Why Retool (And Any) Consultants Matter in Development?

As technology continues to advance, businesses have an ever-growing range of tools designed to simplify and speed up development processes. Among these are low-code and no-code platforms, which allow users to create applications without heavy coding. However, alongside this wide range of tech options and the rise of citizen developers, it often begs the question: Do we still need experienced professionals or consultants in this space?

The truth is, while tools have evolved, the importance of expert guidance has not diminished. Low-code developers and consultants bring invaluable technical expertise, strategic insights, and the ability to tackle complex challenges that tools alone cannot address.

In this article, we explore why having skilled retool consultants (or specialists in other low-code platforms) is essential for achieving success in your development projects. But first, let’s take a moment to cover why low-code has become such a hot topic in the tech world today.

Why low-code platforms like Retool are on the rise

The rise of low-code/no-code platforms has changed the way businesses develop applications, offering speed and cost-effectiveness as key benefits. In 2023, the global low-code market reached an impressive $22.25 billion, and its growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing. It is projected to surge to $264.40 billion by 2032.

This growth reflects the increasing adoption of low-code for both customer-facing and internal business processes.​

Among low-code platforms, Retool has emerged as a standout choice for internal tool development. Nearly 65% of businesses that use third-party platforms for internal tools prefer a Retool development solution, followed by Zapier (36%), Airtable (32%), and Google AppSheet (26%)​. Developers, who spend an estimated 30% of their time building internal tools, find Retool invaluable for its ability to drastically cut speed and development time, as per the source. For instance, in just 50 hours, our team developed and delivered a Retool app that enables the client’s sales team to efficiently search for companies and retrieve associated contacts and deals. Read more about this case study here.

Retool is just one example — this article explores other low-code platforms and their unique features for comparison.

Why companies use Retool

From its beginnings as a “bottom-up product-led growth (PLG)” solution, Retool has evolved into a robust enterprise tool, offering a variety of features to meet the diverse needs of businesses. Here are some of its features:

1. Data integration

With Retool's integration capabilities, you can easily connect to a wide range of data sources, including SQL databases, REST APIs, Google Sheets, Firebase, and GraphQL, consolidating all your business data into one unified platform for streamlined management and real-time insights.

This eliminates data silos, allowing businesses to automate workflows and access real-time insights. For instance, logistics companies can use the Retool platform to synchronize inventory data across warehouses, improving supply chain efficiency.

2. Pre-built components and drag-and-drop interface

Retool streamlines app creation by offering a library of pre-built components, including tables, forms, and buttons, which can be quickly assembled into functional applications.

Its standout capability lies in drastically reducing development time for internal tools like admin panels, dashboards, and CRUD (create-read-update-delete) applications. With the Retool platform, developers can skip building a full React app from scratch; instead, they can connect their production database, utilize drag-and-drop components, and add minimal code as needed. This approach enables teams to build functional apps in as little as one day, compared to the weeks traditional methods would require.

Besides, its drag-and-drop interface enables companies to design highly customized tools tailored to unique business processes, reducing reliance on external IT teams. For example, finance teams can build dashboards with tailored reporting metrics, improving decision-making.

3. Security and compliance

Retool ensures enterprise-level security with features such as role-based access control, two-factor authentication, and data encryption, safeguarding sensitive information and supporting regulatory compliance. For organizations with stricter security requirements, Retool provides advanced tools like “Single Sign-on (SSO)” and comprehensive audit logs, making it an ideal choice for secure and scalable enterprise applications.

This makes Retool particularly suitable for industries with stringent data regulations, such as healthcare and finance. Companies can avoid compliance violations while ensuring secure application deployment.

For a deeper dive into how companies leverage Retool's capabilities, read our article about Retool use cases.

However, like any low-code platform, Retool is not without its drawbacks. Some of its potential limitations include:

1. Performance bottlenecks: Some users have experienced slow loading times, particularly when dealing with large datasets or complex enterprise-level applications. This can hinder the development process, especially in data-heavy environments​.
2. Limited native testing support: Retool lacks built-in testing features, requiring developers to use third-party tools like Playwright to test applications. This adds complexity to the development process and may create additional steps in the workflow.
3. Learning curve: While Retool offers a lot of flexibility, mastering its features can take time, especially for those who are not well-versed in JavaScript or SQL. While it's a low-code platform, developers still need technical expertise to get the most out of Retool​.

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What do Retool consultants bring to the table?

Retool’s speed and flexibility are major advantages, but challenges like performance issues, pricing, and a learning curve highlight the need for expert support. Finding the right low-code specialist can help bridge these gaps, turning platform potential into business success.  

Here are a few highlights of how a Retool support engineer can help you:

1. Match YOUR business needs with tailored solutions

Retool consultants bring deep expertise in customizing the platform to align precisely with your business goals and workflows. They analyze your requirements, prioritize features, and ensure every component of your Retool application supports your operations.

If your organization, for example, needs a centralized dashboard for sales tracking and inventory management, consultants can craft a tool that combines real-time data from multiple sources into a single, user-friendly interface. This focus on tailored development helps businesses boost efficiency, streamline processes, and achieve measurable outcomes.

2. Find the right balance between time and cost
   

With hands-on experience, consultants can accelerate development cycles, reducing trial-and-error phases. They create efficient workflows and minimize redundant development efforts, which can otherwise inflate costs.

As a result, businesses gain faster turnaround times, which is crucial for staying competitive, while also optimizing costs by avoiding resource wastage. In fact, low-code is estimated to cut the development time by 40-60%. This accelerated delivery ensures businesses remain agile in fast-moving markets.

3. Integrate with existing systems
   

With Retool consultants, businesses can ensure seamless integration of their existing systems, such as CRMs, ERPs, or databases, into their workflows. Consultants can set up custom APIs and connectors, enabling real-time communication between platforms and ensuring smooth data synchronization.

For example, a healthcare provider could work with consultants to link Retool to its patient management system and inventory tracking tools. This would streamline operations like medical supply management and appointment scheduling, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

With these integrations, businesses can eliminate manual data entry, saving thousands of hours annually, and gain instant access to accurate, consolidated data to make informed decisions.

4. Mitigate platform limitations

While Retool is powerful, it may encounter limitations like slow performance when handling extensive datasets or gaps in specific workflows. Consultants help businesses overcome these bottlenecks by implementing tailored solutions, such as optimizing database queries or introducing caching mechanisms for faster data retrieval.

For example, a financial services firm could consult specialists to build dashboards capable of processing millions of daily transactions. By restructuring data flows and introducing “server-side pagination”, consultants can ensure the platform performs reliably under heavy workloads.

Addressing these limitations ensures that businesses can operate smoothly, even with complex and data-heavy applications. This reliability builds user trust and reduces time spent on troubleshooting and downtime.

5. Provide long-term scalability and support

Consultants design applications with growth in mind, creating scalable tools that adapt to evolving business needs. They also provide training and ongoing support, enabling teams to maintain and extend applications effectively.

For instance, a logistics company planning rapid expansion could work with consultants to create a modular fleet management system using Retool. As the fleet grows from 50 to 500 vehicles, the system could easily scale to handle increased data without requiring a complete overhaul.

Scalable designs minimize redevelopment costs and ensure operational continuity as businesses expand. Empowered teams can quickly implement changes, staying agile in dynamic markets.

When Retool consultants are highly recommended

Low-code platforms like Retool are designed to empower users to build applications with minimal coding. For businesses with straightforward needs, a “do-it-yourself” approach often works well. Retool’s pre-built components, intuitive interface, and robust tutorials make it accessible even to those with limited technical experience.

However, as your requirements grow more complex, you may encounter challenges that demand specialized knowledge. In certain cases — like integrating advanced workflows, meeting stringent security demands, or tackling time-sensitive projects — the expertise of a consultant is highly recommended. This approach ensures you address critical development aspects from the start, minimizing the likelihood of mistakes down the road while paving the way for greater stability and scalable growth.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to build simple tools or tackle complex enterprise-level challenges, leveraging platforms like Retool can be your “go-to” for efficiency. While some organizations may thrive with self-guided development, many benefit from expert consultants who streamline processes, ensure scalability, and deliver tailored solutions.

At Akveo, we specialize in low-code development, offering end-to-end support tailored to your needs. From strategy to implementation, our team helps businesses harness the full potential of Retool and other low-code platforms. Let us empower your team, optimize your workflows, and set you up for long-term success. Reach out to us today!

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