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Since 2020, low-code platforms have been developing at a very rapid pace. Lockdowns and economical conditions compelled business owners and developers to look for faster and cheaper ways to develop software. This pumped up an interest in the low-code platforms that offer a faster and easier way to create sophisticated software on short notice.
According to Statista research, the low-code market will reach $65 billion by 2027. This is almost 5 times higher than the current low-code market capitalization. Such rapid growth means that low-code development is here to stay and will bring even more benefits. But as always most of the advantages will go to the early adopters among developers and business owners alike.
But how can you use the low-code platforms to streamline your business software development? In this article, we will tell you the 10 low-code platforms use cases for various business applications. Also, we will touch on the benefits of low-code development and industries that accrue the most value from low-code right now.
How businesses benefit from low-code development
Lower operational costs
Low-code requires only a few developers to build apps. You won’t need such specialists as UI/UX designers and testers as long as low-code platforms substitute their impact with automation tools and templates. Therefore, you’ll spend much less money on your app development.
Fast time-to-market
With a low-code platform, you can get your app in a matter of days or weeks. The visual interface, code suggestions, and drag-and-drop elements allow low-code developers to build applications faster without sacrificing the quality of code. In fact, the low-code testing tools automate QA routines that ensure the clarity of code. In addition to the accelerated development, low-code business applications are very easy to deploy.
Flexible software delivery
Low-code platforms make it easier to change and replace the existing code patterns and keep up with the latest updates. In this manner, low-code platforms make it easier to rewrite code or scale it up with additional components. For instance, using a certain user plan, you can reverse back to any app development stage to make necessary adjustments.
Extended platform capabilities
Low-code enhances app development with open APIs. It improves usability and extends the functionalities of your business apps. Businesses use all kinds of APIs for electronic payment services, logging in through social media, automatic application updates, product delivery control, etc.
Unique integrations
With low-code you’ll be able to connect your applications to the best technologies and services: cloud services, AI (Artificial Intelligence), blockchain, and ML (Machine Learning).
10 business apps you can build using low-code platforms
Supply chain management
Low-code apps for supply chain management apps enhance the data-related operations in warehouses. Simply put, the app will unite all your database-side information, spreadsheets, and manuals. Supply chain management software brings flexibility allowing users to derive and change the necessary info in a matter of seconds. What’s more, such APIs as a built-in messenger will make the field communication between the supply chain staff way more efficient.
B2C mobile applications
With a low-code platform, you can create a functional B2C application without the help of multiple software developers. Low-code consumer apps are not inferior to high-code ones. They have all the necessary features that a B2C app needs: in-built payment services, elaborate user authentication, APIs for automatic mail distribution, etc. Besides, such apps are easier to maintain and scale up as your business evolves.
Microservices
Low-code development can help businesses to divide their larger apps into independent yet interconnected microservices. Such software structure streamlines the work of each part of the system, making the faster to reboot, adjust, and maintain.
Web customer portals
You can easily create a self-help portal for your customers and employees using low-code development platforms. Bringing an additional revenue stream will take some workload from your customer support department. Using the low-code customer portal, clients will be able to interact with your business without having to turn to a customer support specialist and wait for a response.
SaaS development
Low-code platforms significantly reduce SaaS software time-to-market facilitating the process of prototyping, testing, and deployment. This is one of the most stress-free, budget-friendly, and fast ways to digitize sales.
Internal tools
Internal tool builders are one of the most widespread use cases of low-code platforms. Low-code internal tools are suitable for routine tasks automation, team interactions, and business data management. There are quite a several trusted platforms for internal tool creation, including the low-code behemoth, Retool.
Policy compliance control
Some businesses, especially large enterprises, have to comply with multiple regulations and respond to them with the corresponding internal rules. Everyone in the company should be able to access regulatory data and easily navigate through the various policies and rules of conduct updates. Low-code allows businesses to build simple yet effective applications to spread the regulatory standard updates throughout all the business departments in an instant.
IoT sensor integrations
Some businesses find it hard to connect the latest IoT sensors with their legacy systems. Here low-code platforms come to the rescue with the APIs and data output systems for building a stable connection and seamless data flow between the sensors and business software.
Legacy software updates
Low-code platforms are an invaluable asset when it comes to legacy systems’ upgrades or substitutions. Using low-code, you’ll be able to integrate the top cloud services, add additional features, and omni-channel streams from various databases.
IT tasks facilitation
Middle and large businesses usually have small IT departments to handle some minor software-related issues or just create some little apps. Buying a subscription to one of the specific low-code platforms can serve as an alternative to hiring IT specialists. Citizen developers can use low-code solutions to an extent sufficient to cover the most usual internal IT tasks such as simple system adjustments and workflow automation tools development. Above reducing the it-related expenses, low-code apps and adjustments are quick to build and deploy.
Low-code development industries
eCommerce
Retail businesses use low-code to develop tools for warehouse management, product delivery tracking, and order handling. Low-code tools serve more as a supplement to the big e-commerce platforms that lack some unique features.
Education
The speed of low-code development can come at hand when it comes to educational software development. With a suitable low-code platform, EdTech businesses create a complex learning management system as well as small digital tools for attendance tracking and score data collection/structurization. As you can imagine, these numbers constantly change and may require frequent app scaling and new integrations. Low-code development is the perfect solution in this case as it does allow one to create a tool in a matter of days and implement it instantly.
FinTech
Consumer apps of financial service providers require frequent maintenance actions and scaling. Additionally, there is a necessity to alter the code that stems from the policy changes. Legacy programming languages cannot support continual updates and interventions. That’s why multiple businesses across the FinTech industry are incorporating low-code applications.
Healthcare
Currently, healthcare low-code applications are about secure data sharing between doctors and patients. Low-code platforms are able to produce precisely what hospitals need in this case: a functional application that complies with all the healthcare software security policies (HIPAA).
Hire professional low-code developers
If you’ve decided that the low-code development approach is what suits your business objectives the most, you can book a free consultation with our CTO. In this consultation, we will discuss your goals, and requirements, choose the tech stack (a suitable low-code platform, databases, 3-d party services, etc.), and estimate the approximate time and budget for the project.
Here, at Akveo, we develop all kinds of software for businesses around the world for more than 7 years. Besides, we are proud to contribute to the world’s development community with our open-source software (EVA design system, UI Kitten) and free digital tools. You can also check our case studies to get more information on our projects and clients.
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.
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.
