You’ve decided to build a web app – great! In this article, we’re going to teach you how to build a web app without having to write a single line of code. 

What You Should Know About Building a Web App

In order to get your web app up and running, you will need a web app builder and a plan to automate your business processes.

• A no-code web app builder is what allows you to build an app without knowing how to code. Blaze Tech, for example, makes this possible through an intuitive drag and drop interface. 
• Having a plan to automate your business processes is critical to build a web app. Without a clear vision of what you want and need, creating a web app can be complicated, inefficient, and expensive. 

Blaze allows you to create a web app that’s built for your business’s unique workflows and operational needs. 

What If I Want to Use a Free Web App Builder?

Free web app builders might seem like a cost-effective choice. However, the adage "you get what you pay for" is true in this case. Free tools often come with limitations – less customization, fewer basic features, and grave security concerns. 

They might also display ads or require in-app purchases. Plus, scalability can be an issue. As your business grows, these free platforms may not keep pace. This usually leads to a costly and time-consuming transition to more robust solutions later.

When you're committed to the long haul in your business, investing in a trusted web app builder becomes crucial. Specifically, a no-code AI app builder is vital. It empowers you to automate your business processes efficiently and create tailored solutions that grow with your business.

A Step By Step Guide to Building Your First Web App

Ready to get started? These 7 steps will walk you seamlessly through the process from sign-up to launching your first web app. With this guide, you won’t have to worry about leaving anything out. Learning how to build web apps is as simple as the following 7 steps:

Step 1: Define Your Web App Goals

Do you intend for your new tool to be a contract management app? What about an employee onboarding app? A custom retail inventory management system? You can do all of this and more via Blaze, which opens up the possibility of building a web app without any coding. 

How should your app be used by your employees? Those are the functionalities you need. 

And how will you measure whether the app is improving productivity, efficiency, and accuracy? Those are your KPIs. 

Since your web app will be a major tool for your team, you’ll want to put some good thought into it. 

A strong web app serves your business goals by filling in the gaps in your processes. It should make inefficient workflows efficient, error-prone tasks accurate. 

How can you be sure you have the right goals for your web app?

Step back and assess your business's core challenges and opportunities. What specific problems are you aiming to solve? How can a web app streamline these issues? Visualize the end-user experience and the impact on your team's daily operations. Are there repetitive tasks that can be automated? Does your team need better data? 

Define your goals by answering these questions. The answers will reveal exactly what your app needs to provide. 

Step 2: Choose Your Blaze Plan

The benefit of choosing Blaze as your no-code app builder is that Blaze takes care of your app’s security, speed, performance, and updates for you.

We recommend a no-code app builder because you don’t have to worry about programming languages, operating systems, or cloud hosting. This means that these things are built-in – put another way, managed for you.

To choose a plan, go to Blaze’s pricing page. You’ll see this:

The Internal plan, aimed at teams building internal tools, is priced at $400 per month (annual) or $500 per month (monthly. )It features unlimited internal users, unlimited apps, multi-source data syncing, unlimited data storage, enterprise-level data security, an integration library, and roles and permissions. 

The Custom plan is tailored for organizations with external users and advanced security needs, including features like AI-enabled builder, custom APIs, integrations, custom branding, whitelabeling, and full implementation services.

If you aren’t sure which plan is right for you, you can always request a free demo. 

Step 3: Manage Your Data

The best way to build a web app is to incorporate all of the data, tools, and resources you already have. 

Create a list of your external data, then segment the ones you want to incorporate into your web app designs. 

For example, ecommerce brands could benefit from having Shopify, HubSpot, and Zendesk accessible from a single dashboard. Teams could make better marketing decisions, manage social media, provide better customer support, and keep an eye on critical inventory levels. 

Once you’ve identified the data you want to integrate, go ahead and sync them with your web app builder.

A no-code web app builder like Blaze makes the development process easy with pre-built integrations. 

Common tools and resources you can integrate include, but are not limited to:

• mongoDB 
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Google Big Query
• REST:API
• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• GraphQL
• Amazon S3
• Shopify
• Zendesk
• ShipStation
• Intuit Quickbooks
• Square
• Docusign
• Google Sheets
• Epic

Step 4: Choose and Customize Your Template

When you build a web application, you have two options. You can start from scratch and build web apps from the ground up. The other option is to choose from a pre-build template and customize it to fit your needs. 

This is why Step 1 is so important. If you have clearly defined goals for your web app, then choosing the right template and creating a user interface will be easier. 

Consider the following types of web apps and their templates:

Dashboards & Admin Panels

Dashboards and admin panels are essential for any organization needing real-time data visualization and management. They offer a centralized interface for monitoring key metrics, making them invaluable for decision-makers and managers. These apps are ideal for businesses in sectors like finance, marketing, and e-commerce, where data-driven strategies are crucial.

Healthcare Apps & Patient Portals

Healthcare apps and patient portals are enhancing patient engagement and streamlining healthcare management. They provide secure access to medical records, appointment scheduling, and communication with healthcare providers. Such apps are a boon for healthcare facilities, clinics, and professionals focusing on patient-centered care.

Inventory Management Systems

Inventory management systems are critical for businesses that need to track and manage stock efficiently. These web apps offer functionalities like order processing, stock monitoring, and supply chain management. Retailers, manufacturers, and logistics companies use these apps to optimize inventory control and reduce operational costs.

Forms & Workflows

Forms and workflows simplify data collection and process automation. These apps are perfect for organizations looking to digitize and streamline processes like employee onboarding, customer feedback, or service requests. Businesses in HR, customer service, and administrative sectors benefit from these tools for their efficiency and user-friendliness.

Internal Tools

Internal tools are designed to enhance productivity and collaboration within a company. They can include project management systems, internal communication platforms, and resource planning tools. These apps are essential for businesses of all sizes looking to optimize internal processes and foster a collaborative work environment.

Of course, you can always build a web app from scratch! But if you are pressed for time or want guidance with the freedom to customize, then selecting a template might be the better option. 

Step 5: Test and Refine Your Web App

This is the final step in the development stage. Similar to building a mobile app, testing and refinement are critical before deployment. 

For internal tools, seek feedback from your team members, especially those who will be using the app frequently. Is it easy to use? Do they have all the data they need? Is everything syncing correctly? 

For web apps that will have external users (such as patient portals), then be sure to test it on the client side as well. Is the web app intuitive? Does it aesthetically match your brand?

After crafting your app, enter the crucial phase of testing. 

Ensure it's optimized for various web browsers, and its server side components are flawless. It's vital to see how users interact with your app across platforms, especially if it's a single page application. If you choose Blaze, you won’t have to worry about these specific issues. We’ve taken care of the technical end for you to ensure full compatibility. .

Step 6: Launch Your Web App

With testing complete, you're ready to launch. Blaze smooths the transition from web app development to live deployment. Whether it's an internal tool or an external app, all it takes is a click to publish your app and make it live!.

Step 7: Monitor and Update

Post-launch, the journey of web application development continues. Monitor performance and user feedback. Blaze's ongoing support ensures your app remains current and effective.

Final Thoughts

Eager to build a web app that elevates your business? Schedule a free consultation or demo with Blaze. Together, we can create a web application that's a perfect fit for your needs.