How Low Code/No Code Can Greatly Empower Apparel ERP Software

What is low-code and no-code?

Low-code/no-code is not currently a typical term used in today’s apparel management industry. Faced with ongoing compliance and supply chain challenges, many apparel and footwear companies have their hands full just trying to stay on top of fulfillment. But these companies are the best candidates to understand and embrace the low-code/no-code development platforms. Defined, low-code/no-code are visual software development tools that allow fast, easy creation of applications by both developers and software users. These tools provide access to relevant data and control of how it is presented.

Low-code and no-code tools let businesses quickly build applications on their own, relieving them of the complexity and cost of line-by-line code development. These tools truly widen the resource pool on employees' ability to use them with great success.  Roles like business analysts, office administrators, management, and others who are not software developers can rather easily build and test applications. Applications can be created with little to no knowledge of traditional programming languages or the technology behind the ERP platform. 

In either case, low-code/no-code tools include a friendly, graphical user experience by which you can connect relative data components, calculations, totals, groupings, and widgets. Tweaking and testing these apps is also easy and quick.

Using low-code/no-code methods within apparel ERP platforms can eliminate the need for highly skilled software developers or 3rd party service providers and improve turnaround time for development and delivery.

Low-code/no-code platforms stem from earlier rapid application development (RAD) tools such as Excel, Lotus Notes and Microsoft Access that also put similar development-like capabilities into the hands of users. However, those tools required a deeper understanding of business applications and environments than low-code/no-code that includes easy to use features like ‘drag and drop’, and other functionality whereby knowledge of development in general is just not necessary. 

How do low-code and no-code work?

With conventional software development, programmers construct lines of code to build the logic that creates a function or an application. This task requires developers to have in-depth knowledge of computer languages, development environments, deployment processes, and testing protocols.

Low-code and no-code platforms typically manage all that work behind the scenes. Users simply have to view, select, and connect components such as data sources, that represent particular steps or capabilities (which contain the actual code), to create the desired process flow.

Users can create applications as if they were drafting a flowchart rather than writing line-by-line code for each desired function and capability. Low-code / no-code platforms also generally have features that allow for prototyping, testing and deployment. This type of application development is sometimes called point-and-click development or simply click development.

Low Code/No Code features can provide a myriad of opportunities to manage your data such as:

• Column selection and joins across referential and transactional database sources.
• Reporting functionality such as filters, selections, calculations, sorting, grouping, subtotals, totals.
• Widget creation: Graphs, charts, grids, pivot grids, and exports.

Does the ABS Software offer low-code and no-code?

Yes! With ABS Apparel ERP, most customers have the option of licensing the low-code/no-code tools. Empowering the end-user and providing significant data access is not only important, but also a necessity, and the team at Apparel Business Systems understands this. With ABS tools, users can build charts, dashboards, graphs, exportable data grids and more to present relevant information in the unique manner in which they need to see it.  The ABS Low Code/No Code offers:

• Full access to thousands of developed apps and widgets
• Cost savings on external or internal development
• Empowerment of users to have more power over data and visibility
• Realtime metrics and faster results

Apparel Business Systems’ software and services help clients navigate technology, address business requirements & problems, and ensure they remain competitive and profitable. Let us show you why ABS is the first and remains your best choice in apparel and footwear software.

Want to learn more about the ABS software and low-code / no-code offerings? Contact us for a brief, pressure free chat!