What is Low-code Development Technology?

Last updated: 21st May 2025

First published: 7th August 2022

by Richard Farrell

A guide to Low-code development

Businesses are constantly pressured to innovate, optimise processes and provide better user experiences in today’s fast-paced digital world, all without going over budget or overtaxing their IT departments. Low-code is the concept that enables rapid development and improvement of software applications and is the key to innovation.

Whether you’re a business leader exploring digital transformation or a developer looking for ways to accelerate delivery, this comprehensive guide to low-code development will provide you with everything you need to know, from what it is to how it works, to choosing the right platform for your organisation.

In this article, we’ll answer the following:

What is low-code development?

Low-code is a software development methodology that enables the creation of applications through visual interfaces and minimal hand-coding. By utilising drag-and-drop components, low-code platforms accelerate the development process, making it accessible to both professional developers and non-technical users.

Organisations can use a low-code development platform, like Liberty Create, to develop applications in weeks rather than months without sacrificing customisation or quality. It is reported that 70% of new business applications will use low-code technologies by 2025 (Gartner).

How can low-code help your business?

Low-code development can significantly benefit businesses looking to modernise operations and innovate quickly. You map the process you want to create – including steps, actions and end points – and the software takes care of the rest. Once you have your low-code application, you can continuously test, refine and improve it. That means you can:

  • Cut development time: With a low-code development platform, businesses can build and deploy applications in days or weeks instead of months. Low-code help reduce app development time by 90% (Redhat).
  • Solve processes, fast: Developing in low-code helps businesses quickly iterate and adapt applications in response to changing business needs.
  • Take the pressure off IT: With a low-code development platform, users with no coding knowledge can build tools and workflows tailored to their specific roles, increasing productivity.
  • Highly customisable and versatile: Highly customisable and adaptable to specific business requirements. Modern low-code development platforms, like Liberty Create, offer customisation and configuration options.
  • Security and trust: Low-code technology puts security and privacy first, providing strong features and inbuilt security knowledge. Businesses can ensure their applications comply with security protocols and legal requirements.

Who can use low-code?

Compared to a high-code environment, working in a low-code platform enables both professional and amateur developers to design and create more quickly.

Non-technical users can easily learn to utilise a low-code development platform because it requires no prior coding knowledge. Users can visualise and create business applications by using features like drag-and-drop components, guided process modelling and templates.

Professional developers can also use low-code to extend an application faster, integrate data from multiple sources and translate business requirements into custom solutions.

What is a low-code development platform?

A low-code development platform lets you create applications by mapping the process you want to create – including steps, actions and end points – and the software takes care of the rest. Once you have developed an application, you can test, refine and improve it on an ongoing basis.

Netcall’s Liberty Create comes with the following features:

  • A visual development interface
  • Built-in connectors to databases and APIs
  • Workflow automation tools
  • Governance and security features

Key features of a low-code platform

The exact features of low-code platforms vary by provider, though you will typically find features that include:

  • Drag and drop interface to help design and build applications
  • Business rules engine to create and manage information, relationships and logic rules. And be able to collect data at each point to give you a complete history.
  • Widgets such as tables, charts, maps and forms. That can all be used to create responsive interfaces that work for desktop, tablet and phone.
  • Automatically triggered notifications to users or customers. Using SMS and email templates, social messages and in-app push notifications.
  • Dashboards with real-time data to create bespoke reports based on user needs.
  • A central controller is needed to support IT governance with built-in security and encryption levels.
  • Integrations with pre-built connectors for standard enterprise systems. And generic rest API adapters to connect to other systems, particularly legacy systems.
  • An app store that includes pre-built applications and widgets. These can be downloaded and easily configured to avoid having to build from scratch.

A low-code development platform can come with advanced features, such as connecting artificial intelligence (AI) to your applications and for example, using a chatbot or virtual assistant to answer common questions. Or allowing developers to use bespoke code if needed, to ensure you are not limited by the technology. It also includes automated regression testing, which can be scheduled or triggered as part of your deployment process.

Low-code, no-code vs. traditional development: A comparison

Low-code development sits in the sweet spot between speed and flexibility, while no-code is ideal for lightweight apps. Traditional development is still best for highly customised or performance-intensive applications.

The table below compares the three technologies, considering different aspects:

4 use cases for low-code platforms

There are a multitude of creative ways you can use low-code in your organisation. Here are 4 great examples:

1. Get it to process your orders

Simplify the order process by creating an application using low-code that can be used by everyone in your company. That way, there’s no endless cycle of (unread) emails and everything syncs up nicely.

2. Shatter data silos

Get rid of data silos by creating one system to rule them all. Pull all your customer data together in one central repository that updates automatically. And retain complete control over who sees what and when.

3. Offer a new service in days

Our low-code development platform helps you create apps 10x faster by giving business users the tools they need to build products themselves. Say someone wants to build a mortgage application app. They drag and drop the necessary components, get IT to test it and then (pending approval) upload it to your site (pending approval). It’s as simple as that.

4. Cut out the virtual clutter

Spend less time in your inbox by rapidly creating an app using low-code development for storing admin documents. Meeting minutes, action lists and related content – you can drop them all in the app and upload them to your intranet. You can even automate email alerts so people know when you’ve uploaded something relevant to them.

How to pick the right low-code development platform for your business

Choosing the right low-code development platform depends on your business goals, team and existing infrastructure. Here, we provide a list of criteria and questions for you to consider when picking a low-code development tool for your business:

1. Ease of Use

  • Is the interface intuitive for non-developers?
  • Can multiple developers work on the same project? How?

2. Integration Support:

  • Does it connect with your existing systems?
  • How secure is it to integrate data?

3. Scalability:

  • Will it support growth and increasing user demand?
  • Is the platform open and extensible with custom code and APIs?
  • Can developers override defaults for more complex needs?

4. Security and Governance:

  • Are data privacy, role-based access and audit trails built in?
  • How does the platform ensure application security?

5. Community and Support:

  • Is there an active user base and strong vendor support?
  • What is the vendor’s strategic vision?

Explore low-code development with Netcall

As organisations look to improve efficiency, enhance communication and deliver more personalised support, choosing the right technology is key to driving customer satisfaction.

By partnering with the right provider, like Netcall, you can streamline processes, reduce costs, and ultimately build stronger customer loyalty and advocacy. That’s why 9 out of 10 customers recommend us.

Get in touch to discover how Netcall’s low-code application development platform can help your organisation.

Case study: Tewkesbury Borough Council | Transforming Digital Experiences for Citizens

Tewkesbury Borough Council transformed its normal online waste and recycling services and paper-based processes, with Netcall’s Liberty Create platform, achieving remarkable results:

  • Simplified systems have reduced officer admin time, enabling quicker customer response times
  • Better integration into existing legacy systems
  • Automated communications
  • Significantly improved council finances – their actions in the first 18 months saved over £100,000 net of investment
  • Increased capacity to drive service income, for example, a 35% revenue growth (>£300k) from garden waste over 3 years.

We have plenty of customer stories for your consideration. Contact us so our professional and supportive team can help you drive your business efficiently without adding complexity.

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