If you aren’t the most technologically savvy person, you may assume that the closest you’ll ever get to data analytics is the dashboards your analysts send you. Up until fairly recently, that was a correct assumption.
But with the advent of no-code and low-code analytics platforms, you can have a front-row seat in the creation of your analytics dashboards. More than a front-row seat, actually.
What Are No-Code vs. Low-Code BI Tools?
Low-code and no-code BI tools are similar in many ways but aren’t interchangeable. Instead, they each make building analytics platforms and dashboards an option for non-experts. Since you don’t need a data specialist or tech guru involved, these tools are a huge step in democratizing analytics.
No-code dashboards are precisely what they sound like; they don’t require any coding or SQL to set them up. Low-code dashboards, on the other hand, call for some minimal coding. Therefore, a low-code dashboard user needs at least a basic knowledge of coding language.
Both of these BI tools are part of rapid application development (RAD); they use automated code. Their drag-and-drop approach with pull-down menus means a nearly entirely visual interface for users. These formats are becoming popular in many organizations. More than 65% of app development will involve low- or no-code technology by 2024.
Yet, there are differences between these two approaches. Each has different users, different ways of being used, and different build speeds.
Pros of No-Code Dashboards
If you have zero programming experience but are interested in putting analytics dashboards together, you can put away your copy of Coding for Dummies. You won’t need it if you use a no-code dashboard.
Non-technical Maintenance
No-code dashboards are attractive for many reasons. The obvious draw for them is that you don’t need to rely on IT to set them up for you or adjust them every time something changes. Instead, almost anybody in the department can handle the dashboard maintenance. This way, more people can pitch in and be part of the process.
Easy to Learn
They require a minimal learning curve. There will be a bit of an onboarding process, but it’s simple and explanatory. Most people can just jump in and get started relatively quickly.
Fewer Mistakes
There is less room for error, too. Because the interface is all visual and you are only dragging and dropping items, these dashboards are pretty difficult to mess up. If only your kid’s birthday cake was as fool-proof!
Faster Time-to-Build
Don’t be surprised to discover that you are building your dashboards at a rapid rate. The no-code approach allows you to create your platforms up to ten times faster than the traditional, full-code way.
Cons of No-Code Dashboards
Sadly, just because you do away with coding, it doesn’t mean all your problems are solved. There are still a few shortcomings that you should be aware of if you go this route.
Limited Scalability
On the downside, no-code dashboards offer limited scalability. Their possibilities are somewhat limited; you have the options provided to you, and that’s it. There’s little room for customization.
Potential Security Risk
Another possible issue could be security. Without the guardrails of an IT expert in place, there may be a security risk in giving Bob from accounting the job of sharing potentially sensitive data.
Pros of Low-Code Dashboards
Low-code programming is pretty hot right now. And it’s easy to understand why. Low-code software is so popular that 77% of organizations currently employ it in some form, according to Mendix.
More Dashboards and Metric Customization
You get more dashboard and metric customization opportunities with low-code than with no-code dashboards. Your scalability is still limited compared to traditional methods, but you have more room to play with than you do with the very structured world of no-code dashboards.
Better Security
Low-code analytics platforms generally have better security. Because a person with at least slight technical knowledge is usually involved, they know which guardrails are best for protecting data.
Cons of Low-Code Dashboards
Of course, there are also drawbacks to low-code analytics.
Less User-Friendly
As stated earlier, they may not be the most user-friendly option for completely non-technical users. A basic understanding of coding language is helpful. These systems aren’t designed for your average Joe but for developers.
More Training
Low-code dashboards also require a bit more onboarding than no-code ones. Because they aren’t as straightforward, they do call for a little extra training before you can get running.
Slower Time-to-Build
They are also slower to build than no-code platforms. There are more steps involved, so naturally, it’s bound to take a bit longer to go to market.
No-Code Dashboards from Canvas
Datateer is proud to partner with Canvas for their no-code dashboards. They offer pre-designed templates you can plug your metrics into, with the result that you get a better picture of your overall revenue data.
Canvas knows the pain data analysts feel when trying to keep up with all the “small” changes needed to dashboards here and there; it all really adds up! So they took matters into their own hands; they said, “you do it, instead!” Canvas allows you to skip the coding class and connect to your data at high-speed.
Your metrics should be accessible to all, not guarded by the only people with tech knowledge. And it’s a trend that’s catching on. According to Gartner, there will be four times more untrained software developers by 2023 than professionals at large companies.
When Datateer partners with Canvas, you just pick your template and plug in your data. You can start making data-driven decisions from day one.
And Canvas takes security very seriously. Their servers are located only on US data centers which are SOC2 and ISO 27001 certified. So what’s that all mean? It means your information is secure.
Wrapping Up
The world of data analytics is coming closer and closer to your front door. It’s becoming practically essential practice for most companies to use their data to propel business forward. And the use of data visualization is a huge factor in helping companies understand their data.
With technological advancements, more companies can have a more significant role in working directly with their data. The introduction of low- and no-code analytics platforms is an astonishing change, putting more data at more people’s fingertips. And when Datateer partners with Canvas, you get the best of all worlds.