How should Enterprises select a Low-Code Platform?

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.