Stop Reinventing the Wheel: Using Low and No Code Platforms

Low and no code platforms enable users to create automated workflows that can revolutionize solutions from engineering deliverables to existing workplace processes.

What is a low/no code platform?

Low and no code technologies are toolkits that empower users to build automations with no or little code.

Why use a low/no code platform?

1. Save time. Why spend hours writing, debugging, and testing custom code when you can implement similar logic in minutes? There are many scenarios where the cost of creating and maintaining custom code outweighs the benefits it offers. Think: proof of concepts, internal team projects, and interim solutions.
2. Automate processes you would not consider automating otherwise. My personal favorite — notifications! What’s really in that email you send every Friday? Can it be pulled from an existing source? Think: an Excel spreadsheet you manage anyways or the database you query that information from.
3. Fail fast. In the age of Agile and with continuous feedback loops, chances are, ideas and requirements will change. Starting with a hacky, imperfect solution to see if this is really where investment is needed should be common practice. And in my experience, the sets of connectors low/no code technologies offer even have the potential to inspire new ideas.

I’m busy and I’d rather continue doing what I know

Learning a low/no code technology can be intuitive, but it can also take time. Like with learning any new skill, it can take patience and understanding of the interface and functionality. The time you spend onboarding is likely outweighed by

1. the time you save on creating solutions through low/no code vs. without it
2. knowing how to navigate and use low/no code platforms is a sought after skill (in fact, well known companies hire full time citizen developers).

Low/no code technology can likely streamline an everyday process for you, regardless of your industry or discipline.

I’m an engineer, and I want to write code

Consider the time it takes to write, test, debug, and maintain new code. Is it worth doing for automating standard workflows (Think: sending a notification each time a list is updated)? What innovative solutions could you use that time to come up with?

I want customization

One clear drawback of low/no code platforms is that they are not as customizable, and they have limitations in scalability and efficiency. Though this is a valid reason to not rely on them for certain engineering solutions, they still have a plethora of great use cases. This includes creating a proof of concepts, making an interim solution, creating a lightweight mockup to do user testing, and so on.

Get efficient & automate! My favorite no code technology is Power Automate, and it’s free to use. Give it a try and let me know what you think!