How to Use Rapid Application Development

The Corteza low-code Platform leads the way in the field of open-source low-code development. That’s because it’s flexible and intuitive. And it delivers results in a fraction of the time it takes others to get similar outcomes.

Though inspired by Salesforce “Lightning”, Crust improves the build process, making it more agile and responsive to your requirements. However, thought and planning should go into the creation of any applicative software, smart apps or bpms tool etc. This should be the case irrespective of which application development trends you’re following.

Like All IT Projects, Rapid Application Development Should Be Planned Carefully

Just because you’re going to get great results more efficiently and with a greater return on investment doesn’t mean you should cut corners on the preparation. For instance, if you have a customer-focused approach, you should define the use cases and commercial benefits clearly. If you’re building a BPMS tool, you need to document your processes clearly and get buy in from all the stakeholders. Corteza can make a great open-source BPMS, but if you don’t apply it to the right context, then you’ve missed the point.

Thinking hard about your data model is a great place to start. The Corteza low-code development platform makes building a data model clear and straightforward. That’s even whether the desired data model is simple or complex. Building advanced CRM tools, state-of-art record management software or even integrations to popular software such as Jira from Atlassian all start by investigating the data model.

User Friendly Applications with Low-Code

Great applications should also be user friendly. The Corteza low-code platform allows you to overlay your web user experience (UX) in a myriad of ways over your data model(s). For example, the look and feel of the Crust’s CRM Suite data model can be tailored. You can make it look like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics or Sugar CRM.

The art of UX is about creating meaningful and intuitive user journeys in the system. And in such a way that the application both looks and feels and user centric. That’s not just technology, but also psychology. Education Management Systems are motivated by completely different rationale than open-source CRMs. The “why” is key to user acceptance. For example, what is a BPMS (Business Process Management System) without user acceptance? Well, it would be failure, for sure!

However, imagine a smart schooling application which deliberately takes into account:

• Students
• Teachers
• Supervisors
• Administrative staff
• Capital Assets (e.g. school buildings)
• Educational Resources
• Third Party Relationships (e.g. businesses for work placements)
• All processes which make the above interdependent

That’s a lot to think about and we’re still only scratching the surface. What about reporting? For example, how do we create engaging dashboards so that a user can understand at a glimpse:

• Key performance indicators
• Project status
• Comparative charts

Open-source dashboards and reports

What is open-source case management without great dashboards and reports? Would you dare create a clinic case management system without granular charts? Or an application to deliver cloud computing for healthcare without reports? Luckily, the Corteza low-code development platform delivers a powerful solution here too.

As a leading application development platform, the Corteza open-source low code development platform can improve your business, its processes and its evolution. This is as true for specific requirements as it is for an entire digital transformation strategy. But please remember, nothing replaces disciplined and careful planning 🙂