code product and ensure that the product's features meet the basic development requirements and all of the company's technical and security requirements. Either the IT department or the specialist department can manage and support the platform — it simply depends on the organization. Depending on the company and use case, application development on the low-code platform should be carried out either by an ultra-agile “digital” team or by the relevant SMEs themselves. A very practical way to start is to train process improvement experts, project managers, or operations managers in low-code development; these people are usually experienced in solving business problems. What you should NOT do is simply buy low-code because there is hype about the idea and then use it in a foreclosed IT team using traditional development cultures and methods (e.g. waterfall). Low-code is a very practical way to an agile, iterative mindset that involves experimenting with technologies. Low-code with the addition of digital-savvy specialist departments is even better.
How do you see IT equipment in SMEs in the short term? What role does or should low-code play? What will this structure look like in the long term?
In the short term, low-code will be a pragmatic choice for small and medium-sized business IT departments to deliver the software they need in an extremely agile way. Not only is low-code faster and easier than coding (and is typically delivered as a cloud service), but our data shows that low-code developers are ahead of high-code developers in adopting “modern” and “advanced” cloud-native technology. Link: Low-Code Developers Are Ahead of High-Code Developers
This is a real advantage, particularly for smaller companies that don't have the same development resources as a large company. In the long term, many business people — both in SMEs and in larger companies — will become low-code developers in addition to their business tasks. There's no reason to have an “IT” person build or modify the application you need when the businessman who truly understands the need can do it. I've seen very effective SME models where IT only performs non-business-related technological tasks (e.g. deploying and supporting laptops, the Internet, etc.), while all application development is done by the “business department” on low-code platforms. Ultimately, the artificial division between businessmen and technologists will disappear. Development knowledge (i.e. the ability to build or modify an application) will no longer be mysterious but will represent general business expertise. Business professionals will have a wide range of technical expertise, and some basic knowledge of common low-code platforms will be expected for many business functions — such as spreadsheets and email today.
And finally: Why did you define the term “low-code”? Why not “no-code” or otherwise? Why do you think coding will always be key?
Forrester chose the term “low-code” (rather than “no-code”) for two reasons:
Virtually all low-code products on the market allow the developer to write some code in specific situations or areas of the product (even the “no-code” products)
In companies, most large projects require a certain amount of coding — at the time that term was coined, there was rarely a “code-free” implementation.
In my opinion, it is not yet clear whether “coding will always be the key” for most classes of business applications. I've seen several examples of large enterprise applications written entirely without code, and I know a few large companies that even see this as an architectural ideal. But in reality, low-code teams still frequently write some code to complete applications, particularly large applications.