It may be surprising to know that by 2025, almost 70% of new enterprise applications will be developed. These will use low code development or no code platform. This is very different from 2020, where the percentage was less than 25%. This transition is happening as a result of the demands of reduced time-to-market.
The best low code development platforms allow the user to develop applications on visual interfaces using minimal coding. This reduces the focus on extensive coding and lessens the need for expert coding skills. This means a faster development process and lower cost. It also means the inclusion of people who are not professional developers.
They can now actively participate in the process of making applications.
But one thing is clear: Low-code platforms or no-code platforms are highly varied. Choosing the right one for your business goals is vital. Enter Rapid Ext JS, the best low code platform. It enables users to effectively and timely develop data-driven enterprise grade applications.
Through the course of this article, we will discuss, what low code platforms are. The importance of their existence in changing the development terrain. The main considerations behind selecting a low code platform. How Rapid Ext JS distinguishes itself for rapid development of complex web applications.
Let’s investigate the use of the best low code development platform in the fulfillment of business user needs.
Understanding Your Business Needs
Defining what success means to the business is an important first step to deciding which low-code development platform will be right for you. Begin with short-term goals. Typically, these involve some quick wins, such as:
- More app development time
- Faster launch of MVPs (Minimum Viable Products)
- Enabling developers to work on core tasks
Next, list down the long-term goals that typically involve:
- Ability to scale apps without rewriting them.
- Empowering teams to self-serve simple solutions to complex solutions.
- Future-proofing your digital transformation and infrastructure.
These objectives, along with the mapping, will help in prioritising the features desired in the low code development. Spot the key issues you want to solve with the platform. Ask questions like:
- Are your dev teams awash with repetitive tasks?
- Are business teams always dependent on IT for simple to advanced analytics tools?
- Are outsourcing or legacy maintenance draining your budgets?
Take the example of a real case, like a retail company. It built an internal low code inventory tool that replaced spreadsheets and reduced reporting time by 60%. And honestly, thanks to the drag and drop interface it used, the setup barely needed technical help.
Think of challenges in the context of the specific department. For example, Marketing may want faster landing page builds—with automated workflows to streamline campaigns. HR might want some onboarding apps, probably tied to workflow automation for smoother employee entry. Or Finance could use a custom reporting tool built right on a flexible process platform that scales with needs.
Every team has its own individual needs. Shouldn’t your platform serve them all, without creating more bottlenecks—even for professional developers who want to extend features quickly?
Finally, embrace all stakeholders from the outset. Define expectations jointly with developers, analysts, and business users. That way, everyone gets aligned from day one—especially when the tools support both low code enthusiasts and seasoned coders.
This collaborative start is important for gaining support and, as such, ensuring success.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Low Code Development Platforms
Usability & Experience of the User
The low-code platform should be as easy to work with as it is for an ordinary developer. It should also operate in a really simple way for a non technical user to show technical expertise. Provides a clean and intuitive interface. This is where the drag and drop builder comes in, so that there’s really little learning curve—give or take a bit depending on how comfy you are with a drag and drop interface, just to give an example.
Users can design workflows and do workflow management using visual modeling tools. These are especially useful when fostering innovation across teams. They don’t need to write any code. Honestly, even video tutorials aren’t always necessary when it’s that simple.
Example: A sales manager creates customized dashboards in one day (with governance tools quietly doing their job in the background). No app development time needed. This makes creating applications and working with a flexible data fabric feel way less intimidating.
- It improves departmental adoption and reduces IT bottlenecks.
- Indeed, it’s a low-code platform, but flexibility is also part of the deal.
- And also be able to add custom code as necessary.
Check for:
- Built-in support for JavaScript, Python, or other extensions
- Reusable components for modular design
- Ability to override templates or logic flows
Example: A fintech firm was attaching an already extended form builder. They used it to implement custom validation logic. That’s how it becomes balanced, simple, with power when power is needed.
Integration Capabilities
Your platform should integrate seamlessly with your existing tools.
Look for:
- API integration (REST, SOAP, GraphQL).
- Built-in connectors for CRMS like Salesforce, or ERPs like SAP
- Webhooks and middleware compatibility
Example:
A logistics team connected the low-code app to the Google Maps API for route planning.
Without proper integration, silos will only lead to slowdowns. Store more than the ideal experimental app; can the platform scale when usage increases?
Assess:
- Cloud-native architecture with horizontal scaling.
- Response times under heavy user load.
- Performance during parallel development cycles.
- A platform should handle.
Customization & Flexibility
Though low-code development is made easy, flexibility still matters. Wherever needed, you must be able to add custom code.
Seek:
- Out-of-the-box support JavaScript, Python, or other extendable languages
- Reusable components for modular assembly
- The ability to override templates or logic flows.
Look for:
- API-first architecture.
- Readied connectors for CRMS, ERPS, and cloud storage.
- Third-party applications include an option for hooks.
Example: A sales dashboard pulling data directly from Salesforce and Google Sheets.
Scalability & Performance
Think forward and beyond the prototype. Can the platform scale as usage rises?
Evaluate:
- Cloud-native architecture and horizontal scaling.
- Under heavy user load, response times.
- Performances are measured during parallel development cycles.
A platform must handle both quick sprints and huge tasks like an enterprise. For instance, Rapid Ext JS low-code editor sustains high-performance grids. That helps to efficiently handle millions of records on the fly. Scalability may ensure that your app builder would not need to rebuild the app anymore.
This holds true whenever your enterprise grows.
Security & Compliance
Hacking is not simply the domain of the IT office. It is also an area of concern for every employee who interacts with a low-code platform that drives business-critical applications.
As a beginning step, ascertain that the platform boasts powerful role-based access control (RBAC). With this feature, you can configure permission sets to job functions. No one ever sees more than is necessary. Adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) to this will also prevent unauthorised logins.
Next, examine the provision of encryption. Is your data integrity protected both at rest and in transit? Inquire whether the platform uses TLS 1.2+ for data in transit and AES-256 for data at rest. These are gold standards in the industry.
Check for compliance certifications. Look for platforms that adhere to:
- GDPR (for European privacy laws)
- HIPAA (for U.S. health data)
- SOC2 Type II (for cloud security)
In California, a healthcare startup developed their appointment and billing system on a HIPAA-compliant low-code platform. They achieved audit compliance with minimal IT expense.
Inquire next about risk management. A secure platform implements frequent updates for ongoing maintenance. Find out:
- How frequently are patches issued
- Whether they conduct routine penetration testing
- If there is automated threat detection.
When something goes wrong, audit logs should be the first place you look. All actions taken should be logged thoroughly—who changed what, when, and where. For example, a company used audit trails to track suspicious activity and, within minutes, repaired a broken access rule.
Data residency matters too. Where is your data located? In some industries, it needs to be confined to a certain geographical area. Also, what is their incident response plan? If there is a breach, how quickly are they going to notify you? What assistance are they going to provide?
Lastly, bring in your compliance and InfoSec teams sooner rather than later. Let them go through the documentation, certifications, and data handling processes before the purchase is made.
To summarise, don’t limit your questions to whether the platform is secure. Instead, ask, how does the platform protect you both now, and in the future when you start scaling?
Cost Considerations & ROI
When comparing low-code platforms, cost is a primary focus, but it is less than value.
Most platforms offer one of three models:
Subscription-based: Fixed fees monthly or annually.
Per user: User-based pricing increments with every added user.
Usage-based: Costs depend on features accessed, storage, or the amount of data used.
Prior to making a decision, the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) needs to be defined. This includes the license fee. Several platforms have hidden costs such as training, scaling, ongoing support, and even platform caps, which lead to workarounds. These elusive expenses must never be undermined.
Especially when you’re aiming to create solutions that are both scalable and sustainable in the long run.
Evaluate further to measure ROI, too. Using these platforms effectively can reduce development time by 70%. And when paired with a robust process platform, the efficiency gains are even clearer. In turn, they allow non-developers to design basic interfaces with an intuitive app builder.
This makes the entire workflow smoother. These have a tangible impact on the market time and internal functionality, particularly in the context of building and scaling enterprise applications without always relying on full dev teams.
Posed with questions such as:
- How many developer hours can be saved on a quarterly basis?
- Are there internal IT backlog alleviation opportunities available through awaiting non-technical personnel?
- What would be the cost of business delays due to a lack of efficiency and internal tools?
An example illustrates the point well. A financial web services firm using low-code for automation approval features was able to save over six hundred hours annually.A platform like Rapid Ext JS is favourable for teams seeking low pricing with enterprise component-grade add-ons. It also offers predictable pricing.
Implementing these changes sets out a balance between affordability and long-term needs. Which, when seen in resources that are constrained, proves beneficial in scale frameworks. These serve as guidance when implementing for users. They possess constrained peripheral integrated experience devices.
Run pilots and assess ROI dashboards when accessible. Optimize tools based on suggestions capable of being altered around quoted.
Real-World Use Cases & Success Stories
By finance, healthcare, and logistics. All industries are being transformed thanks to low-code platforms. These tools were designed for building applications with speed and ease.
As Forrester stated, 84% of companies have started using low-code platforms, or you can say no-code platforms, for a particular purpose. This often helps to save time and reduce development time. This is an attempt to ease the workload for their developers. Enables the developers to speed up time-to-market while allowing teams to work smarter.
In logistics, for example, a startup used a low-code tool to create a real-time supply chain tracker—one of those apps built specifically to meet market changes. They built it in just two weeks. This replaced their inefficient manual use of logs and spreadsheets. It resulted in a 40% reduction in delivery delays.
In finance, a regional bank was able to automate its KYC (Know Your Customer) workflow. As part of their workflow automation initiative, they streamlined everything. Previously, the approvals would take up to 7–10 days. With their new implementation—powered by automated workflows, by the way—the same process was completed in under 48 hours using enterprise low code application strategies.
The health care industry is also seeing considerable improvements. A U.S. hospital utilised a HIPAA-compliant low code application platform to create complex solutions for digitising patient intake. These platforms integrate data from multiple sources, and the result was a 60% cut in admin time.
Companies that use Rapid Ext JS show comparably fast results. One enterprise created high quality applications like reporting tools without extra developers. Built-in grids, machine learning, and other features helped them meet user numbers fast.
These stories are service depicted in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant. Free plan options are even available to non developers exploring software and data-based development.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that selecting the best low-code development platforms requires an assessment of technology. More importantly, it requires an understanding of your overall business strategy. The reasoning is that if you choose the right platform. Your business can gain operational excellence and agility.
It also helps reduce development costs while democratising tool-building for non-coders. Keep in mind, the decision cannot be made overnight. First identify your business objectives. Then decide on platform factors such as scalability, security, integration, and usability.
For teams building enterprise-level applications with complex solutions and data needs. Rapid Ext JS is a standout. But the best platform will depend on your individual workflows. It also depends on your plans for expansion.
As stated, the right low-code solution helps with rapid application development and application deployment. It’s about creating a smarter, agile and collaborative development environment that enhances productivity.
FAQs
What’s the Next Step After Choosing the Right Platform?
Once you’ve selected a platform then start with a small pilot project.That involve real users and measurable goals. This helps validate your choice.
What Are the Hidden Costs to Watch Out for in Low-Code Adoption?
Look for extra fees tied to user licenses like storage limits, premium connectors, and support tiers. Also, consider costs for scaling infrastructure as your usage grows.
How Can I Compare the Best Low Code Development Platforms Effectively Before Committing?
Make sure to evaluate customer reviews first before requesting for the free trial, and test the essential use cases. After this, evaluate the vendor’s performance with regards to security. Also assess their integration capabilities.
Free trial and interactive demos: Start with Rapid Ext JS!
