This article is a guide for enterprise decision makers to enable them select the “right” Low-Code Platform for their evolving application preferences. It enlists several criteria that enterprises must consider while choosing a Low-Platform.
Enterprises must consider several criteria for the selection of Low-Code Platforms. These may be broadly grouped into the following:
A. Business requirements
B. Low-Code Platform Capabilities
C. Pricing and Value (RoI) considerations
D. Vendor Reputation, Financial Health, and Partnerships
These are represented in the figure below.
Criteria Group | Criteria | Definition |
A. Business Requirements | Usage Scenario & Use-Cases | Enterprises must begin at examining the business scenario and use case(s). Wizergos opines that organizations can use rapid application development tools for the following 5 usage scenarios and use-cases: 1. Industry vertical specific applications (e.g. core banking) 2. Technology specific use cases (such as Data Visualization) 3. Enterprise Application Ecosystem specific (for instance SAP applications, Salesforce.com applications, etc.) 4. No-Code Platforms (for very simple applications such as forms, approval workflows, etc.) 5. Low- Code Platforms (for complex, Enterprise use cases requiring web and mobile applications with integrations and other emerging technology additions). |
B. Low-Code Capabilities | Core Platform Capabilities | Richness, depth and capability of the development environment –including integration with databases and systems of record, workflow automation, deployment, scaling |
Speed to deliver business applications | Level of automation for development, testing, and deployment of applications. | |
Flexibility to customize apps | Speed to change apps as needs and requirements evolve | |
Multimodal and multidevice capability | Ability to quickly build multimodal (Chatbots, Voicebots, etc.) and multidevice applications (mobile apps, web apps, etc.) | |
Developer friendliness | Adherence to standards and developer “friendliness” – including ease of adding custom code anywhere in the back-end and front-end Ease and speed (cost) of learning to become a proficient developer (availability of certifications and training from the vendor) | |
C. Pricing and Value Considerations | Deployment model flexibility | Deployment of Low-Code platform may have an impact on scalability, performance, and security which will ultimately drive conversations or possible concerns around Low-Code value for enterprises. This may also impact pricing of the platform. |
Pricing model flexibility | Enterprises often explore pricing models that allow Capex based considerations for accounting purposes. A choice wrt to deployment could greatly swing the decision to select a Low-Code Platform. | |
D. Low-Code Vendor Reputation, Financial Health, and Partnerships | Reputation | Branding and reputation of the Low-Code platform provider (years of existence, no of clients, general client and industry feedback and satisfaction, strong field presence, strong support team, etc.) |
Partnerships | It is critical to note of services partnerships of Low-Code platform providers (implementation and support partners). Availability of partners and skilled professionals is crucial for the success of a Low-Code project, and esp. a Low-Code CoE. | |
Financial Health | The platform must be in sound financial health (with solid KPIs around revenue, profitability, viable cash flows, capitalization, etc.) |
In conclusion, selecting the right low-code platform for your enterprise is a critical decision that requires careful consideration of various factors. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, enterprises can ensure that they choose a platform that aligns with their unique needs, objectives, and long-term strategic goals.
Remember to prioritize scalability, customization capabilities, security features, integration options, and vendor support when evaluating potential low-code solutions. Additionally, seek input from key stakeholders, conduct thorough research, and leverage industry insights and best practices to inform your decision-making process.
With a well-informed approach to low-code platform selection, enterprises can unlock the full potential of this transformative technology and drive innovation, agility, and success in the digital era.