The way we work is changing. In the past, end-user application development has been limited to highly skilled IT workers. Unfortunately, these workers only make up 1% of the world-wide employment pool.
Enter no-code applications.
No-code solutions allow anyone to create interactive apps, workflows, and other automations without any coding knowledge. These tools mean that your HR or sales department doesn’t need to rely on IT to automate, improve, or implement processes.
Now, you may be thinking, “What does this mean for me if I’m a developer?” As a no-code company, we hear this a lot at Formstack. You’re not alone in thinking this, but the idea that no-code tools could phase out the need for developer jobs is a pretty common misconception. Today, let’s look at this no-code misconception and a few others to try and understand the truth behind the myth.
No-code is here to stay. But if you’ve been hesitant to jump on board, read on and we’ll dispel the most common no-code myths we’re hearing about these tools.
Have burning no-code questions? Continue the conversation by reaching out to us on Twitter @Formstack.
No-Code Myth #1: No-code tools will eliminate the need for developers.
Let’s dive right in with one of the most common no-code misconceptions.
A no-code application, like Airtable or Bubble, is typically a drag-and-drop, out-of-the-box solution. These tools are built for citizen developers: business experts across an enterprise with little coding experience who build applications with IT-approved technology. No-code tools take pressure off of your IT department by enabling anyone in your office to do things that typically need IT support, like update your website or spin up new workflows. But just like any regular application, no-code tools come in all shapes and sizes. Many large businesses will want to customize the look and feel of the final product.
For example, with the Formstack Forms solution, you can use our Theme Editor to quickly add your logo or brand colors to any form. But, say you want something a little more customized, like embedded widgets or varied field sizes. That’s where Custom CSS rules come in. This type of customization requires the help of a skilled developer or coder in the back-end.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a custom integration that can’t be done with no-code tools like Zapier or PowerAutomate, you’ll need a developer to set it up. A good no-code solution makes it easy for anyone across your business to build solutions. But a great no-code solution makes room for highly skilled workers to build fully customizable solutions that meet business needs.
No-Code Myth #2: No-code solutions can’t meet my security needs.
For any business collecting sensitive data, security is always top of mind when choosing a new solution. Data breaches can hurt your reputation and come with a hefty fine.
But just because an application is easy to use, doesn't mean it's insecure. As a no-code solution, Formstack takes security very seriously and meets major security and functionality regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI, FEDRAMP, Section 508, and more.
Obviously, businesses should evaluate any new applications on a case-by-case basis. Make sure your team understands what security requirements are critical for the work you’re doing and choose an application that checks all the boxes. But don’t discount an application out of the gate just because it's no-code. You might miss out on a great solution!
No-Code Myth #3: I can’t customize no-code solutions to meet my unique business needs.
By nature, no-code tools are some of the most flexible and easy-to-use solutions in the market. No-code tools simply come with an added benefit: building the application that best fits your business doesn’t have to be hard or time-intensive. From building a new eCommerce website to automating HR onboarding, no-code tools let anyone on your team build critical business solutions quickly.
You may decide that what you’re able to create out-of-the-box doesn’t quite meet your business needs. This is where a developer may come in to tweak what a no-code tool offers. With most no-code solutions, these tweaks from IT are typically a one-and-done situation. When they’re finished, anyone on your team can go in and make updates or changes as needed without needing to know a line of code.
Take Webflow, for example. Webflow allows users to create professional, custom websites without code. Webflow puts the tools of website development into the hands of your copywriters and designers. This frees up time for your developers so they can spend less time working on marketing assets and focus on more complex projects.
No-Code Myth #4: The no-code revolution is just a fad and no-code tools don’t live up to the hype.
No-code tools can provide your business with a scalable solution that paves a faster path to the launch of your applications and workflows. Because of their excessive training, developers and engineers are typically more expensive than your average team member, making their time and skills especially valuable. These employees frequently find themselves pulled in many directions and working on multiple projects at once. Businesses are often weighing whether they need to hire more staff or deprioritize certain projects.
No-code tools empower other departments and teams outside of IT to build, create, and develop, saving your business time and money.
With traditional software development, a business expert has an idea, makes an IT request, and a developer heads to their cubicle to crank out lines of code to create the solution. With no-code application development, the person with the idea can follow the entire process. From ideation to implementation, one person can quickly and easily execute their entire vision.
Read Next: What You Need to Know About No-Code Tools
From Myth to Reality
No-code application development is a great option for any department across any organization. If you’re looking for a way to realize your ideas quickly without needing to constantly go through your IT department, no-code is something you should be excited about. From employee management to payment collection, using no-code to create a working application could completely reimagine your world of work.
Watch The Rise of the No-Code Economy Panel now to learn about the no-code movement, plus its impact on companies and employees.
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