Beyond The Spreadsheets

Nowadays, people have been talking about the hype of low-code and no-code platforms, which commit to making software development as easy as using a PowerPoint presentation or Word document.. These platforms allow any average business user to move ahead with their projects by working with pre-written codes and minimal coding skills without sparing an extra penny. In light of the same, we spoke to Utkarsh Mishra, Lead Engineer, KredX, about how MSMEs can gain a technical edge using No-Code platforms, and here’s what he had to say.

What’s No-Code / Low-Code?

No-code platforms allow programmers and non-programmers to create application software using graphical user interfaces. These platforms can help businesses automate their day-to-day operations at a fraction of the cost compared to screening and hiring a tech team. Some of the platforms are even mature enough to be directly exposed to the end customers.

Here are some of the no-code platforms for MSMEs:

1. Zapier: Zapier is an automation tool that helps connect with some of the most used apps, such as Gmail, Slack, etc. It can be combined with multiple apps to automate repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build integration. Businesses can use Zapier to automate all these tasks, thereby saving time and effort.
2. Airtable: Airtable combines features of spreadsheet and database. Users can create a database, define column types, add records, link tables to one another, collaborate, sort records, and publish views to external websites. Particularly, Airtable acts as a no-code database that simplifies how business data is organized and manipulated, making it an ideal solution for teams looking to enhance productivity without extensive technical knowledge.
3. Webflow: Webflow is a browser-based design tool that provides businesses the power to design, build, and launch responsive websites visually. It’s essentially an all-in-one design platform that can be used to transform the initial idea into a polished, ready-to-use product, including create a streaming website.
4. Bubble: Bubble allows businesses to build and launch digital startups without needing to code or hire engineers to code. Bubble’s no-code platform allows businesses to design, develop, and deploy a web application all in one place, using a drag-and-drop visual editor and cloud-hosting service.
5. Retool: Retool isn’t just used for the front end, but also many internal tools, like scheduling queries, updating and writing data, and triggers. Retool apps are easy to share and offer access management and audit logs to keep things secure.
6. WordPress: WordPress is a website builder and CMS (content management system). It is open-source software that anyone can use to create a website easily.
7. Salesforce: Salesforce is a software as a service (SaaS) company specialising in customer relationship management (CRM). Salesforce’s services allow businesses to use cloud technology to better connect with customers, partners and potential customers.
8. Zoho Creator: Zoho Creator is a cloud application to build custom tools without any prior coding experience. Zoho Creator’s drag-and-drop interface enables you to create custom business applications in significantly less time.
9. Experro : Experro is a comprehensive platform that empowers you to build fast, engaging, and mobile-first websites. With Experro, you can create visually captivating web experiences that enhance user engagement and drive improved SEO rankings, all within a single, user-friendly platform.
   

When To Use No-Code/Low-Code? 

• Limited budget
• Fast delivery timelines

When To Avoid: 

• Design and customisations are a priority
• When you want to avoid vendor lock-in
• Security and privacy is a major requirement
• You expect a high volume of data
• Scalability and maintainability is a high priority
• Integration with existing internal services or third party services is required

Bottomline

As many small and medium-sized businesses don’t have the budget to maintain a tech team, they are mostly limited to using spreadsheets or outsourcing their technical requirement. Modern no-code tools offer them a great option to gain a technological edge.