Table of Contents
Introduction
One of the biggest challenges of digitisation among large and small companies today is the high level of dependence it creates on the IT team, be it in-house or external. IT staff would already be quite swamped with their existing work. Put the rise in activity when installing any software plus the great flurry of queries to be answered and issues to be fixed, and the load gets too burdensome. This is where no-code platforms come through as a blessing. If you are looking to reduce dependence on your IT team and manage some of the aspects of digital adoption yourself, this is the go-to solution.
Gartner had predicted that by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity. This goes for DAPs too. No-code platforms for digital adoption like Assima’s In-App Search have made it possible for more and more organisations to take digital assistance when onboarding employees to a new software application. This will only continue to rise as the pandemic-influenced digital revolution keeps growing its already vast roots. If you are worried about quality or effectiveness, you don’t need to. These platforms are well-equipped to handle any situation just as much as apps coded from the ground up are.
Check out how easy it is to plug in Assima In-App Search into your existing system with little to no coding.
What is a No-Code Platform?
No-code platforms are those that utilise a codeless, visual modelling approach to install and operate the software application, replacing the areas traditionally requiring coding and scripting by operating using a more plug-in nature. The most common examples are the website builders that allow you to drag and drop components or add elements with a single click. The same idea can be extended to DAPs. In fact, it makes a lot of sense for DAPs since it is literally used to teach people how to use a digital application, meaning that you are already dealing with a team not highly accustomed to expert technical work.
How Does a No-Code Platform Help in Digital Integration?
No–code and low-code platforms have become so popular nowadays not only due to their convenience but also because they make the whole process of digitisation more linear. The built-in nuggets of code are verified to work correctly and hence, bypass a major portion of the feedback loop necessary for conventional coding processes.
Codeless Visual Operation
The name itself suggests that you do not need any coding expertise or experience to operate these applications. They either use a simple plug-in-and-forget method like browser extensions or have a visual operation system. Imagine the transition from CUI to GUI: That is exactly what it would be like to use a no-code platform over usual coding choices. Some of these platforms even come in options with a set of features clubbed together for a specific purpose, like for different industries, departments, functions, etc.
Scalability and Reusability
No-code platforms come as pre-packaged code snippets or bodies that you can simply pick and add to your existing system. This means that once you buy the product or subscribe to the providers, you can simply reuse it wherever you need as many times as you want. There is no need to code over and over again for different operations that need that platform. It also makes scaling easier, as you can simply add a new component over the rest or expand the functionality with a few commands if you need.
Compliance Integration
One of the biggest advantages of no-code platforms is that they automatically integrate the data security and compliance policies of your organisation when you connect them to your system. Unlike with coding, where you have to manually ensure if the code, whether it be one line, a section or the entire body, is following security requirements or not, no-code platforms are built to consolidate and follow all required policies once they are plugged into the digital environment of your company.
Easier Management
Because of the codeless nature of operations, no-code platforms come with the added benefit of being able to be maintained even by those with limited or zero technical knowledge. If you want something altered, fixed or modified, simply operate the system like any other app on your computer and do it. You no longer have to call the IT team to come and mend the issue. With the need for coding out of the way, 9 times out of 10, you or anyone using the platform can perform minor changes yourself.
Seamless Incorporation
Coded software requires you to manually feed all the required organisation data into it for it to work according to your needs. With no-code platforms, this becomes an inconvenience of the past. The reason is that no-code platforms come with the feature to simply be connected with the data bank/s of your choice so that you can start running it instantly with minimum interference. If you have a set of rules that you want the application to follow, you don’t need to code them in either; just specify them and set the system up!
With the universal content integration and centralised access capabilities of Assima In-App Search, you can quickly set up our DAP with your current digital system.
Want to know how?
When is it Best to Use No-Code Platforms
Just as in some cases, it is a better idea to use coding and scripting to build or integrate an application into your existing system, there are some situations in which using a no-code or low-code platform makes more sense.
Time Crunch
Did you know that no-code solutions can bring about a 90% reduction in development time? So, if you are in a race against time to push out a new technology, a no-code solution is your best choice. You won’t have to spend weeks developing new code from scratch, then testing it, refining it, user-testing it, getting feedback, incorporating that and finally releasing the finished product to the users. With a no-code platform, you can skip all these steps as the platform developers have already done it for you. You just need to plug in the platform, define the rules and make it live.
Lack of Skillset
Sometimes, the IT team of a company may not have the skills or training necessary to operate a new technology. Or maybe, the organisation is not big enough to have an in-house IT team at all. In any type of case where it is not possible to pool the skills necessary to build an application for your digital transformation goals, it can be a blessing to have the option of using a no-code platform. You will require minimum technical skills to set up, maintain and use the system. In case you end up requiring a higher level of support, you can simply ask for it from the software providers.
Cost-Effectiveness
Building an app from the beginning has a lot of expenses. You have to hire a team of developers to cover the entire stack, get all the necessary hardware and software they need, get designers and testers, as well as miscellaneous costs. If that is out of the question for your budget, or you simply want to direct your money to other areas, then, no-code platforms are the way to go. Moreover, most glitches and issues would be taken care of by the providers as part of your subscription, thus freeing you from unseen charges too.
Greater Agility
If agility is something that your organisation values, then no-code and low-code platforms provide the perfect options when thinking about digital adoption needs. Building your code and data ex nihilo takes up a lot of resources, time and effort and unnecessarily lengthens the process from purchase to going live. It also adds a lot of variables and factors into the mix that you must keep track of. You can never achieve true agility in your main business operations if you are distracted by the secondary functions. To keep the workflow and operations lean and moving, go for a no-code platform.
Self-Service
If you need the DAP just for yourself or a handful of people who work by themselves, it is best to opt for a no-code platform. There is absolutely no need to invest a huge amount of resources, skills and effort in something that will not see widespread usage and can be managed on a small scale by the users themselves. With help from the team allocated and the instructions provided to you by the software providers, it should not be difficult to look after the usual aspects of the operation of the platform. It will also be far more economical that way.
Minor Requirement
If the software support you need from the platform is a minor one, it makes absolutely no sense to undertake comprehensive application building for the function you are trying to accomplish. Let us take an example. Assima In-App Search has pre-defined functions for certain applications like Salesforce and SAP. If, say, you need help to train employees in just one aspect of Salesforce use, then you can simply plug in our no-code platform to it instead of going that extra mile for a requirement that is barely a few yards.
How Does Assima In-App Search Use the No-Code Approach
One of the most prominent features of Assima In-App Search is its no-code nature. The platform comes in the form of a wrapped “black box” package. All you need to do is connect it to the application you want to train your employees in, integrate it with your internal or external knowledgebase and you are good to go. There is hardly any setup necessary, which we take care of ourselves. You can start using it as soon as it is plugged in. All technical aspects are taken care of by us so that you can focus on your business operations.
Conclusion
Today, more and more organisations, whether they can afford building an application from the root level or not, are opting for no-code and low-code platforms due to the many benefits they impart. And for those who cannot afford it, these products are a godsend. The goal of Assima is to make technology adoption as accessible and easy a process as possible. Hence, we bring you Assima In-App Search, a no-code solution to all your DAP requirements.
If you are pondering the need for a DAP but are hesitating to add a greater tech burden on top of the existing one, we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s Answer Some of Your Questions.
In most cases, the providers would be happy to sit down with you and offer a more tailored solution for your needs. If that is not in the picture, you can seek a low-code platform to which you can add the exact functionalities you need through accessories or plug-ins.
Contrary to popular belief, since no-code platform offerings can be made available as a bulk-sellable product, providers can offer it to you at a much lower price than the aggregate expense of hiring developers and other experts to build a custom application. The extra technical support can easily be provided as part of the package.
If your requirements are too niche and specific to be fulfilled by a suitable no-code application, it makes more sense to tailor-make the software. It also can be a good idea to forego no-code platforms if you already have a fully operational, full-time IT team dedicated to not just maintaining existing tech but also creating applications and codes for the smooth operation of the company.
It would be a bad idea to completely let go of your IT team even if you replace every application you use with no-code options. Routine maintenance and emergency support are still some things that your own IT team can handle best.
One of the best advantages of a no-code platform is that since the providers know they are meant to be connected to a wide range of systems, they ensure that their deliverable is tuned to integrate with as many available digital environments as possible. That includes most legacy systems that an organisation could be using.
