Low-code and no-code platforms promise faster ways to build apps, often without much programming. For teams trying to move quickly or avoid the costs of custom development, the idea is appealing. But in healthcare, where compliance and precision matter, it’s worth asking: When are these platforms actually the right fit?
What Are Low-code and No-code Development Platforms?
We’ve worked with several of them including Salesforce.com, Quickbase, ZOHO Creator and most recently Caspio and have seen where they work well, and where they fall short. They’re not a substitute for writing software, but in the right scenarios, they can help a project get off the ground faster and more affordably.
Platforms like these are reviewed in Gartner’s Low Code Platforms report, offering insights into top vendors and real-world use cases.
Source: Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Low-Code Platforms (as of Oct 2024)
These tools let you build software by configuring it instead of coding it. Instead of writing a backend from scratch, you can map out your database visually. You create forms, workflows, and dashboards by dragging elements into place and adjusting settings. No terminal windows. No compiling.
If you’ve used a system like FileMaker or Access in the past, you’ll recognize the approach. But low-code / no-code platforms are generally accessed through a web browser, with better support for teams, permissions, and automation.
Most of these platforms give you:
- A way to define your data model and relationships
- Form builders that save data into your database
- Workflow tools to trigger emails or actions
- Basic reporting and dashboards
They’re most useful for administrative workflows, internal tools, or portals that need to manage and display structured data. We’ve seen them used successfully for patient intake processes, study tracking tools, and internal dashboards for managing healthcare operations.
Here are a few things that we’ve learned over the years:
Benefits of Low-code / No-code
Significant time (and cost) savings
Low/no-code platforms are not suitable for every type of project, which we’ll discuss later. When the project is right, however, the time savings can be tremendous. One project that we completed recently took a sixth (15-20%) of the time that it would have taken if we had developed its code using conventional web development technologies.
Great for “Generic” Interactivity
Low/no-code platforms really shine when used in projects that have a lot of “generic” functionality – in other words, projects that have a lot of the following:
- Online forms that store their data in a database
- Search forms and pages through which users can query and view the data
- Custom workflows (i.e. user A logs in, edits a record, email is triggered to user B, user B reviews record and updates its status, etc.)
- Online reports that display graphs and charts of the data
Security / HIPAA compliance
Several low/no-code platforms have built-in compliance with various regulatory requirements. For example, one of Caspio’s plans features out-of-the-box HIPAA compliance.
Of course, the developer will need to ensure that their app complies with security best practices, but Caspio’s HIPAA plans make it a very compelling alternative to building health apps using conventional languages (PHP, Python, Ruby on Rails, Java, ASP.NET, etc.) and hosting it on a cloud provider such as AWS. This is because Caspio handles all technical safeguards related to HIPAA for you, freeing you up from having to configure encryption, firewalls, backups, and all other compliance-related safeguards on your own.
Out-of-the-Box Functionality
Many of these platforms have libraries and/or marketplaces of ready-made applications that users can use and adapt to their own specific needs. This further reduces timelines and costs.
Easy to Maintain and Upgrade
Because the platform provider handles the hosting and infrastructure, you don’t need to worry about servers, patches, or upgrades. It’s more like managing a SaaS product than running your own application stack, reducing maintenance overhead.
Things to Watch Out For
I’ve listed the benefits; now for the caveats. None of these should be considered to be “deal breakers”, but they should set expectations and help inform your decision about whether one of these platforms is best suited to you.
Not All Apps Fit
These tools aren’t flexible enough for every project. If your app needs very specialized interactivity or hosting requirements, actual code is likely a better candidate.
Expect a Learning Curve
Most of these tools market themselves as being easy to use, but it will take time to get up to speed with them, especially if you need to build an application with some complex interactive features. Consider hiring a specialist to set up the platform for you.
Your App Must Conform to the Platform, and Not the Other Way Around
Low/no-code platforms are not capable of handling every single use case, so most of the time you’ll need to adapt your needs to the platform rather than building something that precisely fits your desired workflow, look-and-feel or functionality. Additionally, you will need to deeply understand the chosen platform’s functionality – and limitations – when gathering requirements and planning it.
Development Is Quick, but Everything Else Is the Same
People often think that they can simply whip together a web application using a low/no-code platform and deploy it in no time. However, many parts of the web development process will take the same amount of time as with a conventional coding platform.
For example, the planning and design phases often take similar amounts of time. And if the app needs to have a very specific look-and-feel, you might end up actually writing a significant amount of additional “front-end code” (HTML, CSS and Javascript) in order to customize its design.
Beware the Fine Print
All platforms charge fees based on usage. Sometimes the usage is based on the number of end users who can log into the application. Others charge for the amount of storage space, the server capacity, the number of interactive pages, and/or a combination of many items. Be sure to understand exactly what your costs will be before signing on with a specific provider.
Performance Can Be an Issue
Some platforms can start to suffer performance issues if their databases contain too many records. Be sure to learn the performance limitations before signing on.
Lack of Portability
Last but not least, if you build a low/no-code web application and then need to switch to a different platform down the road, you will need to rebuild it on the new platform – almost from scratch. That said, your data will never get lost; you will always have complete access to your data and can export it from the platform easily.
Hybrid Approach
There are times where the best solution is a combination of a low/no-code application and a custom-built system, and we never shy away from recommending a hybrid approach where it’s most appropriate.
One recent example: A healthcare organization needed us to develop a suite of integrated applications. One was a super-slick, fully custom patient app that we built using tried-and-true development tools.
But for their back-end reporting and management system, we opted for a low-code platform because it was the best fit for the client’s needs and budget. It allowed us to move faster, control costs, and still deliver a secure and compliant system that met the client’s exact requirements.
Final Thoughts
Low-code or no-code application development platforms are not suited to every type of project – in fact, they’re useful for a relatively small proportion of the projects that our company tends to work on. However, when there’s a good fit, they can save real time and cost.
If you’re weighing whether a low-code platform makes sense for your app, feel free to reach out and bounce ideas off of us. We’re happy to walk through the options with you.
