What you’ll learn:
- Why low-code development tools make even more sense in today’s economic environment
- How low-code development tools help IT teams connect increasingly complex digital architectures
- How low-code development tools enable developers to focus on tasks requiring their creative skills
I don’t need to tell you that the past year has been tumultuous for the business world. With tech companies making headlines — often not in a positive context — organizations have adjusted to a painful global macroeconomic shift. The bottom line now matters more than ever, and as budgets tighten every business is seeking ways to do more with less.
Will Low-Code Tools Take Over?
That often leads to discussions about the role of automation and low-code tools in IT development that are sometimes based on misconceptions. Yes, intelligent developer technologies help organizations accomplish more in less time. There’s a reason why a recent IDC report found the worldwide market for these solutions will grow to $21 billion by 2026.
Still, I don’t think these innovative tools (or the remarkable generative AI advances we see, like ChatGPT) represent a “robots are taking over” moment that should fill us with angst.
Automation and low-code development are not replacement technologies. Instead, they’re complementary.
It’s not either/or. It’s both.
Workflow Automation: Doing More With Less
These tools make life in IT more manageable by reducing mundane coding tasks so the team can focus on higher-impact projects. Low code enables development wizards to spend more of their valuable time weaving code magic on projects worthy of their talent. Think of it as intelligent work instead of tedious work. It’s a win-win.
Businesses today must connect a vast sprawl of applications and systems within their digital environments. On-premises technologies. SaaS applications. Public and private clouds. Edge device networks. There’s no end in sight for this expansion. Businesses can keep entire development teams busy simply integrating and managing everything when they rely on traditional hand-coding practices.
For instance, it might take a developer weeks or months to integrate Salesforce with other critical systems. It’s also monotonous work. But those tasks are completed faster with a configuration-based platform featuring drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built connectors, and machine-learning capabilities.
Low-Code Integrations Reduce Developer Workloads
When freed of the paint-by-number integration chores, that same developer can use the time for something more groundbreaking that does require starting from scratch – or designing code masterpieces that require creativity.
As a bonus, there are times when tech-savvy “citizen-users” in the lines of businesses can even do the integration work themselves with a low-code platform – taking further pressure off overburdened developers.
In recent years, I’ve seen a softening of the resistance to low code in the systems integrator community. At one time, the criticism focused on the perceived limitations of low-code platforms as only suitable for “simple” or “one-size-fits-all” projects. But now, seasoned developers have a growing appreciation that low code is a valuable, flexible tool in their kit and should have a place in their day-to-day work.
Also, that tide never needed to turn for younger developers because low-code and automation platforms have always been arrows in their quivers. These developers have grown up in their careers understanding how these tools can help solve real-world problems, fast. Why wouldn’t you use something that helps you become more successful?
Low-code development and automation do impact the lives of developers. But it’s not in a negative way. It helps them shine. And that’s more valuable than ever in more challenging economic times.
Learn more practical advice for overcoming connectivity challenges in “The Developer’s Guide to Integration Approaches.”