Low-code is the fastest way to prove value — until it isn’t. Here’s a simple way South African teams choose the right path, avoid rework, and keep shipping.
When low-code wins
- Unsettled requirements: you need to learn from users quickly.
- Internal workflows/approvals: forms, tasks, SLAs, basic integrations.
- Departmental apps: 100–1,000 users; moderate data volumes.
- Shortage of senior engineers: let BAs/analysts build with guardrails.
When to go custom
- High change-rate & complex rules: domain logic that keeps evolving.
- Performance & scale: strict latency, heavy concurrency, or data gravity.
- Deep integrations: event-driven, streaming, bespoke protocols.
- Strategic IP: core differentiation should live in custom code.
Decision matrix
| Dimension | Low-Code First | Hybrid | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Low–Medium | Medium–High | High |
| Change rate | High (learn fast) | Medium | Low (well-understood) |
| Integration depth | APIs/webhooks | APIs + events | Streaming/protocols |
| Compliance | Standard controls | Custom controls | Strict/sector-specific |
| Scale & perf | Moderate | Selective hotspots | High/real-time |
Anti-rework guardrails
- Two-tier architecture: workflows/UI in low-code; domain services in APIs so you can swap UIs later.
- Data exits: ensure export to your lake/warehouse; avoid lock-in.
- IAM & audit: SSO, least-privilege roles, field-level logs on PII updates.
- Versioned configs: treat low-code configs as code (git + environments).
30-day path: prototype → production
- Week 1: map user journeys; build a clickable flow; define “done” metrics.
- Week 2: connect to sandbox APIs; implement 2–3 golden paths.
- Week 3: add access control, error handling, and audit; non-prod UAT with 10–20 users.
- Week 4: load test the hotspots; instrument logs + metrics; go-live with rollback plan.
Need to ship in weeks?
We deliver low-code MVPs with clean exits to custom services — so you never paint yourself into a corner.
See App Development