No-code tools put the power to create, organize, and automate business processes in the hands of non-engineers.
Welcome to the revolution – the no-code revolution, that is. No-code tools are popping up left and right, democratizing technology that was formerly only available to highly skilled engineers. You can now build a website or app, design a chatbot, automate tasks, open an online store, and much more, all without typing out a single line of code. This movement will forever change the way small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operate and grow digitally, and it’s only just begun.
No-code tools provide an easy way for SMBs to take their presence online and reach a new audience there. A brick-and-mortar store, for example, can start selling their products online more easily than ever before. Drag-and-drop interfaces for building eCommerce stores without code have become widely popular. That means shops of all sizes can digitize their operations quickly and easily.
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How no-code solutions work
Of course, no-code tools still involve code—it’s just all been set up and completed already, behind the scenes. As a result, the end-user of a no-code tool doesn’t have to know anything about coding. The engineers who built the platform have already done all the heavy lifting in terms of development. That means the user can simply drag and drop various elements in a visual, easy-to-use interface, and they’ll be ready to launch. They won’t be able to tailor the specifications of the end product as much as if they were coding it themselves, but most SMBs won’t need those advanced customizations.
Key benefits of no-code tools for SMBs
No-code tools put the power in the hands of non-engineers. That means CEOs, solopreneurs, marketers, and anyone in between can create, organize, and automate business products and tasks without ever learning to code. This translates into four key benefits for SMBs:
#1. Low risk
Tools that don’t require coding mean users can test and iterate quickly, painlessly, and as often as needed. Instead of investing millions to hire a whole team to build a custom solution, SMBs can now build solutions themselves, quickly and cheaply. No-code platforms remove many barriers to entry for smaller organizations.
#2. Low cost
A huge budget to finance a staff of engineers is no longer a necessity for businesses who want to go fully digital. Small teams and even entrepreneurs can use no-code technology to build out digital projects themselves. Plus, many no-code tools have freemium models. Start for free, experiment and validate your concept, and upgrade to scale when you’re ready. From there, most also have month-to-month subscriptions rather than long-term contracts. That’s why no-code tools are ideal for SMBs. They require a much smaller and more flexible investment than traditional programming methods, which were formerly only available to major organizations with big budgets.
#3. Accessibility
The whole point of no-code solutions is to make certain digital tasks and projects accessible to everyone. So whether you’re creating a website or creating a chatbot, anyone on your team can take the reins on the project. From the initial build to tweaks down the line, whoever needs to be involved can participate easily with a minimal learning curve.
#4. Agility
What happens if a business hires a team of engineers who spend months writing code for a project, and the end result isn’t quite right? The time and money required to go back to the drawing board isn’t something most SMBs can afford. In contrast, no-code platforms allow businesses to experiment and iterate on a dime. They allow for flexibility and optimization without the risk of wasting precious resources along the way.
What no-code platforms can help SMBs achieve
There’s a whole range of tools out there that don’t require coding. Most fall into one of these general categories:
Tools for building something (websites, online stores, mobile apps)
This type of no-code tool lets SMBs build something to create or improve their digital presence. Especially in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses can’t afford to not be available to customers online. No-code tools turn the process of setting up a digital store or website from a slow-moving, high-cost project to a task that can be completed by one person in hours or days.
These types of tools are hugely beneficial to entrepreneurs and business owners who are just starting out or SMBs who want to experiment with new ideas. They can use them to build workable first versions of apps or websites fast, for little to no cost. That means they can have a real interface to test their ideas with a live audience.
Tools for organizing something (data, lead information)
Data entry and handling eats up far too much time and far too many resources for lots of small- and medium-sized businesses. No-code platforms in this category make that a problem of the past. They let businesses sort, track, analyze, and collaborate on customer data, sales data, or any other type of information. When that data is more organized and accessible to team members, it becomes far easier to use it in meaningful ways that benefit the company’s bottom line.
Tools for automating something (customer support, sales, communications)
Have you ever dreamed of having a few extra pairs of hands to take repetitive business tasks off your (or your team’s) plate? No-code tools for automation make this possible for a cost far lower than a new employee salary. Take tools that let people build chatbots without coding, for example. Once the bot is up and running, it can handle all kinds of tasks related to lead generation, lead qualification, customer service, product recommendations, and more—all on autopilot. It’s easy to see how useful a tool like this would be to any business, especially those with limited resources.
The future is no-code
No-code tools are designed to be easy to use by anyone and everyone. They make building, organizing, and automating things simple and inexpensive, which gives SMBs more accessible growth resources than ever before. They create new avenues for exposure and success on digital channels that were previously out of reach for smaller organizations. Whether you’re starting or building a business, no-code platforms will help you go digital and achieve your goals with the skills, resources, and budget you already have.
