Ein Werkzeug zur Analyse von Komplexität von Low-Code und No-Code Add-ons: Ein Design Science Ansatz

In today’s fast-moving business world, it is crucial for companies to adapt quickly to changing market conditions in order to remain competitive. Flexibility and customised processes are key success factors that often go beyond the capabilities of standardised application systems. Low-code platforms (LCP) such as Mendix and Outsystems as well as no-code platforms (NCP) such as Bubble offer promising approaches for realising individual adaptations using visual and declarative techniques that replace conventional programming.

Before adopting such a platform, companies should assess how well a specific LCP/NCP can fulfil their individual requirements. The ability of the platforms to address individual needs depends not only on the core functions, but especially on the available extensions in the platform ecosystem. Add-on stores provide access to specialised extensions that complement the basic functions of the platforms and can be adapted to specific business needs.

In order to assess the suitability of an LCP/NCP for specific use cases, this paper develops a measurement tool to capture the complexity of add-on stores using the Design Science Research Method (DSR). The assessment is based on the analysis of 1483 add-ons from the add-on stores of Microsoft Power Apps, Outsystems and Pega. This tool enables organisations to understand the variety and depth of available add-ons and thus make informed decisions about whether to adopt an LCP/NCP. This article thus supports the optimisation of decision-making when selecting LCP/NCP.