Today, the demand for low-code tools is gradually growing. The explanation of this fact is quite simple. While digitalization continues to transform businesses across industries, the pressure to develop and deploy software solutions quickly has never been greater. Traditional software development approaches open a lot of opportunities. But they often require significant time, resources, and expertise. All this can represent bottlenecks for businesses that try to stay competitive in fast-changing markets. And here is when low-code/no-code platforms like Retool come into play. In this article, we are going to discuss the most popular Retool use cases that brightly demonstrate how businesses can benefit from low-code technology.
Retool: Quick overview
Currently, Retool is one of the most widely known low-code tools.
This low-code platform is designed to simplify the creation of business software. It enables teams to build customized apps with minimal coding.
Retool offers the following features:
- Drag-and-drop interface. It allows users to quickly design UIs with the help of pre-built components like tables, charts, forms, and buttons.
- Data source integration. Retool apps can be easily connected to a wide range of data sources, including SQL and NoSQL databases, APIs, and external services.
- Collaborative features. Retool is a good choice for teams. Users can work with their team members in real time, share apps, and manage permissions easily.
- Customization. Professional developers can rely on their tech knowledge and coding skills to address unique business needs with a Retool application.
- Deployment options. It is possible to use Retool in the cloud or deploy it on-premises for greater control and security.
Of course, it would be wrong to say that Retool is a universal solution that could be the perfect variant for everyone. It does have its limitations. For example, a learning curve can be rather steep. Many non-tech experts find it rather difficult to work with the platform. Moreover, the use of Retool can be pretty expensive, especially for small teams. Nevertheless, Retool pricing is quite reasonable for bigger companies and enterprises that want to get access to its advanced functionality.
Want to learn more about Retool and its alternatives? We recommend you read our article on this topic.
Cross-industry Retool use cases
To better understand whether you should consider Retool for your project, it will be helpful to have a closer look at the tasks that can be solved with its help. We offer you to begin with those low-code use cases that are relevant in multiple domains.
- Admin dashboards
Retool can be used to create centralized dashboards to monitor real-time metrics, including system performance, KPIs, or user activity.
Why is Retool a good option? This platform can help to easily integrate your Retool apps with different data sources to create real-time reporting tools for any business.
- Data analytics dashboards
With the help of Retool, you can build custom analytics dashboards to visualize key business data. For example, you can handle such data as sales performance, user engagement, and financial metrics.
Why is Retool a good option? Retool offers a range of ready-to-use components that can be dragged and dropped to build such dashboards. Apart from this, the platform can combine data from multiple sources and use visual components like charts, tables, and graphs.
- CRM tools
Retool is often chosen for building custom CRM applications to track leads, manage customer relationships, and optimize sales processes.
Why is Retool a good option? The platform can quickly connect to CRM databases, as well as third-party services like Salesforce. Apart from this, businesses can customize the UI of CRM solutions for convenient use.
- Business process automation with AI
You can automate repetitive and manual tasks within business operations with the help of artificial intelligence. This will lead to enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and faster decision-making. Find out more information about business process automation here.
Why is Retool a good option? Retool can seamlessly integrate AI into its applications to help automate business processes. Moreover, thanks to the provided customization options, developers can create unique workflows with complex logic to address the most specific business needs.
- Project management and task tracking
It is possible to build a dashboard to manage tasks, track project timelines, and assign resources. Such solutions can automatically send reminders or notifications to team members when deadlines are approaching or when tasks are updated.
Why is Retool a good option? Retool can let you integrate your app with tools like Trello, Jira, or Asana to centralize project data. This will help you save your time, while still keeping everything under control without significant effort.
- Real-time customer feedback collection
You can use Retool to track customer feedback across multiple channels, categorize it, and analyze trends. It could be also a good idea to introduce automated workflows that trigger follow-up actions based on feedback responses. For example, your solution can send a thank you email or redirect an issue to support teams.
Why is Retool a good option? This platform allows you to build custom feedback collection forms or integrate third-party survey tools. It can also enable you to aggregate the received feedback and visualize it on a dashboard.
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Industry-specific Retool use cases
Speaking about Retool, it’s worth mentioning that there aren’t any limitations regarding the domains where it can be applied. Companies from multiple industries and segments opt for Retool. Below you can find several examples.
- eCommerce and retail
Low-code apps are built for:
- tracking orders from start to finish, including inventory updates, payment status, and delivery;
- monitoring sales, promotions, and discount campaigns across multiple sales channels;
- providing personalized customer service, managing returns, or processing complaints.
- Financial services
Retool can be used to:
- build internal tools to handle loan applications, approval workflows, and financial analysis;
- develop monitoring dashboards to track financial transactions and identify potential fraud;
- build solutions for tracking investment portfolios, generating reports, and managing client data.
- Healthcare
Retool as a low code development platform is often chosen for creating:
- patient management systems to centralize patient records, handle appointments, and track treatment history in a custom UI;
- medical inventory systems to track medical supplies and equipment and automate restocking;
- custom tools to monitor compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
- Education
In this domain, organizations can rely on Retool to:
- build systems to manage student data, including grades and attendance;
- develop tools to monitor student performance and feedback on courses;
- create tools to track admission applications and manage the admission process.
- Manufacturing
Solutions built with Retool can be equipped with features for:
- tracking machine performance;
- identifying bottlenecks in the manufacturing process;
- managing raw materials and inventory.
- Logistics and supply chain management
In this domain, Retool use cases include:
- development of fleet management systems (they can help to monitor vehicle locations, and maintenance schedules in real-time);
- creation of shipment tracking tools (they can enhance delivery schedule management and shipment status monitoring);
- building supplier management tools like dashboards to work with supplier and order data.
Development of Retool apps: Is it worth doing it?
As you can see, all these low-code use cases are quite different. However, what unites them is the benefits companies can gain by using Retool to create their applications. They can also serve as excellent arguments in favor of choosing this platform. Let us briefly summarize them.
- Time efficiency. Low-code/no-code platforms with their pre-built templates and ready-to-use integrations can significantly reduce development time. Teams can create apps in hours or days instead of weeks or months.
- Cost efficiency. Hiring programmers with specific skills and maintaining complex development pipelines is pretty expensive. Retool democratizes app development as it allows employees from various departments to contribute to software creation projects.
- Rapid prototyping and innovation. Low-code tools encourage experimentation. Teams can quickly prototype ideas, gather feedback, and iterate. This approach fosters a culture of innovation.
- Adaptability. Platforms like Retool enable businesses to modify and scale their apps in response to changing needs, making them ideal for modern organizations.
- Focus on business outcomes. Low-code tools simplify the technical aspects of development. As a result, they let organizations focus on solving business problems rather than getting bogged down in coding details.
Retool use cases: Real projects
At Akveo, we work with different low-code/no-code platforms and understand all their weaknesses and strengths for different types of projects. That’s why we can always help you choose the best tool for building your solutions.
Today, our portfolio includes a row of successfully delivered Retool apps built for companies from different domains. Here are a couple of examples.
Retool application for a travel company
One of the clients that we worked with was a boutique travel agency that wanted to build a user-friendly solution for internal use. The tool had to be equipped with all the required features for managing the company’s scheduling system and customer information.
The app was expected to include six input forms for data entry, three dashboards for tracking key metrics, and 21 reports to monitor traveler information and services.
The main challenge of this project was a very tough deadline. The company wanted to launch its new system as soon as possible in order not to miss a high tourist season.
We managed to finish the project in one month and three weeks.
The implementation of this Retool app now helps the company save up to 120 work hours every month. To read more about the project’s specifics and outcomes, please follow the link.
Retool dashboard integrated into a gifting marketplace
Another client that our Retool experts worked with was a gifting marketplace. The main request was to develop two Retool dashboards. One of them was intended to be used by retail partners. The second one had to be designed for internal use.
Both of them were expected to deal with sensitive data about deliveries, orders, and financial transactions. However, they couldn’t be identical. Each should have unique functionalities and user access levels.
Our team had to embed the dashboard for external users into the Shopify platform to facilitate their interaction with data. Meanwhile, the internal dashboard had to be integrated with the Afloat Backend API to ensure admin-specific functionalities.
One more crucial requirement was to create a flexible design that would be able to adapt in real time based on the granted permissions and user roles.
Though the tasks were pretty diverse, Retool helped to cope with all of them. Our team developed dashboards that fully met the expectations of our client. Want to get more details? Check out this case study.
Retool CMS marketplace for an EdTech startup
On this project, our team was hired to develop a CMS app for the educational sector.
It was necessary to build a solution that would be able to handle big volumes of data and would enable vendors to upload product details via CSV or add them manually.
Apart from this, our team got a task to enrich the system with inventory management functionality and robust tax settings to facilitate a lot of processes for vendors.
Our developers built this solution and seamlessly integrated it with the client’s business system for smooth data exchange.
More detailed information about this Retool application can be found here.
Moreover, on our website, you can also find information on other projects that our specialists worked on.
How to get started with Retool: Short guide
If you have never worked with Retool or any other low-code/no-code platforms before, it will be useful for you to study a short (and pretty simplified) step-by-step plan on how to start this journey.
- Create an account. To do it, visit Retool’s website and sign up for a free account. Choose between the cloud version or self-hosted Retool if you need more control.
- Explore the interface. You will see the main area where you can drag and drop components to build your UI. On the sidebar, you can access resources, components, queries, and settings.
- Connect your data source. To do it, you will need to go to Settings and then click on Resources.
- Build your first app. To add the required features, you will need to drag and drop components. You can also customize them by modifying their properties.
For early exploration, the Free plan will be an ideal choice. However, if you decide to become an active Retool user, this plan may be not enough for you. To continue your work with the platform, you may need to opt for one of the paid options.
If you do not have in-house experts who can work with Retool, it doesn’t mean that you have no chance to select this platform for your project. You can always hire professional developers who can help you transform your ideas into a real product. There are different approaches to looking for good low-code specialists. For example, you can work with freelancers or establish cooperation with a professional agency. Your decision should depend on your business model and current needs. Here are some practical tips for you if you want to hire a good Retool developer.
Wrapping up
Nowadays, low-code platforms have become impressively powerful tools that offer their users multiple opportunities. A wide range of low-code use cases is good proof of this.
Retool is commonly applied in numerous industries and domains, including but not limited to eCommerce, education, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. The platform provides a rich library of ready-made components and templates that you can use and customize for your apps.
If you need any professional assistance with your Retool projects, do not hesitate to contact us. At Akveo, we offer both consulting and development services and can cope with tasks of any type and complexity.
Billing Automation for a SaaS Company with Low-Code
Our client needed a robust billing solution to manage hierarchical licenses, ensure compliance, and automate invoicing for streamlined operations.
The solution:
We developed a Retool-based application that supports multi-tiered licenses, automates invoicing workflows, and integrates seamlessly with CRM and accounting platforms to enhance financial data management.
The result:
- Achieved 100% adherence to licensing agreements, mitigating penalties.
- Automated invoicing and workflows reduced manual effort significantly.
- Dashboards and reports improved decision-making and operational visibility.
Retool Dashboards with HubSpot Integration
Our client needed a centralized tool to aggregate account and contact activity, improving visibility and decision-making for the sales team.
The solution
We built a Retool application integrated with HubSpot, QuickMail, and Clay.com. The app features dashboards for sorting, filtering, and detailed views of companies, contacts, and deals, along with real-time notifications and bidirectional data syncing.
The result
- MVP in 50 hours: Delivered a functional application in just 50 hours.
- Smarter decisions: Enabled data-driven insights for strategic planning.
- Streamlined operations: Reduced manual tasks with automation and real-time updates.
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.
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.
