Easy low-code automation for your business performance
Cut development time by up to 50% and accelerate digital transformation with a low-code platform that empowers your team to design and launch custom solutions.
An Introduction to No-Code Platforms
No-code software is at the forefront of a movement that allows nearly any business user to design and build applications to solve problems and increase productivity.
What is low-code?
Low-code tools enable rapid development and implementation of applications and workflow automation. Low-code software allows professionals to create solutions and apps to streamline their work using a simple, visual interface.
These solutions are termed 'low-code' because, unlike traditional application development systems, they do not require advanced programming expertise.
How do low-code platforms work?
A low-code platform simplifies application development by requiring only basic programming knowledge. With an intuitive visual interface, it combines pre-configured elements with the ability to include light coding adjustments, enabling flexibility and customization. These features accelerate the development process, enhance efficiency, and boost team productivity.
How do professionals use low-code platforms?
Professionals across various fields use low-code platforms to develop customized solutions that optimize processes and support seamless system integration. With a visual interface and optional coding adjustments, these platforms provide the flexibility to design more sophisticated applications. Users can apply customizations with minimal coding to tailor workflows to their specific business needs.
Low-code solutions with Pipefy
Pipefy offers low-code solutions that empower teams to efficiently design and manage customized processes, saving time and resources. By combining a user-friendly interface with coding flexibility, Pipefy enables the automation of complex tasks and performance monitoring, overcoming technical barriers and driving digital transformation in your organization.
See how low-code automation helps business teams stay agile while keeping IT in control
Low-code vs. no-code
The terms “low-code” and “no-code” are sometimes used interchangeably because of the overlap in their functionality. So what is the difference between low-code and no-code? As it turns out, not much.
Low-code
The terms "low-code" and "no-code" are often used as synonyms, but there’s a significant difference between them: the technical expertise needed and the results obtained.
No-code platforms require no prior programming knowledge for development, while low-code platforms benefit those with some technical skills who seek to take advantage of the platform in its full capabilities.
In contrast, no-code solutions deliver straightforward results, while low-code platforms are used to solve more complex challenges.
With Pipefy, you’ll have access to both types of solutions, allowing your teams to select the one that best fits their needs.
No-code
Platforms that are called “no-code” share some of the same functionality as their low-code counterparts. Like low-code, no-code software emphasizes a visual user interface that makes it easy for non-technicals users to solve some problems on their own. For example, a drag-and-drop menu that teams use to manage data inside an application is an example of no-code functionality.
Platforms that are considered “no-code” are really built with end users in mind. They emphasize the fact that business users won’t need any code to use the app. That may be because the app is highly specific to a particular use case or limited to a certain team or department. But at some point, any app or system that gets added to the stack will require some support from IT or developers.
Benefits of low-code
Pipefy offers a low-code solution that simplifies automation, enabling the rapid deployment of complex, scalable workflows, saving time, and boosting productivity.
Explore the many benefits companies gain by adopting a low-code tool:
Boosting digital transformation
Increase the pace of digital initiatives and process automation across departments.
Enhancing legacy systems
Integrate with existing platforms to merge data and improve user experience.
Risk reduction
Reduce human errors through automation and apply security measures in standardized processes.
Faster development
Create and implement solutions faster than traditional development methods.
Increased agility
Departments can swiftly respond to competitors and customer feedback, securing a competitive advantage.
Reducing the IT Backlog
Teams can make adjustments and optimize workflows without overloading IT departments.
Low-code platform features
Security
Low-code platforms are designed to be used by non-technical personnel. But they also include features that make life easier for IT. Low-code platforms should include built-in security features such as encryption, SSO, 2FA, user management, and permissions. Look at a platform's uptime, its compliance with GDPR and LGPD, and the quality of its audit logs. Some low-code platforms — such as low code automation — help standardize processes and workflows. This makes it easier for IT teams to enforce security requirements and avoids the common problem of shadow IT.
Visualization tools
Low-code platforms rely on a visual user interface to make features accessible to non-technical personnel. Look for platforms that provide high-quality visualization tools to make work visible and easier to track. If the platform is being used to manage workflows or processes, look for options that offer multiple views such as Kanban, calendar, or task lists.
Scalability
Another benefit of low-code platforms is that they enable solutions, automation, and processes to be scaled. This happens when teams can use the same building blocks to create new solutions quickly, and adapt them with speed as needs change. Low-code solutions that offer a forms feature make it easier to capture and sync data with systems of record. Workflows and automations are easily duplicated across teams and departments.
Integrations
The average number of apps, systems, and databases that teams rely on continues to swell. Any low-code platform that gets added to the stack should offer a wide range of integrations in order to simplify adoption and implementation. Low-code automation software also provides a system of engagement that complements existing components and helps teams get more from their apps.
Reporting capabilities
All low-code platforms should include reporting features that improve visibility and enable data-driven decision making. Teams should be able to see statuses at glance, track the progress of items in the workflow, and share information and insights through customizable dashboards and reports, as well as audit trails.
Low-code use cases
HR
The processes and workflows handled by HR and People Ops teams are among the most complex in any organization. They often require input or action from teams in other departments such as finance, facilities, and IT. These processes also depend on collaboration with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Low-code helps HR teams build processes and workflows that fit their unique needs, and which can be quickly adapted as internal requirements change. To support collaboration, low-code can be leveraged to easily build forms and to customize user access.
Typical HR processes that benefit from low-code include recruiting, employee onboarding, employee request management (HR service desk) and PTO requests.
Sales and CRM
One of the most important core business processes, the sales process generates revenue for the business and creates value for your customers. The workflows and tasks that make up the sales pipeline stages require structure, consistency, and visibility. All of these can be achieved with low-code.
Low-code allows the sales team to automate repetitive tasks and route approval flows using rules and conditionals. Scheduling meetings, follow-ups, and building consistent communications with prospects is also simplified with low-code. If the sales pipeline ever needs to be changed, the sales team or sales manager can quickly make adjustments without having to send a ticket to the IT team.
Finance
Finance teams manage a variety of workflows and processes that often require input or data from external sources. These processes often rely on a complex array of apps, databases, and systems. This makes it especially important that teams use tools that simplify integrations, data capture, and dissolve silos.
One of the benefits of a low-code automation tool is that it maximizes stack extensibility, or the ability to get more from existing apps and systems. Low-code platforms fill process gaps with easy-to-configure workflows. They also simplify the creation and sharing of forms that finance teams can use to capture and manage incoming requests or data, and then sync those with the system of record.
IT
IT teams get two types of benefits from using low-code platforms. The first is that low-code reduces the amount of coding they have to produce. Low-code invites business teams into a more collaborative role, and gives them a visual interface they can use to make some changes on their own. This also alleviates pressure on the IT backlog.
IT teams can also benefit from low-code platforms in their own work. Low-code automation is particularly useful for IT service request management.
Marketing
A typical marketing team manages and coordinates requests from multiple stakeholders. That includes internal teams, external contractors, and a variety of distribution channels. Marketing teams organize, create, and monitor performance for a wide range of assets and projects. This means their workflows and processes are complex and interdependent.
Marketing teams benefit from low-code platforms because they offer an easy solution for developing new workflows, as well as modifying existing ones. Since marketing activities are both complex and time-sensitive, low-code helps teams stay agile and responsive, without overconsuming developer bandwidth.
Low code FAQ
What is low-code?
Low-code is a software development methodology that facilitates application creation with minimal programming. Using visual interfaces and pre-configured components, it simplifies development and makes it accessible, allowing companies to innovate and adapt quickly to market changes.
How do you use a low-code tool?
To use a low-code platform, identify the processes to be developed and use the drag-and-drop tool within the visual interface to build workflows. With the option for minimal coding adjustments, solutions can be customized as needed, enabling efficient collaboration between development teams and IT professionals.
What are the applications of low-code?
Low-code platforms are widely used across HR, Finance, and Procurement departments. They’re ideal for quickly creating customized solutions, such as client portals and project management systems, with seamless integration into other platforms.
What are some examples of low-code?
Low-code platforms can automate various business processes, including document approval workflows, employee onboarding in HR, financial report generation, besides inventory management with automatic updates and low stock alerts.
Explore Pipefy's low-code BPA platform
Pipefy's low-code platform empowers businesses to sharpen their competitive edge. With a wide range of IT-approved tools, non-technical teams are able to develop and deploy process changes as market conditions or business strategies evolve.
In addition to scaling process automations that streamline workflows and eliminate manual tasks, Pipefy orchestrates processes for seamless end-to-end visibility with both internal and external users. With a data-driven platform that prioritizes user experiences, leverage key insights into process performance for better customer experiences and more productive teams.
This not only improves the efficiency of existing or new processes, but it also leads to less errors or redundancies, clearer communication, and better business results. With Pipefy, businesses maintain business agility, promote team accountability, and cultivate a culture of continuous process improvement.
