In today’s digital age, having a mobile application for your business is crucial to stay competitive and meet the demands of your customers. With the rise of no-code app development platforms, creating a custom app has never been easier. One such platform that is gaining popularity among business owners is Glide no code app builder. Glide App is a no-code app development platform that enables businesses to create custom mobile applications without any coding knowledge. In this article, we will explore 10 valuable features of Glide App that can help you develop a successful business app. Whether you are a small business owner or an entrepreneur, these features can help you streamline your business operations, enhance your customer experience, and take your business to the next level.
1. Intuitive UI
Glide’s intuitive user interface has a layout system composed of 5 elements as follows:
- Tab
- Screens
- Data
- Device preview
- Configuration panel
Tab Pane
The Tab pane is where you toggle through the components of your app design.
For example, if you want to build a conference app, your design will likely be composed of speakers, sessions, and feedback sections. The Tab pane allows you to access and edit each of these components.
By default, only one Tab pane is created when you launch a new app design project. However, you are free to add as many as you please.
Screen Area
Your app design will be made of multiple screens, and you need a way to manage them. It’s in the Screen area you get to do that. Also, from the screen area, you can add more components to your design and tweak them as you want.
Data Area
Next comes the Data area. This is where you get to preview the data that has been fed into your app. Additionally, you can also edit your app’s data from this section, and even add more data to it.
Keep in mind that you can also do this via the data editor.
Device Preview
If you would like to interact with your app as you build it out, the Device preview area allows you to do that.
What’s more, from the Device preview area, you can switch the dimensions and OS of the app to get a better view and feel of it. Additionally, the preview section gives you the opportunity to view your app as a real user or as a developer.
Configuration Panel
The last but equally important element is the Configuration panel. This is where you get to configure your app as you build it out. Also, from the screen area, you can add more components to your design and tweak them as you want.
2. Transform Your Spreadsheet into a Dynamic App
Your app needs data to function properly. The Spreadsheet section allows you to use data from a spreadsheet as the database for your app.
It gives you the option of using data from a Google Sheet, Excel file or Airtable.
Additionally, you can manipulate your app’s data by adding a formula such as IF conditions, lookup formulas, calling external API’s and much more.
3. Eye-Catching Glide Templates
Templates form the Glide app feature that make the platform robust and easy-to-handle. Glide templates save you the trouble of building your app from the ground up.
All you have to do is find a template design that closely fits the app you have in mind and then modify it to your heart’s content.
Glide comes with hundreds of pre-made templates. So, no matter what type of app you want to build, you will find a template for your project.
Glide accepts app template submission from developers. So, if you have a unique app idea, and would like to share it with the world, make a template out of it and submit it.
The Glide team will review if it is a good fit for the community. If it turns out to be good, it will be accepted.
4. Seamless Integrations to Third-Party Solutions
Glide supports integration with third-party solutions as well, such as Zapier, Google Analytics, Tiller Money, and Integromat (Make).
Glide has a new type of column that you can use to connect any type of API back into your app and use/display that data in the app. For example, you can bring weather based on the user’s location, your favorite fantasy league results, and much more.
Integrating Glide with Zapier is simple and straightforward. You only need your API keys to do that.
Google Analytics integration is also simple. Interestingly, you can build your own custom analytics app by using the data from your Google Analytics.
5. Stay Connected with Your Users through Push Notifications
Glide allows you to add a push notification feature to your app. However, at the moment, this feature is only available on Android.
An in-depth guide to Glide app development
6. Bring Your Data to Life with Engaging Charts and Graphs
Displaying data in the form of charts and graphs can help improve the visual appeal of your app. With the Glide chart component, you can seamlessly embed charts and graphs into your app.
7. Secure Your Data and Protect Your Users with Glide’s Robust Security Features
The security of your app data matters a lot. For this reason, Glide has been equipped with lots of security features to keep unauthorized users out.
One of such features is the Login/Sign-in feature. This feature allows you to set your app as public (meaning other people can interact with it) or private (just you). With Private apps, you can have a whitelist of emails pre-loaded, and only those users will be able to use the app. You can also have a specific domain linked to your app, so only users who have an email address from your company can use the app.
Glide apps are GDPR compliant as well.
Glide allows you to assign roles to users of your app. For example, you can assign the Admin role to whoever you want.
8. Customize Your App Your Way with Editable Components in Glide
Think of components as the building blocks of your app design. Glide comes packed with lots of editable components you can add to your app design.
They include texts, buttons, media, lists, and others.
To add a component, simply click on it and it will drop automatically on your design screen. You can change the position and hierarchy of your component simply by dragging and dropping.
On top of that, you can edit, rename, and delete components without any stress.
9. Enhance User Experience with Advanced Visibility Conditions in Your Glide App
By default, all tabs and list items are shown to your app users. But if you would like to hide them based on certain criteria, visibility conditions feature allows you to do that, too.
For example, you can choose to display a certain item when users fail to input their names, or you can show different data depending on who the user is. You can go a step further and even configure your data so certain users can only see it, while a higher level user role can edit or delete said data.
10. Streamline App Workflow with Glide’s Actions Editor
For users to interact with your app, it needs to perform certain actions. For example, when users click on a button in your app, it should perform an action like directing them to another page.
With Glide’s Actions Editor, you can add and modify actions across your app’s components with ease.
Discover the pros and cons of Glide app building in our in-depth review of Glide
Build Your Glide App with Low/Code Agency
Though easy to use, you might need professional help especially if you want to build a custom application that you can use and install on any device (mobile, tablet and desktop).
This is where LowCode Agency no code agency comes into play.
Low Code agency has helped several businesses like yours build functional, beautiful mobile apps and that too at a reasonable budget.
The Glide app allows anyone to build a functional mobile app without having to write any code.
Glide is simple and beginner-friendly. It comes with all the features you will need to build an app seamlessly.
Glide has a drag-and-drop design editor that makes creating the UI of your app easy. It also supports Google Spreadsheet integration. This makes it easy for you to import data into your app.
Glide allows you to switch between Android and iOS screens while building your app.
Jesus is the founder of Low Code Agency: a low-code development agency that allows small business owners to get their mobile and web apps done fast and cost-effectively while maintaining quality.
