Many businesses, not just in the US but around the world, are now dealing with an unprecedented situation. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly altered the way companies work, and many members of staff and management are working either from home or in other locations without access to the desktop computers they rely on in their office.
This has been a disruptive experience for numerous enterprises, and it has forced many operations to get into a Darwinist “adapt or die” way of thinking. Because of the scattered nature of work nowadays, new digital solutions are required to keep things going. Low code development platforms for enterprise mobile app development are among the most effective ones in these challenging times.
What Is Enterprise Mobile App Development?
Enterprise mobile app development is the process of creating software for business utilities. However, these business functions are taken off the desktop and into mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. This is considered a specialized form of software development for two reasons.
The first is that converting desktop or laptop software into mobile apps provides convenience and accessibility. The ability to use enterprise software on a phone or a tablet greatly expands the work capability of managers and employees, especially if there is no reliable internet or Wi-Fi connection but cellular data is still available.
The second reason is that enterprise mobile app development is not a straightforward move from traditional computing devices to mobile ones. A desktop or laptop computer has a keyboard, a mouse, and other built-in interface devices for easy access in an office setting. However, apps on phones or tablets cannot always be used with a keyboard and a mouse. Apps must be made to work in a variety of situations that often involve touch screens, so interface adjustments have to be carefully considered and implemented to maintain an app’s functionality.
For those reasons, low code development platforms are a fast, effective way to produce a prototype of and release enterprise mobile apps.
What Are Some Use Cases?
Low code development platforms are designed to make the creation of software fast and simple even for people without programming experience. Normal software development requires extensive knowledge of computer languages such as C++ or Python and an understanding of programming structure principles. Low code development platforms remove those barriers and build functionality in a more straightforward graphical user interface (GUI) for easier app creation.
A lot of people have to familiarize themselves with the protocols for conducting an online transaction. However, with low code development platforms, one may simply have an online purchase icon that can be attached to a specific product icon to create an online vending portal. Some of their immediate uses for enterprises include:
- Prototyping and implementing limited event marketing, vending, or promotional apps
- Time card apps for employees who need to clock in but can’t access a physical terminal
- Internal approval systems for documents and other projects
- Internal directories for ensuring and maintaining contact with staff
Who Needs It?
Any business can benefit from mobile apps, but low code development platforms make it possible for companies to create their own purpose-built apps for internal use without working with an outside contractor.
With the current situation creating many challenges in setting up face-to-face meetings and negotiations with vendors, internal development is becoming more valuable. Low code development platforms are one way that businesses looking for quick solutions or work-from-home alternatives can get the tools they need.
What Are The Benefits?
Low code development platforms bring several benefits to businesses, but the biggest one is agency. With staff creating their own apps, there is a high level of control that is not always possible when letting a vendor do the work. The people who need the tools are the same ones creating them, and this makes for custom software with no extra, unnecessary frills or features.
Another benefit is agility. Once more people are familiar with the platforms, it’s easy for projects to be developed and, more importantly, modified. If a new feature is required, it can be created in hours or even minutes and implemented directly into the existing version. It can then be distributed to everyone who needs it. In a traditional client-vendor situation, revisions and approvals can take days, sometimes even weeks.
These are difficult times for the entire world. Maintaining productivity is more important than ever before, and yet it has become harder to do. Low code development platforms allow businesses to adapt to today’s uncertain conditions and maintain the agility and responsiveness required to stay afloat.