USING LOW OR NO CODE TOOLS

How can understanding no or lo code solutions support the development of your toolkit?

This session's expert is Mark Corderoy

With a background in engineering and technology in a variety of commercial settings, Mark is an experienced technologist and award-winning Mentor.

He has been at UWE Bristol for last six years as both Incubation Manager and Entrepreneur in Residence. He has led the development of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory Hardware Incubator and Launch Space, UWE’s graduate incubator.

He is pioneering the use of low-code development tools to support all entrepreneurs (including non-technical founders) to realise their product visions and get to market quickly without the need for large product development teams.

Accessibility and Inclusivity: These platforms make it easier for individuals with little or no programming experience to develop applications. This democratises the development process, allowing more team members, including those from non-technical backgrounds, to contribute to the project.

Rapid Prototyping: Low-code and no-code tools enable fast prototyping and iteration. Academics can quickly create and test ideas without extensive development cycles, which is particularly useful in research environments where hypotheses and models need to be tested and refined frequently.

Cost Efficiency: By reducing the need for specialised programming skills, these platforms can lower the costs associated with hiring developers. This is especially important in academic settings where budgets are often tight.

Focus on Research: Academics can focus more on the research and less on the technical implementation. Low-code and no-code platforms abstract much of the complexity of coding, allowing researchers to dedicate more time to their core research activities.

Integration with Existing Tools: Many low-code and no-code platforms offer seamless integration with other software tools commonly used in academia, such as data analysis programs, cloud storage, and collaborative platforms. This can streamline workflows and improve productivity.

Customisation and Flexibility: These platforms often provide customisable templates and components that can be tailored to the specific needs of an academic project. This flexibility allows researchers to build tools that are precisely aligned with their project requirements.

Collaboration: Low-code and no-code platforms often include features that facilitate collaboration among team members, such as shared workspaces, version control, and real-time editing. This can enhance teamwork and improve project outcomes.

Data Management: Many academic projects involve handling and analysing large datasets. Low-code and no-code tools often come with built-in data management and visualisation capabilities, making it easier to manage and interpret data.

Scalability: These platforms can often scale with the project. Starting with a no-code prototype, the project can evolve and, if needed, be transitioned to more complex low-code or traditional coding environments as it grows in complexity.

Innovation and Creativity: By lowering the technical barriers to application development, these platforms encourage innovation and creativity. Academics can experiment with new ideas and approaches without being constrained by technical limitations.

AI Copilot/Support - The use of AI to fill in technical gaps to help you achieve the app functionality required