Low-code solutions allow users to create and manage processes, workflows and applications without having to write code. This technology can significantly improve a business’s performance and drive efficiency, with organizations increasingly adopting it for its accessibility and flexibility benefits.
Gartner predicts that low-code will account for 75 percent of new application development by 2026, making it the norm for the majority of application development in the enterprise. Recent research from technology and consulting IT services company Evoke Technologies found that over three-quarters (83 percent) of IT leaders feel low-code is living up to its promises. Companies are primarily investing in these platforms for professional development, while 79 percent of respondents said that low-code improves collaboration between IT and business when delivering applications.
The technology will continue to evolve and mature in 2024, with several factors shaping the landscape. Here are seven low-code trends to watch this year.
1. Wider business adoption of low-code technology
In 2024, we can expect to see more businesses adopting low-code platforms to build custom applications and streamline processes. The software offers a range of benefits for organizations, including lower development costs, faster time-to-market and increased agility – especially during economic downturns, according to consultant Georgina Brisk.
For example, the manufacturing sector has turned to low-code/no-code tools to fast-track Industry 4.0 initiatives and drive productivity across their organizations, Brisk writes. “No-code databases allow factories to unlock real-time data about daily operations to drive actionable insights and create organizational agility. In August 2022, 45 percent of manufacturers said they had already introduced digital technologies, and this is expected to continue through 2024.”
While large organizations are leading low-code adoption, in the very near future, these platforms will empower millions of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with the flexibility to develop custom applications and turn their ideas into reality at a fraction of conventional development costs, adds Narijaona Rabiaza, production director at IT services and consulting company BOCASAY.
2. Low-code enabling BPM democratization
Low-code technology offers notable potential for democratizing business process management (BPM), making it easier and more accessible for organizations and teams. The user-friendly technologies are reshaping the landscape by placing the power of process optimization into the hands of business users, diminishing traditional code knowledge barriers and enabling more professionals to actively contribute to and drive BPM initiatives.
This expedites implementation and fosters a culture of collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders as organizations seek agile, accessible solutions to navigate the complexities of their business processes.
Low-code has made improving a company’s BPM process easier and more straightforward, requiring less technical understanding to put in place, Lee Coates, founder and creative director at digital marketing agency Clickzilla, tells PEX Network. It helps businesses become more efficient and frees up resources that can be used on more strategic and developmental tasks, rather than on repetitive and low-value jobs, Coates adds. It also lowers the barrier of entry in most business sectors due to technology being more human-focused or easier to deploy.
3. Business process automation
Low-code platforms are becoming a popular tool choice for automating a wide range of business processes, optimizing workflows and operational efficiency. “The increasing adoption of low-code development platforms will continue to benefit companies looking to streamline their operations, increase their cost-effectiveness and improve customer services,” writes Rabiaza.
For example, app builders will build integrations for multiple databases, database vendors will start building application development modules for website and mobile applications and workflow automation will become part of web builders’ product suites, adds Brisk.
READ: PEX Guide: What is robotic process automation?
4. Using low-code to integrate AI and machine learning
Another key trend this year will be increasing integration with developing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Users can benefit from AI-powered features such as code generation and automatic testing, facilitating the development of apps that have the capacity to learn, adapt and make data-driven predictions.
One example is the emergence of low-code platforms that integrate with AI and ML tools to allow users to build models using visual interfaces and pre-built components, without the need for coding expertise, says Brisk. “This opens up the world of machine learning to a wider range of users, enabling them to build applications that can recognize patterns, make predictions and automate processes.”
The Evoke Technologies report indicates that AI is considered a potential solution to some of the challenges of utilizing low-code in organizations. More than three quarters (78 percent) of respondents plan to use AI capabilities in their low-code platforms and 73 percent said that the evolution of generative AI models will lower barriers to the use of low-code tools.
5. Low-code supporting business intelligence and data analytics
The integration of business intelligence tools and data analytics is an important low-code trend right now, according to a GeeksforGeeks blog. “This integration is used to visualize and analyze, make driven decisions and identify patterns.”
This will provide developers with the tools and requirements they need to create applications that leverage analytics and data, which provides valuable insights and value, it adds.
6. Legacy system connection
Many organizations have existing enterprise IT systems that store valuable data and perform critical functions. The gradual integration between low-code platforms and legacy systems will allow for the creation of modern applications that can leverage and extend the capabilities of legacy systems.
“Successful integrations will enable seamless data flows between different software and systems, helping companies to ultimately achieve a unified digital ecosystem,” says Rabiaza.
7. Industry-specific low-code platforms
Low-code platforms are fast becoming industry-specific, essentially catering to the particular requirements of industries like healthcare, manufacturing and finance. By providing industry-specific coding components, pre-built templates and libraries, as well as tailored development ecosystems, these can enable companies to build software that is suitable for unique industry dynamics, adds Rabiaza.
This trend particularly relates to low-code’s importance and acceptance in industries with strict regulations and compliance requirements, GeeksforGeeks concurs. “These industries earlier hesitated to adopt new technologies due to the concerns around regulatory and security compliance.”
For example, in finance, these are used to create applications which can coordinate with the regulations in anti-money laundering, data privacy and risk management. In healthcare, they are used to develop applications which can coordinate with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and enable security while sharing data of a patient.
Register now for All Access: Low Code 2024, taking place April 16-17.