Navigating the Low-Code/No-Code Boom: Insightful IT Purchasing Strategies for CIOs

As companies struggle with the ever-present shortage of experienced developers, an increasing number of IT leaders are embracing low-code, no-code, and intelligent app development technologies. These solutions aim to unlock software development potential by training non-IT staff and enabling business users to build or customize applications to suit their needs.

With a variety of tools emerging, ranging from no-code platforms like Bubble to low-code drag-and-drop tools and intelligent tools that use machine learning to suggest code to developers, the market for these technologies is flourishing. IDC predicts that worldwide sales of no-code platforms will grow by 13.9% through 2026, while sales of low-code platforms will increase by 14.1% and intelligent developer technologies will surge by 31.3%.

These predictions come from IDC's recent report, "Worldwide Low-Code, No-Code and Intelligent Developer Technologies Forecast, 2022-2026," authored by Michele Rosen. The report indicates that the market for intelligent developer tools has become increasingly appealing, particularly given the public release of AI-based tools such as Salesforce's Einstein GPT and Microsoft's GPT-powered Copilot.

Rosen describes these intelligent tools as "boilerplate writers" or "autocomplete on steroids" that offer a valuable enhancement to a developer's toolkit. They can serve as an accelerator or force multiplier, improving overall efficiency when coding.

Low-code and no-code platforms typically adopt a drag-and-drop approach, making it easier for business users to adapt to the world of application development. With user-friendly UI components and the ability to build business logic and integrate third-party systems, low-code/no-code development becomes a more efficient, component-based experience for non-technical developers.

On the subject of IT purchasing strategies, Rosen recommends that decision-makers look for no-code/low-code platforms offering governance controls to manage who can use the tools and how they are used. Additionally, consideration should be given to interoperability, platform integration, and cost at scale.

When a business has selected a tool, it should follow the same governance lifecycles as traditional code applications, ensuring adherence to a structured software development process. A well-established center of excellence (CoE) can provide guidance on the most appropriate tool to use, offering support and reusable components when needed, and ensuring appropriate code repositories.

Rosen suggests that CIOs should not blindly budget their software development tool spend to match IDC's growth forecasts. Rather, they should consider the potential cost savings from using low-code platforms and weigh those against the cost of hiring additional staff. This approach can lead to the discovery of innovative, impactful business solutions while circumventing the need to hire expensive developers.

By focusing on the desired features, costs, and outcomes of low-code/no-code tools, CIOs can make more informed decisions when purchasing these platforms. With the increasing popularity of low-code/no-code platforms, such as AppMaster.io's powerful no-code platform, businesses can generate tailored web, mobile, and backend applications at a lower price point, enabling more efficient and cost-effective software development processes.