Technologies that Cut Development Costs
Various events, such as wars and crises, are shaking the markets, triggering natural defence mechanisms among decision-makers, making them look twice at every penny they’re going to spend. This is why we began exploring technologies such as no-code and low-code development platforms, alongside AI solutions, that can make the process of app and website development more economical. But if the goal is to be budget-friendly, what about quality? Surely, there must be a drawback? Well — not always! Read on for technologies that can reduce development costs with little or no compromise on quality or development time.
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How to reduce software development costs?
For the purpose of this article, we have decided that our goal is to reduce the budget required to develop digital products. The traditional approach considers cost, time, and quality as interdependent factors – any improvement in one area tends to negatively impact the others. Do you want your app to hit the market quickly? No problem, but it will cost more, and we’ll need to select only the most crucial features to expedite the process (known as the MVP approach). Or, do you wish to include every possible feature in the final product? That’s feasible, but it will take more time (and might be entirely unnecessary, by the way) and more money.
Fortunately, technology is becoming increasingly accessible. While it’s not always the best solution to leverage these technologies, they offer an option that provides additional flexibility and allows to reduce development costs.
Reducing product development costs with no-code development
No-code and low-code development platforms, such as Webflow.com or Squarespace, enable you to build a website relatively quickly without knowing how to code. Drag-and-drop menus and ready-made components that handle different functions, features, and options mean you only need to have a clear idea of what you want to create. All the pieces are provided, you decide which ones you need.
That’s not to say that there is no learning curve – like any other tool, you have to learn how to use it. But online video guides and knowledge exchange platforms are there to support the newbie. And if you do have some programming knowledge and understanding of how apps and websites work ‘under the hood’, you’ll find these platforms even easier to use.
How is no-code different from low-code?
Low-code is similar, but not the same as no-code. No-code tools require no programming or coding skills at all, and are aimed at non-developers. Low-code – as the name suggests – requires some experience and understanding of programming languages. The principle of choosing from a menu of prepared components or blocks of code is the same, but some of that code will need editing or rewriting to suit your goals. The target audience for low-code tools, such as Zoho Creator or Kissflow.com, is more developers who want or need to save time and reduce development costs.
The benefits of no/low-code solutions
If you have in-house developers who need to get the job done quickly or have little in-house expertise but need to establish your online presence with a minimum effort, then a low or no-code platform may be the solution you’re looking for.
For startups and small businesses, these technologies offer:
- Rapid product development.
- Easy learning curve.
- Efficiency through automation and modular design options.
- Flexibility, in that components and modules can easily be swapped out to keep up with your digital needs.
- Accessibility (the options available usually follow best practice accessibility guidelines).
- And, of course, reduced costs of development.
For an example of great design using no-code tools, check out our case study for the Plantarium website which received an Awaaards Honorable Mention. For this purpose, we used the Webflow platform:
Cutting development costs with AI
Automation is always an effective cost-cutting strategy and artificial intelligence offers numerous automation options to reduce product development costs.
- Generating code – Generative AI tools can be used as coding assistants, writing code snippets and modules based on design prompts. This can be a valuable aid to developers and as a learning tool.
- Testing code – AI testing tools will check your digital product’s functionality, performance, and reliability, identifying bugs and issues and saving valuable developer time.
- Create user personas – Great products are designed with specific user types in mind. As an aid to the research and product discovery parts of your development process, AI tools – such as delve.ai – will scour the internet for appropriate user personas based on factors such as tech used, content/news read, favorite brands, business interests, etc.
- Generating content – Even the best-coded product is of little benefit to users without text, images, and other media – the information with which they interact. GenAI can be used to create such content almost instantly in line with your specifications.
- Virtual assistants can be integrated into your website or app, automating the ‘help’ function for users and saving employee time as common inquiries are managed by the AI. You can explore a case study on a Proof of Concept chatbot we developed for one of our clients to see how straightforward the process can be.
- Prototype creation – One of the most time-saving applications of AI in the development process is the creation of wireframe or mock-up prototypes. This gets your initial designs into the hands of users and stakeholders as quickly as possible, enabling rapid feedback that can help improve the design. There are several tools available that allow for the creation of simple wireframes based on a drawing or photo.
Applying AI tools to product development offers a number of potential benefits for businesses looking to reduce development costs:
- Speed – automation of process elements such as developing user personas, writing code, and testing functionality and usability enable rapid prototyping and faster, more focused development and quicker time-to-market.
- Less developer input – These AI tools aren’t exactly ‘no-code’ because developer experience is usually still required to check, assess and utilize the results; but they do significantly reduce the amount of developer time needed to create your product.
- Less human error – AI tools are certainly not error-proof, but they are consistent, and once you understand their limits can be used extensively. Humans on the other hand – even the most expert – still tend to make random mistakes.
- Cost-efficiency – With AI-powered development, digital products require less developer resources, and therefore, less expense. Alternatively, your developers may spend the same amount of time on developing the product but that time is focused on fine-tuning, customization, and other added-value and quality work.
- More creativity – Let your marketing or HR team experiment with GPTs and discover the myriad of great things they can create.
Reducing development costs — what’s the catch?
So far, so good – no-code, low-code, and a variety of AI tools offer a range of ways to cut product development costs. Surely there must be a drawback?
Not so much ‘drawbacks’ as limitations on use. No-code platforms are a great way for startups and smaller businesses to get their website done and look professional. However, you are limited to the specific platform’s range of components and design options. For a wholly original, stand-out-in-a-crowded-marketplace website, you’re still looking at using professional teams. If your needs go beyond a simple website, there are still plenty of out-of-the-box solutions for the most digitally-friendly industries.
Additionally, the more specific your needs, the greater the likelihood that you will require something custom-made.
Similarly, the no/low-code drag-and-drop method can result in rapid production of prototypes or minimum viable products (MVPs). But once you’ve verified the product hypothesis development of the product for launch may well need more resources.
Low-code/No-code options can significantly reduce the costs of product development. However, smart use of AI can do more than save money — it can also enhance your product. Take, for example, a case story where our implementation saved a client approximately €150,000. This was not only a budget win, but also boosted SEO and sales rates on their e-commerce platform. We didn’t just save money; we added value to the product. We achieved more impactful results in a shorter timeframe than would have been possible using traditional methods.
So, here’s the good news: for quick fixes or the early stages of development, there’s really no downside to embracing cost-cutting technologies like no-code or low-code platforms.
As for AI, it’s not just a tool for reducing development or operational costs; it’s also a game-changer for enhancing your product with solutions that didn’t exist just a year ago.
Cost-effective software development
For smaller businesses and startups that need to develop solid digital products or an MVP to test user and stakeholder reactions, no-code and low-code tools can be very effective in reducing development time and costs. AI can be used not only to decrease the product’s influence on the budget, but also to create business or user value that might be translated into ROI in a short period of time.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch, so we can explore ways to enhance your product!
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