It’s the end of the fourth quarter, which means business leaders everywhere are planning their goals for the new year.
For some, it might be improving their safety record. For others, reducing costs and increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction. Whatever your 2021 business goals are, adopting no-code apps can bring you one step closer (many steps closer, if we’re being honest) to reaching them — especially if you’re managing a mobile workforce.
Here are the top 10 reasons to adopt no-code development software in 2021.
Reduce data-collection errors
All businesses collect information to some degree. Whether it’s hours worked by their employees, incident reports and other information related to safety, or the condition of their assets at any given time. Doing so with a pen and paper creates multiple opportunities for that data to be corrupted. Inconsistencies in data management, illegible handwriting, forgetting details between inspection and documentation, and data-entry mistakes are a few examples of what can go wrong. With a no-code mobile app, data is collected once, on site, and can be easily standardized with pick lists and required fields, reducing the impact of human error.
Work more efficiently
A no-code mobile data collection app instantly uploads information gathered in the field to the cloud. If you are collecting in areas without cellular or WiFi service, the app uploads the data as soon as you regain connectivity. Anyone on your team with permission can access this data without any lag time. You don’t have to wait for someone to transcribe the data into your systems. Managers can track their mobile teams’ progress in real time and quickly decide where to allocate more resources to complete jobs faster.
Increase safety
Ensuring team adherence to safety protocols can be challenging for safety managers, especially with employees working solo in the field. A no-code app enables the deployment of checklists for field technicians, helping them avoid missing crucial safety steps in dangerous or unpredictable situations. Moreover, it allows managers to monitor checklist completion in real time. This ensures that team members are not only following rules but are also safely accounted for.
Improve situational awareness
Mobile apps with built-in geotagging enable managers to see where (and when) data is collected, so you know where your teams and physical assets are at all times. Armed with this information, you can deploy your crews more efficiently, visualize trouble areas, and respond to urgent situations more quickly because you know exactly where they are occurring.
Get better documentation and analytics
Even if accurate, data collected on paper proves minimally useful until transcribed into your systems. Facing a hundred inspection reports on as many sheets, recognizing trends becomes a challenge. Paper complicates data extraction and the implementation of actionable changes. Demonstrating compliance requires searching through countless sheets for the necessary one, a daunting task. In contrast, mobile app-based inspections bring multiple benefits. They automatically receive geotags and timestamps. Moreover, the cloud securely stores these inspections, ensuring documentation is accessible from anywhere, anytime.
Don’t prototype — iterate
Using a no-code development platform allows you to quickly provide your team with a mobile app. As team members use the app, they can offer suggestions for immediate improvements. This process eliminates the need to wait for developer updates. You can also update the app as often as needed, ensuring your team always has access to the latest checklists and standards.
Save money
Introducing new technology to an organization usually incurs a significant initial cost. This might involve hiring developers for an in-house platform, engaging consultants for a bespoke solution, or buying expensive software needing future upgrades. However, a no-code SaaS platform sidesteps the need for software engineers for its development or upkeep, thanks to automatic upgrades. Additionally, the subscription model of many SaaS products means foregoing large upfront investments for predictable monthly payments.
Engage and empower your teams
Around here we like to say no-code app development creates confidence through collaboration. Because no-code apps are built using a visual drag-and-drop interface, anyone on your team can make them. And stakeholders from every part of your organization can participate in the app creation process to ensure you get the solution that best serves the needs of the most people.
Automate workflows
Whether conducting inspections, surveys, or checklists, data collection is often the initial step. For data to be effective, it must be utilized promptly. Typically, the quicker the data is extracted and analyzed, the better. A no-code development platform enables the creation of automated workflows in apps, accelerating processes. For instance, if a team member fills out a form on the app, the platform can inform a manager that their approval is needed. Similarly, if a user reports a repair requirement, the platform can email the maintenance team to arrange the repair. All these actions occur without human intervention.
Stay IT-friendly
No-code platforms empower you to create and modify custom apps and workflows without getting stuck in IT backlogs. Not only does that mean you can put your app in the hands of your staff faster, but it takes the strain off of your IT department, giving them the ability to address higher-level issues. At the same time a no-code platform like Fulcrum enables you to follow IT’s rigorous security requirements with enterprise features like single sign-on (SSO).
Interested in learning how Fulcrum empowers your organization to own and manage its data? Watch this webcast to discover how no-code app development empowers ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.