Is your software future-proofed?

As we move rapidly towards full digital transformation, businesses are relying on a raft of software solutions to help them manage their day-to-day operations, store critical data securely, and drive the strategies that promote growth and long-term success.

Not all software is equal, though. Older systems are often slower to use, less easy to interrogate, don’t integrate with other systems and can even be at a stage where the software company no longer offers updates or support.

Today’s software must be designed and developed with an eye to the future. Whether you are building a system in-house, or buying systems in from elsewhere, the scalability, flexibility and adaptability of the software system must be key considerations. In this article, we talk about why this is so important, and how taking a low code approach could deliver the future proofing you need.

Software is changing

In fact, this isn’t a recent occurrence. Like all fundamental technologies, software development is changing all the time. Developers live in a fast-paced and competitive environment, where users have certain expectations and demands, and businesses want more software for their money.

This can pose problems for the hand-coding approach – the traditional method of software development where developers hand-write their code from scratch. That’s because this is a more time-consuming way to write software – and therefore more expensive. It can also be more prone to errors or bugs, simply because it relies entirely on human authoring and testing.

This is why, over the past 20 years, we have seen the emergence of a low code approach. Low code development uses a visual drag-and-drop interface, using pre-designed elements to improve both the speed of development and its accuracy. The ability to use a dedicated platform also promotes better collaboration between developers and their clients – whether they are internal or external – and also allows software to be built that can be updated or scaled quickly and easily.

How low code supports future proofing

So, low code reduces development time, removes much of the error risk, and helps developers to build flexible software. This in itself supports future-proofing, and there are a number of benefits to this approach:

Agile development – using low code platforms supports a more flexible development lifecycle, which allows developers and organisations to respond quickly and accurately to changes in business requirements, market demands or competitive features. The ability to be able to quickly design, test and deploy software applications to help businesses flex to maintain or improve market position.

Scalable approach – rather than going through a cycle of constantly upgrading or changing software to meet the demands of a growing business, a low-code approach allows developers to expand the current application to meet new needs. This may be extending functionality to a new department, bringing on board a business that has been acquired, or simply upgrading the software to allow for a more efficient approach.

Less technical debt – ‘technical debt’ is a term used to describe software that can no longer deliver what the organisation needs. This slows down productivity and can actively get in the way of growth. With a low code development solution, the code is simpler, the ability to change or adapt is greater and so technical debt declines.

Better security – this is a core requirement for all today’s software. Organisations are at constant risk of attack and need to demonstrate that they have put the security of their systems and their data first. While some businesses just focus on security, others also have to demonstrate compliance with both government and regulatory requirements. So today’s development is not just about building a future-proofed user experience; it’s about ensuring the organisation is always meeting or exceeding its security and compliance requirements.

Why we use OutSystems

OutSystems is a pioneer of the low code approach, and has been developing its platform for the past 20 years. It’s built up a loyal following among professional developers, who can see the numerous benefits of using its intelligence to build software faster, while also retaining control over design and architecture.

We are a proud OutSystems partner, using its low code technology to build our industry-leading platform, Waste and Recycling One. We also use OutSystems to build discrete applications for clients, giving them the high quality, future-proofed development they are looking for at a price they can afford.