Are you looking to digitize processes, connect legacy systems or build custom apps tailored to your business workflows? Developing traditional applications typically takes months and sizeable dev teams. This is where low-code platforms like Zoho Creator come in – enabling rapid app delivery through visual builders and pre-made components while minimizing hand coding.
This comprehensive guide will equip you to evaluate if Creator meets your application development needs.
What is Low-Code Development
Low-code allows creating applications faster by significantly cutting down the complex coding needed in traditional programming. Low-code platforms provide intuitive visual interfaces and reusable components to build apps.
As per Gartner, the low-code market is projected to grow by 23% to $29 billion in 2023. It has moved beyond basic use cases like simple CRM and database apps over the past few years. Enterprises now rely on low-code to drive larger digital transformation and modernization programs.
Benefits of Low-Code Platforms
- 10x faster application delivery – Weeks vs months
- Cost efficiency – ~50% cheaper TCO compared to legacy platforms
- Align to business needs – Empower LOB teams to build what they want
- Improved productivity – Less tedious coding work for developers
- Enabling agility – Faster experimentation, quick changes
Leading low-code vendor Zoho Creator combines a unified platform comprising app development environment integrated with databases, workflows automation, third-party connections and more.
Zoho Creator Overview
Zoho Creator is a leading enterprise-grade low-code platform used by 150,000+ businesses globally. It allows anyone to build flexible, scalable web & mobile apps tailored to unique business requirements in weeks vs months needed for traditional coding platforms.
Creator provides a drag-and-drop visual development environment along with hundreds of pre-built components to rapidly build custom apps.
Key Platform Capabilities
1. Intuitive App Building
Zoho Creator allows visually building apps using a drag-and-drop form and report builder instead of cumbersome coding. Forms capture information while reports display data views. Arrange fields via simple drag-drop to match required structures.
Convert paper forms to online formats or build apps ground-up in hours using 150+ field types – text, numbers, photos, signatures, locations, checkboxes and more. For example, service ticket forms, inspection checklists.
Share live links instantly for users to submit data into forms from any device. Build public or private views of reports, dashboards filtered by criteria.
2. Process Automation
Creator combines both app development environment and workflow automation into a single low-code platform.
Visually build rule-based workflows triggered by data submissions, external events etc. Set field values, validate info entered, send approval notifications and emails, integrate with other systems without coding using pre-made actions.
Automate SOPs like assigning service tickets to reps based on severity, route purchase requests based on spend amount, process insurance claims and more.
3. Third Party Integrations
Connect your custom developed apps to 100+ enterprise applications everyone uses like Zoho CRM, MailChimp, Quickbooks, Google Workspace via pre-built connectors and APIs. Eliminate data silos.
Creator enables seamlessly exchanging information between business critical software tools. Access Zoho CRM contacts inside Creator or push Creator survey data into analytics dashboards automatically.
4. Multi-channel App Experiences
Share forms, data views easily with users inside your organization or outside like partners, vendors, field agents via web browsers and interactive mobile apps (iOS, Android).
Zoho Creator apps render smoothly across devices – web, mobile, tablets. Field agents can capture audit information completely offline using phones and sync back when online. Teams access dashboards on-the-go with full functionality.
5. Enterprise-grade Security
Zoho Creator is secure by design leveraging 20+ years of experience running services for 200Mn users worldwide.
Data isolation, user access controls, HTTPS encryption, activity logs covering Zoho‘s SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certified multi-tenant architecture provide robust protection of custom applications and information.
Role based authorization combined with SSO integration allows managing fine-grained access. Masking of confidential data fields can be enabled.
Licensing and Pricing
Zoho Creator provides flexible pricing tailored for teams of all sizes:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $10 per user | $120 per user |
| Professional | $20 per user | $240 per user |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
The Starter pack offers core platform capabilities for groups getting started while Professional unlocks additional advanced functionality targeting more complex needs.
Volume discounts available for larger teams. Secure a free 14-day full featured trial account easily online.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your First App
Follow the steps below to create a simple Helpdesk application on Zoho Creator:
1) Login & Access Builder
Signup for a free trial account on Zoho Creator. No credit card needed.
Access the visual builder to start app development by clicking "Create New App".
2) Add Helpdesk Form
Drag and drop fields like Issue Type, Priority, Description, Attachments, Contact Details etc to design an online Helpdesk form. Build as you need.
Customize labels, field types, options for each component. Design business rules like setting priority based on issue type selected.
3) Create Ticket Views
Add dashboard components to display submitted tickets as lists, summary charts and metrics for easy access 24/7 from any device.
Customize views with filters, grouping and formatting options by clicking on a view component.
4) Automate with Workflows
Visually build rule-based workflows to route tickets to appropriate teams using drag-drop actions like Email alert, Field update, Approval assignment etc needing no coding.
Tickets get auto-assigned, statuses updated based on preset rules. Configure multi-step processes.
5) Publish via Web & Mobile
Preview across devices. Publish via sharable links to internal users or external agencies.
Download mobile apps for offline access, notifications and approvals on-the-go. Sync data when online.
That‘s it! You have built and deployed a fully functional business application using Zoho Creator in hours without writing any complex code like traditional platforms require!
Real World Use Cases By Industry
Creator powers mission critical systems across 200+ industries. Common examples:
Manufacturing
- Workflow solutions for quality inspection, equipment maintenance
- Inventory part request and fulfilment
- Safety incident reporting
Healthcare
- Patient healthcare portals and physician finder tools
- Home healthcare mobile apps driving care engagement
- Clinical trial management and research coordination
Banking
- Automating loan origination and application processing
- Credit underwriting decision workflows
- Multi-channel account opening platforms
Education
- Building online admissions platforms, student/alumni portals
- Faculty training tools and content management
- Administration request tracking
Retail & CPG
- Field workforce enablement apps – merchandising, audits
- Vendor and supply chain partner ecosystems
- After-sales service and support programs
Leading brands like Yamaha, Blue Diamond Growers, JobsOhio, RentoMojo rely on Creator innovating processes.
How Does Zoho Creator Compare to Alternatives?
We have evaluated some top low-code platforms similar to Zoho Creator:
| Platform | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Creator | Broad app dev features; Great value; Scales enterprise-wide | Steeper learning curve for beginners |
| Quickbase | Easy templated solutions for citizen devs | Light workflow automation capabilities |
| Appian | Very strong process orchestration features | Steep TCO for simple apps |
| Mendix | Deep integration to complex systems | Overkill for lightweight solutions |
While there are multiple capable low-code vendors in market, Zoho Creator provides the best balance of app development environment and complex workflow automation in a single platform.
Quickbase and Ninox are simpler to start with but have constraints around enterprise security, integrations and customization capability.
Platforms like Appian and Mendix focus heavily on hardcore process orchestration which adds overheads for building simple department apps. Creator combines broad app dev features with advanced workflow automation together.
Over 150,000 global customers prefer Zoho Creator as their low-code standard for these technology advantages combined with affordable access and great support.
Why Make Zoho Creator Your Low-Code Platform of Choice?
Zoho Creator enables your business to tailor solutions matching unique workflows beyond off-the-shelf packages constraints. Its versatile features allow supporting common use cases to complex enterprise process needs.
Easy and Quick – Intuitive visual builder; Minimal learning curve
Complete Platform – App dev environment + data + automation + UX
Enterprise Scale – Robust security; Performance and governance
Great Product Support – Vibrant community forums; responsive assistance
Signup for a free trial to build your first app today! Empower teams to innovate customizable solutions solving pressing business challenges with low-code platforms like Creator.
