December 22, 2022
In the marketplace, there are a surprising variety of meanings being used to define “no-code”. In its purest form, no-code means all features of an application can be created without typing a single line of computer code.
One of the best examples of no-code becoming normalized is web development. In the early 2000’s one basically needed to know HTML to get any kind of quality website set up – even teens were learning how to code so they could personalize their Myspace pages. Fast forward to now: wordpress, squarespace, wix, and a whole host of other no-code website applications make it easy to get a website up and running. HTML is now relegated to uncommon integrations and highly-customized designs.
No-code applications in all industries function largely the same; uncommon or unique integrations likely require some coding, but almost everything that needs to be accomplished otherwise can be done without touching the underlying computer code.
How it works
No-code solutions use pre-built blocks of code and features that can be easily combined and customized. APIs are a key component for more complex no-code solutions, as APIs allow different computer programs to communicate with each other. For example, a no-code platform might include an API that enables users to easily add a payment system to their app. This makes it quick and easy for users to create complex applications using pre-made templates.
What it means for insurance
The industry has been trapped by a lack of infrastructure and developer talent, resulting in slow-moving IT projects. No-code is one of the key ways insurers can accelerate their digitization projects and adopt needed tech advancements.
For new companies, no-code makes it easy to actually get ahead of existing, established insurers. Many existing insurers are suffering from the sunk-cost fallacy regarding their tech infrastructure, a fallacy by which new companies are not hampered. By using no-code solutions, insurers can easily manage the basic functions of insurance, freeing them up to work on more strategic initiatives.
What: “There are moments that transform industries. Inflection points in which the future is less certain, yet everything feels newer. Insurers are in an industry that is undergoing one of these shifts right now. As technology invades a historically slow-moving industry, new possibilities are opening up and new opportunities are being presented. I believe that insurance is going through an ‘AWS Moment’ as insurance products themselves become API-enabled.”
What: There’s a growing shortage of developers in most industries, and insurance is feeling that shortage more than most. No-code solutions reduce the need for developers and can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to get a new product to market.
Why it matters: Currently, it typically takes between 12-18 months to launch a new product, and 3-6 months to update an existing one. The demand for highly skilled software developers continues to grow. IDC, a leading market intelligence firm, predicts a shortfall of four million developers by 2025. In this scenario, no-code solutions may be the only way to get products to market quickly.
Read: Impact of the Low/No-Code Platforms on the Insurance Sector
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