The growing demand for digital skills is a major challenge for businesses that often encounter a technical glass ceiling. Development teams (technical - coding) often lack versatility and availability, thereby slowing down innovation and the enterprises' "Time to Market".
However, an increasingly popular solution offers a new creative perspective for businesses: no-code development.
Tools such as Webflow, Zapier, Airtable, Bubble, and Notion break the technical barrier by enabling profiles with business expertise (marketing, sales, management) to develop without needing to know how to code. This promising solution opens new horizons for companies seeking productivity and innovation.
1. The reasons behind the success of no-code
The use of no-code tools, such as Webflow, Notion, Zapier, Figma, and Bubble, is becoming increasingly widespread. But what explains this growing popularity? Beyond the (great!) marketing of these tools, they also offer numerous technical advantages that encourage their adoption. The first among these is...
1.1 Making creation accessible
The promise is appealing; anyone can learn to create and develop their own solution without needing to learn a single line of code, thanks to accessible and intuitive tools. Here are a few examples:
- Automation and data flow exchange: Zapier, Make
- Application creation: Bubble
- Website creation: Webflow
- E-commerce site creation: Shopify
At first glance, it seems simple to design with these tools. In reality, some tools are easier to master than others, and once you become familiar with a tool, there are different levels of expertise for each one. A bit like Excel!
But generally speaking, this enables any professional (marketing, sales, management) to take advantage of the ability to quickly develop a business solution.
1.2 Tools that enable "multi-expertise" application
Say hello to the "superpower" of multi-expertise!
Take the example of a craftsman who can now develop a management application specific to his field, thanks to his knowledge and in-depth understanding of his clients' needs. This also applies to the Marketing team, which can develop its own web strategy while mastering web development, without relying on developers.
No-code tools can empower you to develop unique products and services by combining your business expertise with that of a developer.
The result? Enabling companies to create more targeted, more innovative products and services that align better with the actual needs of their target market.
1.3 Business impact for companies
The business impacts for companies are numerous and affect all aspects of the organization: data management, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and cross-marketing actions.
No-code allows for accelerated processes during projects and reduces the time to market for a new product.
2. How to smartly integrate no-code into your business strategy?
To intelligently integrate no-code into your business strategy, it is important to choose the right no-code tools based on your technical needs, the skills of your internal team, and your budget. It is also crucial to train your team members to use no-code tools effectively to achieve a successful transformation.
2.1 Choosing the right no-code tools
There are thousands of tools for every market. Let's take the example of website creation. How do you choose between Wix, WordPress, Shopify, and Webflow (to name just a few from the long list of CMS tools)?
You need to consider:
- Your technical needs (you can't achieve the same results with a WIX site as with a Webflow site)
- The internal skills of your team (it's simpler to use a tool like WIX vs. Webflow)
- Your budget (a technical stack involving multiple tools can become expensive quickly!)
Read one of our various comparative studies on the 3 tools for creating a website in 2023
There are many comparative studies on the different no-code tools available on the market. However, it is also important to look at the free content and the activity of the community around the tool when you want to integrate it into your business. These resources will be valuable for facilitating an "easy" onboarding and ensuring the successful integration of these tools in your organization.
2.2 Training employees to effectively use no-code tools
A technological tool is merely a means to achieve successful transformation. It is not the integration of a tool that will revolutionize your company's performance; rather, it is its proper use that will.
Therefore, it is essential for your employees to master these tools. For that, you have several options:
- Training programs (paid online courses or on-site bootcamp formats)
- Numerous YouTube channels with tutorials and online guides (free and high-quality)
- Blogs and discussion forums to exchange ideas with other users and experts on no-code
- Webinars and live workshops
Finally, it is important to remember that training is not just about using the no-code tools themselves. The methods and practices that accompany them are also important.
For example, if we take a web strategy managed by your marketing team, it may be beneficial, for instance, to train your employees on best development practices or UX/UI design to enhance the results of landing page development on your website.
Discover the free training offered by Digidop Academy on Web Design
And of course, tech is a fast-evolving sector. It is vital to keep up with trends and integrate new technologies, such as the recent Chat-GPT AI, into your tool strategy.
3. What future for no-code?
3.1 Impact on the job market
- Digital Transformation -
Digital technology already has a strong impact on the job market. "49% of merchants say they hire a young person because they master digital tools, promoting the digital transformation of their business."
Source of the figures: blogdumoderateur
- Job Demand - A Thriving Market -
+66% increase in digital job offers in four years (OECD Study)
In volume, the demand is growing!
- Multi-expertise - A significant advantage! -
Mastering no-code tools is a transferable skill that provides a definite competitive advantage during a job interview!
3.2 Impact on the development of new "Business Solutions"
By empowering those in direct contact with clients and operational challenges to create and develop, we can expect an emergence of new "software" or "applications" tailored to specific business needs, thanks to no-code and low-code tools in the coming years.
Due to their numerous advantages:
- Flexibility, speed,
- cost reduction
- cross-functional collaboration,
No-code and low-code tools are revolutionizing how businesses develop and integrate new business tools, and we can easily imagine the development— for example—of specialized management applications for craftsmen, developed by artisans themselves.
3.3 Creation of a new profession: no-code developer
No-code development has led to the emergence of new professions, notably that of the no-code developer. Job offers for positions such as "Webflow Developer" are consistently on the rise. This new job market is worth keeping an eye on.
Conclusion on the no-code market
In summary, the trend towards no-code and low-code tools is transforming how businesses create, develop, and integrate business tools.
We are very optimistic about the growth and overall acceptance of no-code tools in 2023, as we have predicted since 2021. It is now clear that no-code tools represent a true technological revolution, opening numerous opportunities for innovation and competitiveness for the businesses that master them over the next 5 to 10 years.
