The low-code approach allows citizen developers to create software applications using ready-made blocks. With low code, teams can launch their projects "remarkably fast," even with a zero budget. One of the most popular low-code editors in the market is Retool.
Retool profile
Retool is a next-generation low-code tool with a plethora of pre-built components. So far, Retool has mainly focused on helping develop internal applications for companies of various sizes. However, the editor is also great for other use cases, such as delivering internal demos, product mock-ups, and powerful data analysis.
Retool allows building React applications from existing data sources using pre-built building blocks. Developers can choose from over 90+ drag-and-drop components and combine them with custom JavaScript. These applications can be securely deployed locally or in hosted environments like Heroku. Retool components include text and calendar inputs, buttons, charts, tables, icons, containers, you name it.
Plus, Retool supports over 30 built-in integrations, including PostgreSQL, GraphQL, AWS S3, and Cassandra. However, you still need basic SQL and Javascript knowledge to use the platform effectively.
In all, Retool frees engineers from trivial tasks so they can concentrate on more important things in their backlog. As guys from Toplyne put it: “Retool: Saving developers from internal tools since 2017”. Jokes aside, it’s not that unusual when development teams have myriad tasks and requests to deal with. For instance, Retool's report indicates that engineers spend 30% of their time building and managing internal tools. No wonder ops teams may wait for ages before their internal tool request goes into production.
In that regard, Retool makes all the difference. Up to date, many big players like Amazon, Pinterest, and Coursera have already tried the platform to create and maintain internal tools.
What's inside
Retool provides 90+ components that you can use to build different apps for back-office, sales, ops, support, HR and other teams and departments. You can add, delete, or duplicate components, change component properties, change component order, and nest components inside other components using a drag-and-drop editor.
- Retool lets you group components into modules. For instance, you can create a module for various teams and processes within your organization. What's more, you can use these modules in different parts of your app without recreating the component each time you need it.
- Retool allows the creation of custom components. This means you can build any app component you need. However, building custom components means extending Retool to meet your precise needs.
- Connecting databases. Retool has pre-built connectors that make it easy to connect to any database, including MySQL, MongoDB, Postgres, and Amazon Redshift. The platform also allows writing SQL queries.
- Connecting APIs. Besides, Retool provides pre-built connectors for popular APIs, such as Salesforce, Slack, Stripe, Twilio, and Zendesk. If you need to connect to other APIs, you can use Retool's HTTP component to make a custom call to an API. However, you still need some technical knowledge, so don't expect something as simple as Zapier.
Perhaps the main benefit is that Retool eliminates unnecessary low-level engineering. This may not sound like a revelation, but Retool’s a game changer for real. The platform is very customizable and lets you move very fast.
Hosting.
Retool is a cloud-hosted SaaS product. However, if you buy on Prem, you can host it on your infrastructure using Docker.
Retool has a per-user pricing model and four pricing plans.
Depending on hosting, Retool has four pricing plans - Free (up to 5 users), Team, Business, and Enterprise. However, Retool for Startups is free for early-stage startups.
Pros & cons
If you intend to create many internal tools (budget-wise, Retool might not be the best option if you need just one or two apps), automate business processes, or simply test some ideas, give Retool a go.
Pros
- Convenient drag-and-drop interface;
- A lot of templates and integrations to choose from;
- Integration with Git;
- Convenient way to install a self-hosted version.
Cons
- Retool still requires some coding and technical knowledge;
- Some important features like white labeling are only included in the most expensive plan;
- Due to the single-page app model, big applications are very hard to maintain.
If the budget is an issue, you can try other open-source alternatives to Retool. I recommend choosing from Appsmith, UI Bakery, Budibase, or ToolJet. These solutions are way more cost-effective compared to Retool.
Verdict
Considering all the ins and outs, Retool is a great tool for building internal business applications really fast. No wonder its popularity is growing: in July this year, Retool raised $45M at a $3.2B valuation.
It is worth mentioning that developers love Retool too. Here are some reviews:
“Building a custom dashboard in-house for your customer support? Have you thought of UI/UX, access control, staging vs. production environment? Yep, thought so. Better use Retool instead. Thank me later”.
“I just built two internal admin dashboards in 45 minutes. For real. All thanks to Retool. Every single indie hacker should be using this. Wow. The free plan is generous too”.
“I actually believe Retool is one of the best products I’ve used for a while. It enables our SaaS team to do so much when we have to begin scaling our processes. Goodbye to the legacy admin tools I never enjoyed maintaining”.
This way, powered by the platform, thousands of developers can spend more time on more challenging (and non-trivial) tasks while internal teams are still getting their tools. It looks like it's a win-win. Thank you, Retool!
Low-code experts
Nowadays, application development without coding is synonymous with low code. The development of no-code tools is a significant trend that allows more people to create products, launch online startups, and solve problems of different consumer groups. However, sometimes you need a hand to support these activities.
Do you look for low code/no code development experts? With more than seven years of low-code development experience, we help companies develop robust applications that cater to unique business needs. Our consultant team provides expert advice on low-code platforms for companies willing to innovate and helps to determine your low-code strategy.
P.S. We love writing about low-code. Subscribe to our blog to get the latest insights in your inbox.
Lead Generation Tool to Reduce Manual Work
Our client, Afore Capital, a venture capital firm focused on pre-seed investments, aimed to automate their lead generation processes but struggled with existing out-of-the-box solutions. To tackle this challenge, they sought assistance from our team of Akveo Retool experts.
The scope of work
The client needed a tailored solution to log and track inbound deals effectively. They required an application that could facilitate the addition, viewing, and editing of company and founder information, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplicates. Additionally, Afore Capital aimed to integrate external tools like PhantomBuster and LinkedIn to streamline data collection.
The result
By developing a custom Retool application, we streamlined the lead generation process, significantly reducing manual data entry. The application enabled employees to manage inbound deals efficiently while automated workflows for email parsing, notifications, and dynamic reporting enhanced operational efficiency. This allowed Afore Capital's team to focus more on building relationships with potential founders rather than on administrative tasks.
Learn more about the case
Retool CMS Application for EdTech Startup
Our client, CutTime, a leading fine arts education management platform, needed a scalable CMS application to improve vendor product management and user experience.
The scope of work
We developed a Retool application that allows vendors to easily upload and manage product listings, handle inventory, and set shipping options. The challenge was to integrate the app with the client’s system, enabling smooth authentication and product management for program directors.
The result
Our solution streamlined product management, reducing manual work for vendors, and significantly improving operational efficiency.
Building Reconciliation Tool for e-commerce company
Our client was in need of streamlining and simplifying its monthly accounting reconciliation process – preferably automatically. But with a lack of time and low budget for a custom build, development of a comprehensive software wasn’t in the picture. After going through the case and customer’s needs, we decided to implement Retool. And that was the right choice.
The scope of work
Our team developed a custom reconciliation tool designed specifically for the needs of high-volume transaction environments. It automated the processes and provided a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring discrepancies and anomalies in real-time.
The implementation of Retool significantly reduced manual effort, as well as fostered a more efficient and time-saving reconciliation process.
Creating Retool Mobile App for a Wine Seller
A leading spirits and wine seller in Europe required the development of an internal mobile app for private client managers and administrators. The project was supposed to be done in 1,5 months. Considering urgency and the scope of work, our developers decided to use Retool for swift and effective development.
The scope of work
Our developers built a mobile application tailored to the needs of the company's sales force: with a comprehensive overview of client interactions, facilitated order processing, and enabled access to sales history and performance metrics. It was user-friendly, with real-time updates, seamlessly integrated with existing customer databases.
The result? Increase in productivity of the sales team and improved decision-making process. But most importantly, positive feedback from the customers themselves.
Developing PoC with Low Code for a Tour Operator
To efficiently gather, centralize, and manage data is a challenge for any tour operator. Our client was not an exception. The company was seeking to get an internal software that will source information from third-party APIs and automate the travel itinerary creation process. Preferably, cost- and user-friendly tool.
The scope of work
Our experts ensured the client that all the requirements could be covered by Retool. And just in 40 hours a new software was launched. The tool had a flexible and easy-to-use interface with user authentication and an access management system panel – all the company needed. At the end, Retool was considered the main tool to replace the existing system.
Testing New Generation of Lead Management Tool with Retool
Our client, a venture fund, had challenges with managing lead generation and client acquisition. As the company grew, it aimed to attract more clients and scale faster, as well as automate the processes to save time, improve efficiency and minimize human error. The idea was to craft an internal lead generation tool that will cover all the needs. We’ve agreed that Retool will be a perfect tool for this.
The scope of work
The project initially began as a proof of concept, but soon enough, with each new feature delivered, the company experienced increased engagement and value.
We developed a web tool that integrates seamlessly with Phantombuster for data extraction and LinkedIn for social outreach. Now, the company has a platform that elevates the efficiency of their lead generation activities and provides deep insights into potential client bases.
Building an Advanced Admin Portal for Streamlined Operations
Confronted with the need for more sophisticated internal tools, an owner of IP Licensing marketplace turned to Retool to utilize its administrative functions. The primary goal was to construct an advanced admin portal that could support complex, multi-layered processes efficiently.
The scope of work
Our client needed help with updating filters and tables for its internal platform. In just 30 hours we've been able to update and create about 6 pages. Following features were introduced: add complex filtering and search, delete records, styling application with custom CSS.
Together, we have increased performance on most heavy pages and fixed circular dependency issues.
Creating MVP Dashboard for Google Cloud Users
Facing the challenge of unoptimized cloud resource management, a technology firm working with Google Cloud users was looking for a solution to make its operations more efficient. The main idea of the project was to create an MVP for e-commerce shops to test some client hypotheses. Traditional cloud management tools fell short.
The scope of work
Determined to break through limitations, our team of developers turned Retool. We decided to craft an MVP Dashboard specifically for Google Cloud users. This wasn't just about bringing data into view; but about reshaping how teams interact with their cloud environment.
We designed a dashboard that turned complex cloud data into a clear, strategic asset thanks to comprehensive analytics, tailored metrics, and an intuitive interface, that Retool provides. As the results, an increase in operational efficiency, significant improvement in cost management and resource optimization.
Elevating CRM with Custom HubSpot Sales Dashboard
Our other client, a SaaS startup, that offers collaborative tools for design and engineering teams, was on a quest to supercharge their sales efforts. Traditional CRM systems were limited and not customizable enough. The company sought a solution that could tailor HubSpot to their workflow and analytics needs.
The scope of work
Charged with the task of going beyond standard CRM functions, our team turned to Retool. We wanted to redefine how sales teams interact with their CRM.
By integrating advanced analytics, custom metrics, and a user-friendly interface, our developers provided a solution that transformed data into a strategic asset.
In 40 hours, three informative dashboards were developed, containing the most sensitive data related to sales activities. These dashboards enable our customer to analyze sales and lead generation performance from a different perspective and establish the appropriate KPIs.
Building a PDF Editor with Low-Code
Our client, a leading digital credential IT startup, needed a lot of internal processes to be optimized. But the experience with low-code tools wasn’t sufficient. That’s why the company decided to hire professionals. And our team of developers joined the project.
The scope of work
The client has a program that designs and prints custom badges for customers. The badges need to be “mail-merged” with a person’s info and turned into a PDF to print. But what is the best way to do it?
Our developers decided to use Retool as a core tool. Using custom components and JavaScript, we developed a program that reduced employees' time for designing, putting the data, verifying, and printing PDF badges in one application.
As a result, the new approach significantly reduces the time required by the internal team to organize all the necessary staff for the conference, including badge creation.
