Low-code is a fairly new approach to software development that has been steadily growing over the years but is predicted to skyrocket in future. Low-code or “no-code” development platforms aim to give developers and users of all skill levels the space to build applications and processes with little to no coding.
The actual technology for low-code has been around since the early 2000s, used by organizations big and small for its reduced costs and the ability to speed up development. It dramatically revolutionized the world of programming, making the whole process significantly easier. Instead of traditional coding where developers type thousands of lines of code to create one application, low-code platforms use visual workflows and other features like drag and drop.
The success of the low-code approach was inevitable, businesses are always looking for ways to save money, improve productivity and improve efficiency. The demand for good platforms is only going to increase. TechQuarters, who are IT Support Services in London have confirmed that low-code is one of the best investments for IT departments moving forward.
So with all the demand, it was unsurprising that Microsoft would join the world of low-code platforms and tools. Microsoft came out with Power Platform, a family of products that include several software applications and toolkits to help developers and businesses do more with less.
This package includes:
- Power BI:
Power BI is made up of a collection of apps, software services and connectors that work together to collect, analyse and visualize data from multiple sources. Along with the data, it provides tools for data preparation, data modelling and data visualization. Overall, a powerful tool to give easy access to insights and information to help make data-driven decisions.
- Power Apps:
Power Apps is the platform for building custom low-code apps for a variety of purposes like data collection, process automation and collaboration. The platform uses a drag-and-drop interface and includes pre-built templates and visual tools that can be customized and extended for specific needs. Office 365 Consultants particularly like this platform because of its ability to integrate with other Microsoft tools like Power BI and Dynamics 365.
The platform can also create mobile-friendly apps and is collaboration-friendly. Users can easily share and collaborate on app development for teams working on the same project. - Power Pages:
Similarly to Power Apps, Power Pages is a platform that uses a low-code, drag-and-drop interface that has pre-built but customizable templates and visual tools. Power Pages however is specifically for users to create web pages.
The interface also allows collaboration and is integrated with Microsoft tools like Power BI and Dynamics 365. The platform does also provide analytics on web page performance for businesses to measure the success of marketing campaigns and track overall visitor engagement.
- Power Automate:
Power Automate was made specifically to automate organizational processes in order to boost business productivity. The platform allows users to be able to build automated processes with low-code, drag-and-drop tools. This can be used for a range of repetitive tasks and workflows in the workspace.
Power Automate comes with pre-built connectors, templates and AI assistance to make the process easier and more user-friendly. This automation tool can be used for desktop, mobile, web pages and Microsoft Teams.
- Power Virtual Agents:
Power Virtual Agents is a platform used to build intelligent bots using generative AI. It also follows the low-code, drag-and-drop interface, as well as the ability to customise templates and tools.
The aim of Power Virtual Agents is to use natural language processing and AI to better understand and rapidly respond to customers and employees.
Low-code is exploding in popularity lately because the reality is that IT departments are now facing a growing backlog of applications. To meet stakeholder demands businesses need more experienced developers and technical specialists than they can actually afford. It’s a good time to use providers like TechQuarters, who give specialised IT Support in London, to get a business set up with the best low-code platforms now. It allows a business to become more reliant on existing employees and their current skillset while also increasing high-quality output. No matter the business needs, Microsoft’s Power Platform will cover all the bases for all types of application developments.