The Rise of No-Code: The Future of Building Digitally

By Neota Logic

Download the free no-code ebook and learn how anyone can build bespoke digital solutions without writing a single line of code.

If you were to look at a Google trends graph of the term ‘no-code’, you’d see an explosion in 2020, which is only growing further this year. No-code has suddenly become one of the hottest buzzwords in legal tech. But what does it actually mean? Why would you want to use a no-code platform? Which no-code platform is the one for you, your team and your organisation? Is it really just that, a buzzword?

It’s easy to forget that software development is a relatively recent advance in the way we work. It’s harder to forget just how seismic that impact has been. Every industry has been disrupted by software: in the words of Marc Andreessen, it has ‘eaten the world’. 

Software development, as with anything in life, is not static. ‘No-code’ is the latest stage in this evolution. While the words are new, the concept has been around for a long time. From the early days of spreadsheet programs like Lotus 1-2-3 replacing the need to manually code software that can handle complex calculation to current webpage creators like WordPress and Wix where anyone can build their own business website, no-code platforms to build digital solutions are just the latest in this timeline. But what exactly can you do now with such platforms?

What is No-Code?

Let’s start simple. As far as naming conventions go, it doesn’t get more self-explanatory! 

No-code platforms allow business users (or more commonly known as citizen developers) to build and deploy applications themselves, without the involvement of IT professionals – through, yes, you’ve guessed it, no-code!

It’s makes building digital tools far easier, far quicker and far more cost-effective and empowers everybody to build digital solutions. It doesn’t want steep learning curves, or baseline knowledge of javascript, or a mandatory 10-week coding boot camp. 

At Neota we like to think that true no-code tools take more of a ‘building blocks’ approach to software development: dragging and dropping pre-coded and packaged modular functionality and templates, with plenty of support and advice along the way (depending on your choice of platform). Thinking analogously, no-one really starts a PowerPoint presentation with a blank slide!

The term ‘everybody’ is quite underrated here. No-code opens the door to a fresh talent pool of digital builders that aren’t tied down by developers, analysts or IT teams. Imagine a world where a Subject Matter Expert with domain knowledge in procurement and HR processes, privacy laws, GDPR requirements can open a laptop and start converting his / her knowledge into a runnable digital solution. What IT skills shortage?!

A lot of users in the market believe that a no-code tool doesn’t get them far enough, and they need to roll up their sleeves and code anyway.

Now, it is true that most no-code tools in the market are quite simplistic, and are happy to remain that way. This is because it is extremely difficult to add complex functionality and maintain the simple, design-centred approach to software development. The result of this hurdle is a swathe of tools that let you make decision trees, or automate some documents – but little else. 

However, although difficult, it is eminently possible to build a really powerful solution using a no-code tool, without sacrificing simplicity. Going beyond simple decision trees, and making enterprise-ready, database-enabled, integrated, complex tools – without writing a line of code. 

Just take a look at what our clients are building.

To help you gain a greater understanding of what’s possible with no-code and advice on selecting the right platform to fully meet your needs, download our free no-code ebook.

Download the free no-code ebook.

[ Artificial Lawyer is proud to bring you this sponsored article by Neota Logic. ]

[ Note: Artificial Lawyer is currently on holiday and back in the office Tuesday, May 4. Have a great long weekend everyone. ]