How Can Low-Code Automation Reduce Your Manual Workload

October 23, 2022
Alok Suman
Low-Code
Automation

Low-code development is built on a concrete objective of helping businesses and teams build complex workflows and applications without coding and technical knowledge. 

In this competitive market, businesses must stay on top of their game 24/7, or they could easily fall behind. They thus need robust workflows, platforms, and a team of technically proficient professionals. 

This is where the problem arises: businesses are finding it hard to pick talents with the relevant technical skills. And so emerged low-code automation as the solution. 

With low-code automation, businesses don’t need to rely heavily on certain talents; they can build platforms themselves using this modern technology, which also makes troubleshooting and maintenance easy. 

So does this mean low-code automation has put an end to coding professionals? No, that's where people get it wrong - this article straightens it out for you. Learn more about low-code automation in this detailed read. 

What is Low-Code Automation? 

Low-code automation is the newest breakthrough in software development where businesses can build, deploy, automate and manage applications and workflows without any coding expertise.

Instead of coding, low-code platforms use visual interfaces where applications can be built using a simple drag-and-drop functionality. This breakthrough has enabled businesses to upscale their development and increase their revenue. 

Low-code automation helps businesses digitize and automate complex business operations. As only little coding knowledge is needed, team members can easily manage and troubleshoot issues, which reduces development downtime and increases productivity. 

Low-Code vs. No-Code Automation 

Low-code automation is a rapid application development (RAD) approach where codes can be generated automatically through visual building functionalities like drag-and-drop interfaces. 

Low-code platforms are generally targeted toward developers, but you don’t need any coding expertise to use them. A business user with little technical knowledge can easily access and master low-code platforms. 

No-code automation is also a RAD approach where there is no coding involved. It is completely built on visual interfaces and pre-built automation. It is often considered a subset of low-code automation.

While low-code is marketed to developers, no-code platforms target business users and teams with zero coding knowledge.  

Low code automation No code automation
Used by developers Business coders with no coding experience can also use it.
Complex applications can be built with minimum manual coding. Suitable for building small-scale reporting, analytics, tracking, and planning apps.
Focuses on reducing development downtime and manual coding. Focuses on ease of use as no coding is required.
Minimum coding is present. Zero coding is involved.
Applications backends are completely customizable. Uses pre-built templates that can be customized.
Provides end-to-end development. Has limited capabilities.
Suitable for teams with talented developers. Suitable for teams that lack the right development resources.

Examples of Low-Code Automation 

Making Business Process Management Easy 

One of the major examples of low-code automation is how it makes business process management easier for the teams. 

Low coding decreases development downtime and lets employees focus on more important tasks. Low-code platforms streamline business processes and increase productivity. 

Most of the business processes can be automated in less time as there is only minimal coding. Automated processes minimize workload and encourage accountability. 

From creating new workflows for projects to app integration, the low-code platform allows teams to work to their full potential and build the robust solutions they need. 

Learn how a leading retail eyewear brand streamlined its business process using a low-code automation platform like Hubler. 

Minimizing Manual Workload 

What makes low-code automation special is that it lets teams build applications quickly. You can build automated workflows for complex or repeated processes like sending an email broadcast. 

Processes like these will only increase the workload on employees, and with low-code automation, these processes can be done without manual help while employees can focus on more important tasks. 

Here’s an example of how an agriculture group automated its workflow.  

Building Complex Applications 

Every business has its own set of battles. To overcome them successfully, you need to build robust applications that can manage complex processes from start to end. 

Building robust processes like these will require a talented pool of professionals and time. But with low-code automation platforms, you can easily build applications that can manage complex workflows more quickly. 

Low-code automation will empower your team to easily build scalable applications to handle your business processes. You don’t need to exhaust resources and expenses; one platform can do all the wonders for you through automation workflows, saving you time and money. 

See how an Interior design firm built a robust application to handle their complex workflows.

Common Low-Code Automation Platform Use Cases

Procurement 

Procurement is an integral part of a manufacturing business. From searching for a vendor, submitting an RFP, and generating goods received notes to pay the vendor, there are a lot of moving parts in one single process.

Keeping up with these processes manually is a tedious task. This is where you can use low-code automation to automate complex workflows: 

Travel Expenses

Businesses find that retaining existing employees is much better than acquiring new ones. So, they’re trying everything they can to keep their employees satisfied - even paying for their travel. 

Nowadays, businesses have started to reimburse travel and petrol expenses incurred during daily commutes. Even if the employee needs to travel for a business conference, it has become a norm for companies to cover their expenses. 

Managing all these expenses through paperwork is not easily possible. But low-code automation tools like Hubler let you build custom expense management applications to streamline these tasks in a jiffy. 

Real Estate 

Leasing and renting make up the core aspects of real estate. Even furniture builders have started to use the same technique. 

Managing leasing processes manually can impact you greatly. Not only does it take time, one small error can cost you a huge margin. You can use low-code platforms to manage these revenue-related processes. 

Large Scale Industries 

If you thought low-code platforms can only serve small businesses, then you’re wrong.

Manufacturing industries, export industries, warehouses, stores, etc., that deal with large inventories with thousands of assets/products can also use low-code platforms for effective record keeping. 

Benefits of Low-Code Automation

Reduces Development Downtime 

One of the major benefits of low-code automation is how easily and quickly it lets you build an application and market it. 

Since it only requires minimum coding and uses automation to build complex workflows, the development doesn’t take much time. It increases productivity and allows employees to focus on more value-adding tasks. 

Automation

The reason why low-code automation platforms have become popular is because of their ability to work by themselves.

Once an automation workflow is built, it doesn’t need any user interaction. It serves on its own and triggers the right responses as configured without any manual assistance. It also minimizes your team’s workload and increases productivity. 

Ease of Use 

The major misconception surrounding these platforms is that though they simplify business processes, using them is hard. 

That is not true; working with a low-code platform is similar to using a messenger. Navigating them is easy - you don’t need much technical knowledge to access these platforms. 

You don’t need developers to use them, either. All your team members can familiarize themselves quickly. Building automation workflows and applications can be easily done by viewing the documentation. 

The user-friendliness of these platforms is one of the main reasons for their rise in this digital era. 

Cost-Effectiveness 

Did you think that a platform that can simplify a business process will cost you a fortune? 

Certainly not; these platforms have affordable pricing plans just like any other marketing and automation tools you find in the market. All you have to do is find the right low-code automation platform that suits your business.

These platforms are incredibly valuable for the cost you pay. Due to their ease of use and development downtime, they let businesses meet business goals before deadlines and save thousands in expenses. 

Efficiency 

The easy usability of these platforms allows businesses to create complex business workflows easily.

They have straightforward processes and visual building blocks like drag-and-drop editors, which makes it easier to build robust applications and even easier to troubleshoot them. These capabilities only increase your team’s productivity and efficiency. 

Challenges in Low-Code Automation

Creative Freedom  

One of the major challenges comes from the same people that the platform aimed to serve, developers.

Many expert developers consider coding a slow and steady process, aiming to make codes readable even after many years. But with low-code automation, they don’t have control over the codes, and they believe there is little room for customization. 

Experts say that quick code development with the minimum expense is not achievable without sacrificing something. So, what exactly are low-code platforms sacrificing in order to develop applications faster? 

Lack of visibility is also a major concern raised by security and compliance teams. 

Adaptability 

Low-code automation is a relatively new technology and a fast-growing one.  This makes it harder for organizations to train their employees adequately before initiating the project. 

Sometimes teams are deployed prematurely without a complex understanding of these platforms to meet the deadlines. The learning curve is high for these platforms, and businesses don’t have the patience to make their employees adapt to them. 

The more they wait, the farther they go down in the competition. This is one of the major challenges for this emerging technology. 

Compatibility

A business will already be running multiple systems for various processes. Now, this is where it gets tricky, as they have to choose a platform that is compatible with their existing tech stack and processes. 

If businesses do not invest their time in proper research, they might end up paying high for a low-code platform that might be a bad fit for their organization. 

Immutable Templates 

The best thing about low-code platforms is the pre-built templates, which are also one of the major challenges.

While developing an app, users should adapt themselves to these pre-built templates. Sometimes it is hard to apply business logic to these virtual interfaces. You are frequently unable to obtain that competitive advantage in your platform.

Should You Adopt Low-Code Automation? 

We live in a digital era where speed is the essential difference. In this competitive market, a business cannot sustain itself in the long term if they are not swift in its process. 

A plethora of businesses have already adopted low-code automation frameworks and are scaling up their business to meet the market and customer demands. 

Despite being a new technology, low-code platforms surprisingly have only a few challenges/disadvantages, which can be easily fixed as time passes. 

They are easy to use, reduce manual workload, increase productivity, and minimize costs – no other development platforms can offer the flexibility of low-code automation. 

So, yes, you should adopt it for your business. But ensure that the platform is compatible with your business processes and existing tech stack. 

Final Thoughts

Low-code automation is a development approach where businesses can build complex applications without much technical expertise. Low-code platforms are targeted at developers, aiming to minimize their workload and make it easy for everyone on the team to use them. 

Hubler is one such low-code automation platform that can help automate your business processes. It comes with visual building blocks like a drag-and-drop editor and pre-built workflow templates to help you get started with the process right away. 

The best thing about Hubler is its integration capability; it has custom APIs that let you integrate with any of your existing technical stacks. 

So, if you want to streamline your business process with affordable solutions and stay ahead of your competitors, then Hubler is the one you need for your business.

Procure to Pay
A solution that simplifies your complex workflows.
Lease management
Your one-stop shop for everything lease management.
Asset management
Asset Management Solution that adapts to your business.
Expense management
Manage your expenses your way
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