We’re evaluating whether to try building ROI scenario models ourselves using a no-code builder instead of having our analytics team build them. The appeal is obvious: business users could modify assumptions and test different process configurations without waiting for a developer.
But I’ve worked with no-code tools before, and I know there’s always a point where the constraints show up. With ROI modeling, that point probably comes when you need conditional logic, dynamic calculations based on changing variables, or the ability to handle process variations that don’t fit neatly into the tool’s workflow model.
We’re not talking about simple calculators. We need models that can show payback periods across different deployment speeds, handle cost variations by department, and adjust for different labor costs. That’s not trivial.
I’m wondering: at what point does the no-code builder stop being sufficient? Is it when you need custom calculations? When you’re trying to model something that doesn’t fit a linear workflow? When you need to pull data from multiple sources and combine it in ways the tool doesn’t expect?
Has someone actually built a realistic ROI model without code and hit the wall where it just wasn’t possible?