What is low code automation?

Key takeaways

  • By next year, low-code tools will be responsible for over 65% of application development.
  • Low code automation is like the superhero of the tech world.
  • Parseur is one of the best low code tools on the market.

Imagine trying to decode an alien language... Sounds daunting, right? Now, swap out "alien language" with "traditional coding." There is no fun in coding when you are not a developer.

Luckily, low code and no code automation tools exist and you can build cool stuff with them.

Low-code is a sweet spot between No Code and Code. It almost has the same speed and ease of use of No Code but also allow advanced use case that, until recently, only coding could permit.

By next year, low-code tools will be responsible for over 65% of application development.

Differences between traditional no-code, low code and traditional code

No code Low code Traditional code
Target users Business users Developers and Business users Developers
Coding knowledge required None Basic knowledge Advanced knowledge
Tools Point and click web interface Web-based code editor or point and click editor Advanced desktop code editor (VSCode, Pycharm, vim), Code repositories, Continuous Integration, Test Suites
Typical use case Simple workflows, no complex business logic Multi-step workflows with reasonably complex business logic Complex multi-step advanced workflows with deep business logic

Benefits of low code automation

Low code automation exists so programmers can relax and free themselves from extensive coding.

Less need for shadow IT

The IT department is usually busy with a lot of requests from business teams. Sometimes, business teams just use third-party software that isn't in accordance with IT governance. By using low-code tools, IT departments can reduce the need for shadow IT.

Improves productivity

Let's face it! Some coding is no "always" fun, even for programmers. Low code automation helps not only developers but business users as well. They don't have to wait for the IT teams to build a business workflow.

Cost-effective

Low code platforms usually have a free plan and are available easily. Templates can be quickly created using a point-and-click interface.

Seamless integration with other applications

Low code platforms enable you to connect with other tools and send data automatically across them. For example, Parseur has native integration with Zapier, Make and Power Automate.

Use cases of Low code automation

Low code automation is like the superhero of the tech world helping every industry build and deploy its own applications.

HR onboarding

Are you drowning in paperwork each time a new employee joins the company? With a few clicks, you can create an onboarding portal that collects personal information, sets up accounts, and even assigns training modules. Say goodbye to endless forms.

Export applicants from a LinkedIn job post

Inventory

Whether you're running a small retail shop or a massive warehouse, low code automation can be your inventory Yoda. With a low code tool, you can build an app that keeps tabs on stock levels, or triggers reorders when supplies run low. May the inventory force be with you!

Parseur: Making manual data entry disappear

Expenses and receipts

Tired of wrangling invoices and expense reports? Create a workflow from the moment you receive an invoice until the payment is recorded in an invoicing app. Trust me when I say that your finance team will love you for that!

Extract invoice data wit AI?

Which tools should I use for low code automation?

Let's get to the good part! If this article has convinced you to switch to low code tools, then it's time to meet some cool and popular low code software available on the market.

Parseur - Your low code buddy

Parseur is everyone's happy friend as it offers many features to streamline processes and eliminate traditional coding and manual data entry tasks.

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It's simple and easy to set up a workflow between Parseur and another application.

Uipath

It offers a low code platform that's great for automating repetitive data extraction tasks. It can navigate websites, scrape data, and even interact with desktop applications, making it a versatile companion for data extraction adventures.

Make

Make (formerly known as Integromat) is like the ultimate bridge between different apps and software. It doesn't focus solely on data extraction, but it can automate various tasks by connecting different apps.

Microsoft PowerApps

PowerApps enable users to create feature-rich, custom business apps with minimal coding using pre-built templates and quick deployment.

Bubble

Bubble is a visual programming platform designed to help non-technical users who want to create complex online web applications with low code.

You don't need a code guru

If you don't want to hire a developer but still want to digitalize your business processes, then low code platforms like Parseur are your trusted sidekicks.

Don't listen to us -- but listen to Bernard from Bond Healthcare

"Parseur is a highly customisable product and has a solution for straightforward data extraction through complex spreadsheets."

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about low code automation, how it compares to no code and traditional coding, and where tools like Parseur fit in.

Low code automation is an approach to building applications and workflows that uses visual, drag-and-drop interfaces and minimal hand-written code. It sits between no code, which requires no programming at all, and traditional code, which requires advanced development skills. Low code lets both developers and business users build multi-step workflows with reasonably complex business logic quickly. By next year, low-code tools are expected to be responsible for over 65% of application development.

Low code automation offers several benefits, including reduced reliance on shadow IT, improved productivity, and lower costs. It frees IT departments from a backlog of requests by letting business users build their own workflows without waiting. Many low code platforms also offer free plans and connect easily with other applications, so data can flow automatically across tools.

Low code automation reduces shadow IT by giving business teams approved tools to build their own workflows instead of turning to unsanctioned third-party software. IT departments are often overloaded with requests, which pushes teams to adopt software outside IT governance. With low code tools, business users can solve their own needs within an approved framework, lowering the risk that comes with unmanaged applications.

Parseur is a low code automation tool focused on extracting data from documents and emails without manual data entry. Its built-in AI extracts the fields you request from any layout, so you do not need to create a separate template for each document format. Parseur can process thousands of documents in seconds, combines AI parsing with zonal and dynamic OCR, and includes a Post Processing module for adding business rules with short code snippets.

Yes, low code platforms are built to integrate with other applications and move data automatically between them. For example, Parseur has native integrations with Zapier, Make, and Power Automate, which lets extracted data flow into the tools a team already uses. This seamless integration is one of the main reasons low code automation can replace manual data entry across business processes.

The difference between low code, no code, and traditional code lies in how much programming knowledge each requires. No code requires none and targets business users building simple workflows through point-and-click interfaces. Low code requires basic knowledge and serves both developers and business users building multi-step workflows with reasonably complex logic. Traditional code requires advanced knowledge and is used by developers building complex workflows with deep business logic using tools like VSCode, code repositories, and test suites.

Common use cases for low code automation include HR onboarding, inventory management, and expense and receipt processing. Teams can build onboarding portals that collect employee information and set up accounts, apps that track stock levels and trigger reorders, and workflows that handle invoices from receipt through payment. Low code automation helps almost every industry build and deploy its own applications faster.

Popular tools for low code automation include Parseur for document and data extraction, UiPath for repetitive automation tasks, Make for connecting apps, Microsoft PowerApps for custom business apps, and Bubble for building web applications. Each tool targets a different part of the automation landscape, so the best choice depends on whether you need data extraction, app integration, or full application building.

Low code automation requires only basic coding knowledge, unlike no code, which requires none, and traditional code, which requires advanced skills. Most work happens through web-based visual editors or point-and-click interfaces, with small amounts of code used to handle more complex logic. This makes low code accessible to business users while still giving developers room to extend workflows when needed.