Imagine running your small business effortlessly, using tools tailored specifically to your needs, all without spending a fortune or hiring a developer. Sounds too good to be true, right? But with no-code business applications, it's entirely possible.
Say goodbye to the hassle of expensive, off-the-shelf solutions that don't quite fit. With platforms like Softr, you can create custom portals and internal tools using the spreadsheet tools like Airtable and Google Sheets that you’re already comfortable with.
In this guide, we’ll show you how business applications can simplify your operations and save you money. Then, from real-life examples to easy-to-use templates, we'll walk you through the process of building your own business apps.
Let’s get started!
What is a Business Application?
Simply put, a business application is any software or tool that helps you run your business more efficiently.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), business applications streamline everyday processes, improve productivity, and free up your time to focus on what really matters—growing your business. But the catch of using business applications has always been the cost and complexity of putting the right internal tools in place.
Enter no-code platforms like Softr. These tools allow you to build internal tools without needing any programming skills. No-code platforms democratize tech, giving every business owner the power to develop their own software solutions.
Examples of Business Applications
Ever wondered how other small businesses keep everything running smoothly? From keeping customers happy to managing projects and tracking inventory, the secret often lies in the business applications they use.
Small businesses across various industries are leveraging business applications to their advantage. For instance, a local bakery might use a custom CRM system to keep track of customer orders and preferences. Meanwhile, a boutique marketing agency could create a bespoke project management tool to coordinate campaigns and track client deliverables.
Let’s look at some common examples of business applications and how they can make a world of difference for your business.
CRM Systems
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems help you keep track of interactions with current and potential customers. They’re essential for managing sales pipelines, tracking communications, and delivering a positive customer experience.
CRMs gather all your customer data in one place, easily accessible and organized in stages that make sense according to your sales processes. No more sticky notes or cluttered email inboxes—just a clean, efficient customer engagement tool that helps you stay on top of your game. A CRM is perfect for busy sales teams keeping track of dozens to hundreds of leads at once!
Project Management Tools
Project management tools help you plan, execute, and monitor projects from start to finish. Tools like Trello or Asana are great, but with a no-code platform, you can build a custom project management system tailored to your specific needs. Track tasks, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Inventory Management Systems
Keeping track of inventory can be a headache, especially for small businesses. An inventory management system automates this process, helping you monitor stock levels, track orders, and manage suppliers.
By using a no-code platform, you can create an inventory system that integrates seamlessly with your existing spreadsheets, providing real-time updates and reducing the risk of errors.
Client Portals
Client portals are like your business's front door for clients—a secure, online space where they can easily access information, collaborate, and communicate with you. These portals let clients log in anytime to check on important documents, get project updates, and stay in the loop with everything happening. By making it super convenient for clients to interact with you, client portals help build stronger relationships and keep clients happy and satisfied.
With no-code platforms, you can create a custom-built client portal that's perfectly tailored to your needs and branding. This means it integrates seamlessly with your existing systems and feels like a natural extension of your business. You can add unique features that cater specifically to your clients, making their customer experience even better.
ERP Tools
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software integrates various business processes into a single system, allowing for streamlined operations and real-time data sharing across departments. With ERP software, businesses can reduce data silos, improve accuracy, and enhance decision-making by providing a holistic view of operations.
A small manufacturing company could use ERP software to manage production schedules, monitor supply chains, and handle inventory. The finance team could then use the same system to track expenses and revenues, while HR manages employee records and payroll.
Accounting Software
Accounting software helps businesses manage their financial transactions, including invoicing, expense tracking, payroll runs, and financial reporting.
Accounting software simplifies financial management, reduces the risk of errors, and provides valuable insights into the financial health of the business. It can automate routine tasks like invoice generation and payroll processing, freeing up time for more strategic activities.
HR Software
Human Resources (HR) software is all about making people operations smoother and more efficient. It handles everything from recruiting and onboarding new hires to managing performance and providing employee self-service options. Plus, it helps keep your business compliant with labor laws and ensures employee records are always accurate and up to date.
Take a growing tech startup, for example. They could use HR software to make hiring new talent a breeze, keep track of employee performance, and manage benefits enrollment seamlessly. By building a custom employee portal, the software can fit perfectly with the company's culture and workflows. This portal would let staff update their personal info, request time off, complete onboarding, and easily access company policies and resources—all in one place.
Custom-Built vs. Out-of-the-Box?
When it comes to business applications, you have two main options: custom-built solutions or out-of-the-box software. Each has its own set of advantages.
Here’s a comparison table to help you decide which might be the better choice for your business:
Software Development Comparison
For many small businesses, the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and control offered by custom-built solutions—especially those created with no-code platforms like Softr—make them the clear winner. By building applications that fit your business like a glove, you get to drive growth at your own pace and determine how your tech stack ultimately serves you.
Business App Templates
Business app templates are pre-designed frameworks that help you quickly build and deploy applications tailored to your business needs. These templates are a great starting point, providing a structure that you can easily customize to fit your specific requirements.
Here are some free business app templates to get you started:
Client Portal
With our custom client portal template, you can streamline and organize all your client interactions all in one place.
Features:
- Provide personalized accounts and logins for admins, clients and consultants, with permissions tailored to their role.
- Create new projects and tasks.
- Share resources with clients on a self-serve basis.
- Manage invoices and enable payment processing.
- Fully responsive design, accessible from any device.
Sales CRM
With our Sales CRM template, you can view and manage all your sales deals and contact information, managing customer relationships like a pro.
Features:
- View deals by stage in your sales pipeline.
- Keep track of accounts, contacts, and interactions
- Log notes for additional context.
- Assign accounts to users or teams.
- Search and filter to find the entries you need.
Team Wiki
With our team wiki template, create a central company hub to house internal announcements, resources, your employee directory, and more.
Features:
- Filter documents and company policies by teams, to show users only the resources relevant to them.
- Announce company news, displayed in a timeline layout.
- Show all your company employees’ profiles in an employee directory.
- Allow employees to submit feedback via an anonymous form.
- Manage employee onboarding through a Kanban board.
Inventory Management
Keep track of all your inventory, products, and orders with our inventory management template.
Features:
- Different access levels for admins and employees.
- View and manage order details.
- Add new products and manufacturers.
- Search and filter for the products you need.
How to Build Business Applications Without Coding
You don’t have to be a developer to create a business application. Thanks to no-code web app builders, anyone can build powerful, custom business apps tailored to their specific needs — without writing a single line of code.
Building a web app with no-code can be as easy as a few simple steps:
- Define your scope: Identify your business problem and what the solution looks like.
- Choose a template: Pick a pre-built template that closely matches your business needs.
- Customize your app: Use the platform’s drag-and-drop builder interface to add and configure features. Integrate with existing data sources, set user permissions, and design a user interface that suits your preferences.
- Test and launch: Test your app to make sure everything works as expected, then deploy and start using it immediately.
Build your own business apps with Softr
You don’t need to hire expensive developers or fumble through programming languages to build business applications. With Softr, if you can dream it, you can build it.
Custom business apps allow you to address unique business requirements that off-the-shelf software often can't meet. Whether you need a specialized CRM, a project management tool tailored to your team's workflow, or a client portal that enhances customer interaction, no-code platforms offer you the flexibility to create exactly what you need.
By building your own business apps, you gain greater control over your tools, guaranteeing that they can grow and adapt with your business operations.
With Softr, the complexity of traditional app development is accessible for everyone. Want to get started today? Check out our handpicked tutorials that will teach you the basics and have you rolling out your app in days, not months.
What is Softr
Softr is the easiest way to turn your data into powerful business apps—no code required. Connect to your spreadsheet or database, customize layout and logic, and share with your team or clients.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
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Hsing Tseng
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