The low-code trends is nothing new, as reputable consultation like Gartner or Forrester has been actively pushing it in recent years. Proven by decent statistics, this is why many said low-code will continue to be trending among businesses and software development:
- The low-code market is expected to reach nearly $32 billion by 2024.
- 65% application development will be proceeds with the use of low-code tool.
- Low-code is promised to deliver around 150% to 350% of ROI after 3 years in use, depending on the platform.
- Business can reduce development time up to 90% with low-code
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at 11 low-code trends in 2024 worth keeping an eye on.
- 1. Low-code Integration With AI, Machine Learning, IoT and Blockchain
- 2. The Rise Of Industry/Use Cases-specialized Low-code Platform
- 3. Higher Security In Low-code Platform
- 4. Low-code Compatibility With Agile & DevOps
- 5. Low-code To Join The Data Race
- 6. Hyperautomation With Low-code
- 7. Citizen Developer Will Take Over Low-code Platforms
- 8. Enterprises Will Keep Favoring Low-code
- 9. Not Just Enterprise, Startups Are Also Looking At Low-code
- 10. Low-code Platforms Drive SaaS
- 11. Combining Low-code With Legacy System And Traditional Tools
- Wrapping Up
1. Low-code Integration With AI, Machine Learning, IoT and Blockchain
As low-code development continues to gain momentum, we can expect to see more integrations with these emerging technologies. These integrations will change the tech landscape of a company, how the whole system operate and connect with each other.
One of the primary advantages of low-code is its ability to reduce the complexity of software development, making it easier and more accessible. This is best for IoT and Blockchain, as the technology itself is tangled enough. However, we recommend using low-code for simple projects, as the large IoT and Blockchain apps can be too much for low-code to handle.
IoT is most favored by manufacturer, as it can help them monitor production and modernize legacy system. And 31% of them agrees using low-code with IoT can optimize this process.
Also by integrating AI and ML, this low-code trend can:
- Help developers build better low-code based application by suggesting code or identifying bugs. 87% of CIO and IT leaders supports embedding AI in low-code, as it helps them better use the platform. 78% respondents are planning to use low-code with AI.
- Analyze data and provide valuable insights to help businesses make better decisions. For example, an AI low-code platform could help identify patterns in data or predict future trends based on historical data. This can be particularly valuable in finance, healthcare, logistics and manufacturing, where the ability to make accurate predictions can make a huge difference.
2. The Rise Of Industry/Use Cases-specialized Low-code Platform
Before, low-code is mainly made adaptive to a wide range of needs. Of course, it still fasten the development process but lack of certain features to leverage the customization ability.
This is where a niche appears, allowing venture to build in industry-specific low-code platforms. These platforms provide pre-built templates and workflows tailored to the industry’s unique requirements, which makes application development more accessible and more efficient.
Finance, insurance, retail, manufacture and public sector are the top industries that actively adopt low-code. From a Mendix report, here are some notable trend:
- 63% of senior finance managers thinks low-code is capable of dealing with complex financial system.
- Automation is the most loved features by insurance businesses.
- 64% of manufacturer being interviewed are using low-code to improve operation.
- Meanwhile, for retailers, analytics and centralization is most beneficial to them, as it improves real-time inventory accuracy and customer data.
- Low-code enables citizen-centric government. 52% leaders positively agree on the good use of low-code for better connection and access to citizen.
Besides solving industry cases, some platforms excel in solving specific use cases. For examples:
- Caspio for Healthcare Low-code Development
- Hydrogen for Financial Low-code Development
- Sitecore/ Creatio/ Salesforce for CRM Low-code Development
- Oracle APEX for ERP Low-code Development
- Microsoft PowerApps, Retool for Internal Tools Low-code Development
3. Higher Security In Low-code Platform
Security concerns are among the top low-code challenges. It’s understandable, as technology is still being developed. The lack of governance (32%) and lack of transparency in checking security vulnerability (26%) are the top concerns, based on a Dark Reading survey. But in the next few years, security will become the top priority for both low-code providers and businesses.
Low-code platforms are designed with enhanced security features such as multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and secure coding practices. These features help to mitigate potential security risks, ensuring that applications and data remain safe.
Moreover, as more organizations adopt low-code platforms, there is a growing demand for specialized security experts. These experts are responsible for developing and implementing security protocols to ensure that low-code platforms can adhere to industry-standard security practices.
| Instead of waiting for the vendor, you can always fight it head-on: 5 Potential Security Risks of Low-code & How To Address Them |
4. Low-code Compatibility With Agile & DevOps
Combining low-code with agile, team can work in smaller iterations and adapt quickly to changing requirements. Additionally, low-code provide better visibility into the development process (thanks to version control, access management and sandbox), allowing for easier collaboration between team members.
Low-code platforms also incorporate features that allow easier integration with agile tools, such as project management software and DevOps tools.
Development team usually adopt Scrum or Kanban in their work to ensure timeline adherence and faster iteration. Low-code can turn agile development a breeze and helping DevOps by automating CI/CD, fastening feedback loops and supporting seamless communication.
5. Low-code To Join The Data Race
We have seen people using low-code to build API for integration. But low-code has recently expand its game into the data science game. 86% out of 2000 CIOs and IT leaders said low-code has helped them extract more accurate insights to improve customer services and discuss with internal stakeholders.
Other than integrating with analytics tools, you can now create a system of your own, train them to analyze and visualize data, identify trend and extract data-driven insights. How? By embedding BI, AI and ML, many advanced low-code tools offer analysist the tool derive valuable information and create ETL flow.
At the same time, if you only need a simple database to store and classify data, low-code can help. A custom database allow you to set up wanted data fields and rules to clean or organize raw data based closely to your business model. Here are the best 8 low-code database that you can use.
6. Hyperautomation With Low-code
A report from Outsystems stated that 58% of experienced low-code users finds business process automation and management feature useful. But as business matters get more challenging and processes become more complex, automation shouldn’t stop there. This low-code trend opens the way for hyperautomation, using BPM, RPA and AI to improve your workflow.
Low-code platforms enable businesses to quickly and easily build sophisticated processes. Another advantage is that it you can respond more quickly to changing needs. Because low-code platforms are highly flexible, they can be easily modified and updated as business needs evolve. This means that businesses can adapt quickly to new challenges and opportunities, enabling them to stay ahead of the competition.
7. Citizen Developer Will Take Over Low-code Platforms
A while ago, Gartner analysts said, “We’re all developers today“, alluding to the emerging citizen developer movement. Indeed, citizen development has expanded rapidly in the intervening decade to become a potent business trend. Gartner predicted that in 2024, 80% of application will be built by citizen and non-developers. Meanwhile, 41% of organizations in this report have active citizen development.
The need for faster development cycles and increasing demand for applications drive the rise of citizen developers. Traditional software development requires extensive coding knowledge and time, leading to a backlog of applications.
On the other hand, low-code platforms allow citizen developers to create applications quickly and easily without extensive coding knowledge. This can bridge the gap between IT and business, creating a more collaborative and efficient environment.
However, as citizen developers take over low-code development, organizations must ensure proper governance and oversight. Businesses should train their citizen developers to leverage the platform to avoid any potential security risks.
8. Enterprises Will Keep Favoring Low-code
Enterprises of all sizes will continue to adopt and favor low-code development platforms in 2024, as nearly 45% of them have been using the technology to build enterprise-grade apps.
One of the main reasons for this low-code trend is its ability to enable business users, or citizen developers, to build and deploy applications without extensive programming skills. This empowers non-technical users, reducing the reliance on IT teams and increasing overall productivity.
Let’s be honest here. Reduced costs and faster time-to-market are attractive to businesses. With the ability to build applications in a fraction of the time it would take with traditional software development, companies can save on development costs and get their products to market faster. The continued growth and adoption of low-code development platforms in enterprises clearly indicates their value and potential to transform the software development landscape.
| You’ll need this article: Using Low-code For Enterprise: Benefits, Downside & How To |
9. Not Just Enterprise, Startups Are Also Looking At Low-code
Startups often face resource constraints, including limited time and budget, which makes low-code development a viable option. Startups can save time and money on app development, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business, such as marketing and growth. This makes them more agile and adaptable to ever-changing market and business environments.
Low-code development is not just for enterprises but is becoming popular among startups due to its affordability, scalability, and flexibility. However, we recommend using low-code for internal tools, rapid prototype, POC and MVP development only. As your business grows, moving your application away from a “closed” platform is better to avoid vendor lock-in and to flexibility upgrade your apps.
10. Low-code Platforms Drive SaaS
Both Low-code and SaaS have low entry barriers. Many SaaS platforms allow users to customize here and there or create a favored interface with free color, font, and design choices. These features are the same as a low-code platform.
Alternatively, you can use low-code to create cloud-based software for your customers and employees. Many low-code platform support Cloud development and migration, such as OutSystems, Microsoft PowerApps, Salesforce Lightning, Kissflow, Integrate.io, Genexus, UI Bakery, and Mendix.
| We have also reviewed these low-code platforms in detail! |
11. Combining Low-code With Legacy System And Traditional Tools
Low-code is a great tool for legacy modernization, as 87% CIO agreed so. Yet, many companies are used to using legacy systems and traditional tools, it’s hard for them to transfer. This isn’t about habits but also about vast amounts of data and workflow management around these tools.
It’s understandable. These tools have worked with you for years, and you have created an environment for every employee to use them. While changing to modern systems still underlines many risks, such as data loss, extensive training, potential collapse, and wasted resources.
To get the best of both, many low-code platforms are open for integration with traditional tools. For example, you can transfer data between your existing CRM systems with a low-code-made tool for customer services teams. Now your team will have instant access to customer data at any minute. This ensures your data is protected and prevents the risk of losing them in legacy modernization.
Your IT department can also create a quick prototype for a software/ feature with this low-code trend, then refine it with a traditional coding tool for better customization.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, it is evident that low-code development trends are continuing to grow in popularity and advancement. This brings numerous benefits to businesses, including better support and more efficient development processes. Low-code has become a game-changer in the technology industry, and its future looks bright with new trends emerging. With the rise of citizen developers, even startups are taking notice of the potential of low-code platforms. It is exciting to be involved in the low-code trend, and we can expect even more developments soon.
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