Most Enterprise leaders tend to opt for solutions that will fast track digital transformation and also cut down on the overall budget. For them time and cost are the two major constraints, and solutions like Low-Code platforms are advertised to make the process easy.

Low-Code s a way to design and develop software fast with minimal coding. It has a list of benefits where you don’t have to worry about coding rules for screen size, scalability, traffic routing or any other time consuming coding pieces. The benefit that tops the list is speed, and enterprise leaders who want to catch up with their competition choose Low-Code to stay ahead in the game. But little do they know about the risks of Low-Code in the long run. Because something that comes easy always has a baggage! It is true that Low-Code accelerates digital transformation, but this speed comes with a cost!

What Baggage Does Low-Code Come With?

It’s all good and well until risks like limited integration, lack of customization, security and reliability risks creep in. These could add technical debt and create huge problems for enterprise owners as time passes. Let’s dig a little deep and look at what kind of integration, customization, security and reliability risks Low-Code creates.

Limited Integration:

When you have to deal with different tools and products that make up your digital transformation strategy, then Low-Code platforms won’t be the best solution. Because when you start to heavily depend on Low-Code platforms, you tend to have integration problems and especially problems with your legacy systems! Enterprise owners then have to end up sacrificing on systems that are core to their business.

Lack of Customization:

Just like the limited integration risk, a Low-Code platform also gives birth to lack of customization. Low-Code platforms have modular components that limit application customization. Every enterprise owner will have to customize their application at some point when there is a specific requirement, and when platforms like Low-Code restrain it, it becomes a problem and a very big one where an enterprise owner will be dragged to change their core business just to suit the capabilities of the Low-Code platform.

Security and Reliability Risks

While Low-Code platforms can simplify development and speed software delivery, it also creates security challenges. Challenges like outsourced code development, third-party updates, lack of security checks, lack of data validation, inexperienced developers, etc. Low-Code platforms won’t let you take control since you will have to abide to its rules, whereas custom applications will give you the whole control. Because with custom applications you will know everything from top to bottom and you can blindly rely on it. But that is not the case with Low-Code platforms; you will be forced to use tools which you did not want and face complexities that you never expected. The lack of control opens doors to so many unexpected problems!

Low-Code is the way to go if you need an answer to a short-term business problem. But it is definitely not the way to go for a long-term goal! Banking on custom applications will be the right choice for long term goals! Because down the road you will not have to face these challenges and will be able to give more attention to your digital transformation.

The Common Misconception

A lot of enterprise owners are under the impression that custom development take ages and by ages I mean years. It does not necessarily have to take years! Custom development has been done within months! It is just that you have to adopt the right kind of processes in order to make it to the finish line. Adopting agile processes can help you get an MVP in months.

A company called Dialexa was able to execute custom development for their application ParkHub in just 3 months. They were able to successfully park their first event – “The American country music award festival”. Thus, this misconception of custom development taking years must be erased.

The truth is both Low-Code and custom platforms has its time and place in a digital transformation strategy. The important point is to analyze your business needs and act accordingly for a successful digital transformation. And if you are having trouble doing that, then Applaud will make it easy for you. Applaud is a unified digital application platform which is a one-stop solution for rapid development of digital applications to meet your business and customer needs. Applaud offers a comprehensive governance for managing diversified custom developed applications through a unified portal. And, Standardizing digital application management will help businesses enhance readiness and will lessen operational difficulties to a greater extent!