Low Code Automation: Use Cases To Save Time And Money

Low code automation platforms allow you to create custom applications through a mix of graphical user interface (GUI) tools and manual programming. Low code technology can act like training wheels, allowing citizen developers to write simple code while having a GUI to fall back on. It’s also frequently used by pro coders to streamline simple and tedious workflows in the software development life cycle. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the most common use cases of low code automation and how they can save DevOps teams time and money.

Low Code Automation Use Cases

Low code automation tools are used for a variety of purposes, including:

Empowering Citizen Developers

Low code automation platforms are typically oriented at power users who lack classical programming training but are tech-savvy enough for GUI manipulation and some light coding. They enable “citizen developers” to create simple applications or digitize specific workloads so these projects don’t get piled on an overworked developer’s plate. That means individual business units can get the functionality they need much faster without purchasing an expensive off-the-shelf solution. Pro coders are free to work on more business-critical projects.

It’s important to note that the prevalence of citizen developers increases the risk of shadow IT within your organization. Shadow IT refers to the presence of software, systems, and services on a business network that the IT department is unaware of and thus isn’t proactively patching and securing. If you allow citizen developers to build applications outside of typical development workflows, you must have policies and procedures to ensure proper governance.

Simplifying UI Development

User interface development is often quite complex and challenging, even for pro coders. The UI typically needs to work across various web browsers, operating systems, and platforms that all use different libraries and toolkits. Low code platforms can simplify UI creation by automatically generating browser- and OS-specific interface code. They also make it easier to update UI code as environments are updated and upgraded, saving time and headaches while ensuring applications stay up-to-date.

Streamlining Integrations

Modern enterprise applications don’t run in a vacuum – they borrow functionality from other tools, platforms, and software. Application programming interfaces, or APIs, are typically used to facilitate integrations with third-party code. However, manually creating APIs takes time and effort and is especially challenging for legacy apps and systems. Low code automation tools can automatically generate APIs for third-party and legacy software, enabling quick and easy integrations.  

Creating Innovative Prototypes

Pro coders need to focus on the technical details of application development, which can make it difficult for them to see the big picture or imagine how a customer will interact with and use the software. Often, the business units that work with the software day-to-day or directly receive feedback from end-users have great ideas for ways to design and improve the application. 

Low code automation can be used as a tool for tech-savvy users to create innovative prototypes of basic features, functionality, and interface designs that make use of their creative ideas. They can then present these prototypes to the professional developers, creating opportunities for DevOps collaboration and ultimately improving the quality of your product.

Supplementing Pro Code

One of the most compelling use cases for low code automation is as a supplement to professional development. Junior-level developers can utilize templates and GUI tools to build simple frameworks, generate APIs, and perform other simple or tedious tasks. As a result, the senior coders can focus their time and energy on tackling complex workflows that require more expertise and creative problem-solving. Used in this way, low code automation can streamline the software development life cycle, enabling faster delivery without compromising on features or quality.

Save Time and Money with Low Code Automation

Low code automation can help you save time and money by streamlining development, speeding up delivery, and reducing your reliance on off-the-shelf software. When used effectively, low code can also foster innovation and encourage collaboration between developers and the other stakeholders involved in a software project.