Anyone who’s been in the market for enterprise software recently has undoubtedly heard the terms “self service” and “no code” being tossed around. They’re often billed as the “next big thing,” just behind cloud computing and artificial intelligence. But what do these terms actually mean?
On the surface, self service and no-code might appear similar, but under the hood, they’re actually quite different. No-code simply means the software can build things without the need for traditional coding like a programmer or developer would use. These interfaces are often very approachable, visual in nature and allow users to drag-and-drop elements, then organize, connect and style those elements to their liking.
The term self-service, on the other hand, is much broader in nature. It means the software was designed to be used by large segments of your organization, including and especially non-technical users, those who are more comfortable using products like Microsoft Excel or Google Docs and shy away from more technical software. Self-service products encourage users to build, create and explore on their own, rather than relying on analysts or IT departments to provide them with the information and answers they need to make the best decisions.
The confusion between these terms often stems from the fact that software can be no-code, meaning it has an easy-to-use interface, but still be technical in nature, and therefore not self service. The business intelligence world has seen many of these confusing no-code products, ones that are slightly easier to use, but still require users that are analysts, data scientists or others who fully understand data, analysis or statistics.
The Qrvey platform embraces both no-code and self-service. Our Data Router is a no-code environment where data of all kinds can easily be ingested, transformed, enhanced and stored. Data Router is not self-service however, as it requires someone with a good knowledge of data modeling to fully utilize its many in-depth features.
The main Qrvey application environment however is different. Our product is both no-code and truly self-service by every definition. Not only does it feature an approachable, easy-to-use interface that business users love, it makes it easy for anyone to build a host of data, analytic and automation applications. Everything from charts, metrics and reports, and even web pages, forms and entire information applications can be built using Qrvey, all without the need for arduous training or explanations.
Analysts and IT departments also love Qrvey, because it provides them with the power to administer and govern data and services, while letting users gain insights and take action in a safe and secure environment that doesn’t require hand-holding or a constant flow of requests for data and assistance. With Qrvey, even those non-technical users can collect, analyze, automate and distribute insights, all on their own.