Once upon a time, setting up a shop of your own was a complicated thing to do. But SaaS platforms, like Shopify, have revolutionised the process entirely. As a result, the tables have turned, and launching your very own DTC brand has essentially boiled down to a few clicks.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that coding is a necessary skill to have when creating your own store. Yet, thanks to the simplicity of SaaS platforms, you need not write a single line.
Low-code platforms are known as tools that effectively make coding invisible to users. That kind of simplicity is naturally very appealing and explains Gartner’s predicted explosion in growth of this market from $13.8 billion in 2021 to $29 billion by 2025.
That’s why it’s high time to take you through some of the more popular low-code development tools that best express the idea of low or even ‘no-code.’
E-commerce Hosting Platforms
Low-code has not always been an option for aspiring e-retailers. But thankfully, we can enjoy many simplified tools at our disposal. Besides, unlike WooCommerce and Magneto, where coding is needed, entrepreneurs can manage these platforms from a non-technical background.
These elements also include content management systems or modules that can aid in creating and modifying digital content. A CMS is essential to enterprise websites, as it can identify important information such as customer feedback in various mediums.
Shopify
Shopify is one of the world’s leaders in e-commerce and hosting online stores. Users can build a complete online retailer experience without knowledge of coding. Its simplicity effectively ‘gamified’ what would be an otherwise highly technical process. Be sure to expect a straightforward process and pricing model.
Wix
This a household name in ‘quick & simple’ website building, letting users build pages and even online stores. By making it possible to do so without coding skills, Wix has shot to fame, thanks to its light infrastructure and use of JavaScript. A cloud-based server means no need for installed software, whereas the Wix Code database is automatically integrated into a user’s new website. Users can add any existing code to Wix creations too!
Squarespace
Dubbed a ‘DIY website builder,’ this sandbox-style website planner shares many qualities of Wix. However, Squarespace is beloved for its highly user-friendly kits – which centre on no-code knowledge. No-code solutions require zero knowledge of coding, which means users can refer to the ‘drag and drop’ modules to build their site. It’s a significant step further into simplified tools.
Webflow
This no-code development platform hosts well-designed site templates and an enhanced interface. Despite this, the visual editor is a leader in simplicity and intuitive user functions. Thanks to its wider customisability, Webflow offers more functions and features for business owners while also providing uncorrupted standards-compliant code.
Marketing Tools
Facebook Business Manager
This programme is for those looking to coordinate and optimise their business’ social media page and integrate their marketing activities across Facebook. Running ads and campaigns can be a consuming task – however, this tool makes it possible to organise pages and accounts from a single dashboard. The barriers to entry are, of course, low, with no coding skills needed.
Google Ads
Marketing using the world’s premier search engine is itself a straightforward process. The only technical skills necessary for navigating Google Ads are providing written and visual content – albeit without any possible coding knowledge. While codes appear in approved ads when displaying on websites, actual coding skill is not a prerequisite for developing ad content.
CRM & Email Automation
Klaviyo
When it comes to communication, you can either personalise or engage in mass messaging. Klaviyo seeks to offer the best of both worlds by compiling and presenting actionable information on your e-Commerce site users. A simple interface illustrates events, profile properties, location, and other variables and runs a predictive analytical model to recommend strategic actions for your store. The programme manages all coding, meaning this tool is - once more - a no-code solution.
Yotpo
No coding experience is necessary for you to collect user-generated content. Your potential customers are likely to leave reviews and actionable feedback on your products. Yet, despite the potentially valuable feedback left behind, the vast quantity of information may require some careful management. Yotpo collects and curates this content, allowing you to make meaningful improvements to your e-commerce experience.
Logistics
Unifaun
Access and make improvements to the delivery process without any knowledge of coding. Streamline the concluding stage of the customer experience with this cloud-based logistics dashboard. Utilise the platform’s content carrier library to gain insights on product deliveries from the warehouse to the customer. View transport and deliver statuses, and act on outcomes, thanks to the programme’s reporting tools.
Analytics
Google Analytics
Track activity on your store’s site, with key usage indicators such as session duration, pages per session, bounce rate, and more. This tool is essential for small businesses, as its most basic features require no cost, while the modules do not necessitate code use. As a Google product, it is widely used and a popular choice to integrate with the Google Ads platform.
Why Low-Code & No-Code?
New generations of students are learning to code, yet there remains a significant skills gap for e-Commerce entrepreneurs who seek a high-functioning store – but lack the means to build one. In an age of rapid go-to-market and the ascend of the minimal viable product, it’s clear that aspiring businesses demand faster and simpler access to their consumers. For that, low-code is the way to go.
Remember that while these products are mainly free, in some cases, they may be of the ‘freemium’ range or charge based on a percentage of sales. That can be helpful for novice entrepreneur who does not wish to spend large amounts of money upfront.
Consider this list of powerful tools that let you build your application software through a graphical user interface. Thanks to the e-commerce platforms, it’s also possible to host content, making it easier to launch and manage your site. All-in-all, convenience and simplicity are all that’s needed to get your store online with ‘minimum viable effort’.
As far as you’re concerned, you can rest easy and leave the coding for the specialists!
