It would be easy to assume that the tech industry is facing a crisis, especially for professionals like developers and DevOps experts. Headlines have been filled with news of layoffs, with over 120,000 employees from more than 400 companies, such as Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and others, being let go since the beginning of the year. However, contrary to what one might expect, there is actually a high demand for technical talent, particularly in non-tech industries. Recent reports have revealed that job growth in the United States accelerated significantly in January, with the unemployment rate reaching a 53-year low. In a study by Bain & Company, it was found that demand for tech workers at non-tech companies is now outpacing demand at tech firms for the first time. This phenomenon has been dubbed the Great Rebalance as it signifies a seismic shift in the industry with talent moving beyond traditional tech companies and non-tech enterprises seeking innovative ways to apply software. The stage is set for 2023 to become the year of no-code.
A Growing Appetite for Digital Apps
It has been a widely expressed belief that every business is essentially a software business now. Companies, regardless of their size or industry, have been leveraging software to drive digital transformation initiatives and make software an integral part of their overall strategy. According to IDC, over 500 million digital apps and services will be developed and deployed using cloud-native approaches by this year alone. This staggering number matches the total of apps developed in the last 40 years, with a majority of these new apps targeting industry-specific digital transformation scenarios, defining competitive requirements in all sectors. Unfortunately, the demand for digital apps is vastly outstripping the supply of developers in the market. This has forced non-tech organizations to look for fresh, creative solutions to keep up with the demand. This is where no-code, low-code platforms such as AppMaster.io come in. Through its ability to accelerate software development, AppMaster employs intuitive, visual, drag-and-drop tools, allowing businesses to deliver digital apps rapidly without being hampered by limited IT or development resources.
Budget Constraints and the DIY Approach
Unlike tech firms, most non-tech organizations tend to take a more pragmatic approach when it comes to investments. They typically look for stronger business justifications and returns on their development projects. Ongoing market uncertainties and recessionary concerns have also forced businesses to maximize value from their investments. Although it may be relatively easier to find developers in the talent pool, this does not guarantee an unlimited budget. This has resulted in non-tech organizations seeking alternative ways to enable app development within their business teams. They have adopted DIY (do it yourself) software development strategies using low-code/no-code platforms. By democratizing app development, these platforms facilitate so-called “citizen developers” within organizations to take on software application-building tasks. Although IT and professional developers are still vital for certain apps, the rise of no-code has expanded the talent pool within organizations, allowing business employees to undertake such tasks.
Non-Tech Organizations Focus on Everyday Delivery
Startups in the tech industry are typically used to an innovation at all costs mindset. The traditional venture life cycle has permitted challenges lasting years if a startup can demonstrate rapid growth. Non-tech firms, on the other hand, do not have this luxury. They are held to standards of profitability and must show quarterly earnings. These businesses require strategies that can deliver results in days or weeks, rather than months or years. No-code platforms cater to this everyday delivery’ approach, providing continuous updates to end users. This entails a high-velocity, ongoing improvement cycle that can be deployed based on specific features without being linked to Agile sprint deadlines or other formal milestones. With the automation provided by low-code/no-code platforms, small updates can be pushed to production frequently (possibly daily), all while maintaining higher levels of quality than traditional “big bang” software releases.
Conclusion
As the saying goes, every challenge presents new opportunities. While recent tech layoffs have created uncertainty, the “Great Rebalance” offers an opportunity for accelerated innovation across industries. Non-technical businesses are discovering new and different models for software development, leading to the rapid adoption of low-code and no-code tools. With the ability to rapidly bring products to market and deliver results, companies that leverage these tools to compete, expand, and thrive will outperform their peers.
