Beyond the Buzz:
How to Know if a Solution is Low-Code
With so many modern technology solutions on the market, it is often difficult for health and human services organizations to be clear on whether something is low-code/no-code (LCNC) or custom code. Or, maybe more importantly, to what degree something may need to be customized to meet specific program needs.
To be fair, some of the confusion is a result of the way traditional procurement processes work. The client asks for a configurable solution. The vendor responds and says they have it. And then an award is made. As they say, the devil is in the details.
So what is low-code/no-code?
As the name implies, LCNC solutions are development programs that enable individuals with limited technical skills to create working software to support their business needs. This is often accomplished through a visual interface, which expedites and simplifies the development process. These solutions have become quite popular on account of the many benefits:
Cost savings: By nature of reducing or eliminating custom coding, there are immediate cost savings associated with development time, as well as the project administration and overhead which comes with long-term, custom solutions. There are also post implementation cost savings associated with reduced development needs and predictable support costs.
Speed to value: Some studies have estimated that LCNC saves between 50% - 90% of development time. This means a faster return on your investment. In health and human services, this means improved citizen experience and better equipped workforces.
Business Agility: LCNC should be adaptable to quickly address evolving business needs and regulatory changes. This eliminates lengthy change lists with items that will never be fixed.
Upgrades: Operating systems and security risks change frequently. With LCNC, it is the responsibility of the solution vendor to provide upgrades as part of the maintenance agreement.
LCNC relies on configuration to design and modify interfaces, forms, assessments, fields, and data elements, among other things. The design patterns are critical to the solution providing consistency and usability throughout the application. LCNC happens in days or months, not years. Further, LCNC alleviates the burden on the organization and dependency on the vendor. The intent behind these solutions is to keep the amount of customization to a minimum.
How to know if something is low-code/no-code?
In addition to the benefits listed above, here are some additional tips for identifying the best LCNC solutions for your program:
Purpose Built: For something to be truly low code, it must be purpose built for your program – out of the box. Many of these companies have invested heavily in research and design to ensure that the solution meets the needs of specific programs. This goes beyond field labels to actual use cases, specifically built to meet needs across multiple programs. This provides a baseline that expedites delivery and results.
Speed to Value: A hallmark of LCNC is the ability to quickly configure and implement the solution, providing a rapid return on your investment from an operational and program standpoint.
Minimal Training Requirements: Somewhat related to leveraging the native capabilities and purpose-built design, training is virtually unnecessary. LCNC solutions are intuitively built to increase uptake and adoption. As many public benefit programs are now deploying solutions to their citizens, it is required that they be able to use the application with minimal support.
Low-code/no-code has significant benefits to resource strapped organizations who are looking for quick returns on their investment. Providing relief to an overburdened workforce, servicing public sector clients, and obtaining operational efficiencies are more easily achieved when you select the right product for today and for the future.