Low Code Development: Is It The Future of Development?

For decades, software development has been gated by a deep understanding of code through years of practice, frustration, and breakthroughs. But what if that gate is being pushed open? What if building software no longer requires fluency in the languages of programming?

Low code development future challenges everything we’ve come to accept about how technology is built. People (business analysts, marketers, educators) who once relied on developers to bring their ideas to life, now have the means to take charge themselves. 

But is this empowerment or erosion? By simplifying development, are we democratizing innovation, or are we diminishing the artistry and expertise that fuel truly groundbreaking work? These platforms might promise speed, but do they come at the cost of depth? And perhaps most importantly, as the barriers to entry fall, what new challenges might arise in their place?

This blog post provides answers to these questions and discusses how this technology is transforming the way applications are built.

What is Low-Code Development?

Instead of hand-coding applications like it is usually done, Low-code development is developing applications by dragging and dropping components and using pre-built templates to develop apps for technical and non-technical users to build software. 

Low Code/No-Code Market Size

• The low-code platform market was worth $13.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to $187 billion by 2028, growing at a yearly rate of 28.1%.
• By 2025, these platforms could cut development costs for organizations by 50%.
• 70% of organizations will have centralized rules by 2025 to manage the security and governance of low-code and no-code apps.

12 Reasons Why Low Code is the Future of Development

1. Develop Apps Faster Than Normal

App development, at present, requires 3 to 12 months of intense coding to build a fully functional application. This is a very long time to spend building a project when business operations or product launches can be disrupted with this duration.

Low-code development reduces this timeline by up to 90% because of its drag-and-drop and pre-built template features. This approach has enabled users without extensive coding knowledge to assemble and deploy applications at a faster pace than ever before.

For example, a project that might take six months to complete with conventional development methods can often be finished in just a few weeks using low code. Businesses can now launch new features much more quickly than before.

(Source: Pathfinder Report, 2018)

2. Cost Efficient

Traditionally, creating a custom application involves assembling a team of developers, then designers, and project managers. There is no denying that they all contribute to a hefty project bill. This situation is not the same with low-code platforms because the need for large development teams is minimized, as fewer developers are required to achieve the same output. 

Companies can then reallocate their budgets to other critical areas such as marketing or customer acquisition thanks to low code.

For instance, a small business that might have struggled to afford a custom-built app can now create one in-house with minimal expenses. Enterprises, on the other hand, can handle multiple projects simultaneously without ballooning costs.

(Source: EsparkBiz 2024)

3. Accessible to the Technical and Non-Technical

Low-code development is easily accessible. The same cannot be said about traditional development which requires years of technical training. The barrier to entry of low code developers is low, empowering people from diverse backgrounds to build applications. After all, 82% of low-code users come from non-technical backgrounds. 

However, this accessibility doesn’t mean that low-code is only for beginners. Developers and IT professionals also leverage these platforms to prototype solutions quickly and focus on more complex aspects of software architecture.

This accessibility is transforming industries by putting the power of development into more hands, enabling faster innovation, and making technology solutions more inclusive than ever.

(Source: Zapier, 2022)

4. Demand for Rapid Digital Transformation

The digital revolution doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down anytime soon. If anything, it’s hitting the pedal harder now. Tech spending is about to get higher with IDC predicting that companies will pour $3.4 trillion into digital transformation by 2026. 

But then comes Low-code platforms, flipping the script on how businesses evolve, and presenting companies the opportunity to skip the whole “hire an army of developers” phase. 

And interestingly, hospitals are jumping on board and using these platforms to streamline patient care. Banks are rolling out new services in weeks instead of months also. Even your local retail shops are getting in on the action, and building apps that would’ve been dreams a few years back.

The interesting thing happening too is that small businesses that used to watch from the sidelines are now in the game thanks to these low-code tools. No massive IT department is needed, and no six-figure development budgets are required.

(Source: IDC, 2024)

5. Scalability

Businesses never stay the same. They grow, and when they do, their needs evolve as well. A small app that previously worked well for a startup might need to handle much larger volumes of data or users as the company expands. It is at this point that such businesses would have best been developed with a low code platform because they are designed to support software scalability, ensuring that the apps you build today can grow with your business tomorrow.

Low-code platforms often come with built-in tools and features that make scaling seamless. For example, they support integrations with other software, meaning businesses can connect their apps to larger systems or add new functionalities. 

Many low-code platforms are built on cloud-based infrastructure, which allows apps to scale automatically as demand increases. Businesses no longer have to worry about technical limitations or performance issues as they grow.

(Source: Impala in Tech, 2024)

6. Collaboration is Improved

One of the biggest challenges in traditional app development is the communication gap between technical teams and business stakeholders. Developers often speak in technical terms, while business teams focus on goals and outcomes. Vision alignment is almost often difficult with such an arrangement. A solution to the gap is low code platforms. It solves this problem by offering visual interfaces that improve collaboration and bridge the gap between these two groups.

For instance, a marketing team can sit down with a developer to outline exactly how they want a customer management tool to look and function. Because the interface is user-friendly and visually clear, feedback can be shared in real time, and adjustments can be made immediately. This reduces misunderstandings and ensures that the final product aligns with the team’s goals.

Instead of going back and forth between teams, everyone can work together on the platform to solve problems, make decisions, and implement changes. This shared ownership of the project fosters better teamwork and leads to higher-quality applications.

(Source: Radixweb, 2024)

7. Growing Market Demand

The low code revolution’s numbers are a thing to marvel about. We’re talking $187 billion by 2028 according to GlobeNewsWire. But the real story here isn’t in the billions we just talked about, but how these platforms are turning business tech on its head.

For example, look at how small startups are building enterprise-grade apps without breaking the bank. Healthcare providers are rolling out patient portals in weeks, not months. Banks? They’re developing financial tools so fast that their competitors can’t seem to understand what is going on.

The pandemic threw everyone into remote work, and suddenly every company needed new digital tools yesterday and low code stepped up. 

What’s also interesting to witness is seeing companies that swore by traditional coding now embracing low code. 

But what’s really happening under the surface is low-code democratizing tech development. Fortune 500 giants and small teams with big dreams are playing on a more level field than ever. And in today’s market? That’s survival.

(Source: GlobeNewsWire, 2020)

8. Adaptability Across Industries

Low code is spreading like wildfire across industries, but not in the way you’d expect. There are numerous examples out there like a small clinic in rural Minnesota building their patient scheduling system in weeks, not months. Their IT team? Just two people with no coding background.

Over in retail, it’s a different story for companies. When COVID hit, a mid-sized clothing chain needed a curbside pickup app fast. Low-code delivered in days. Now they’re using that same platform to reimagine their whole customer experience.

Manufacturing is getting clever too. A factory in Detroit scrapped its clunky supply chain software and built something better with low code. Their warehouse team actually helped design it.

Schools are innovating. A community college in Arizona built its entire online learning platform using low-code. It costs them a fraction of what big-name learning management systems charge. Their students can’t tell the difference.

What’s fascinating is that each industry is putting its own spin on low-code. Healthcare focuses on security and compliance. Retail prioritizes customer experience. Education emphasizes collaboration. Manufacturing obsesses over efficiency. But they’re all using the same toolbox – just picking different tools.

When a bank can build apps as fast as a tech startup and a school can innovate like a software company, something big is happening. 

(Source: HCL, 2020)

9. Shortage of Developers

We’re staring down a skills gap that’s millions of developers wide, but that’s kicked open some interesting doors.

Take Sarah, a marketing manager at a midwest manufacturing firm. She’d never written a line of code, but last month she built an inventory tracking app using low-code. Her dev team? They loved it. Freed them up to tackle the complex system integration they’d been putting off.

This shortage is forcing us to rethink who gets to build software. The days of “only developers can create apps” are fading fast. Business analysts are crafting dashboards. Even HR teams are building employee portals.

But what everyone gets wrong about low code is that it has nothing to do with replacing developers. It’s about letting them be developers. When marketing can handle their own app updates, and sales can tweak their own CRM, developers get to focus on the meaty challenges – the stuff that actually needs their expertise.

Think of it like this: the dev shortage sparked a revolution in who gets to innovate. Real innovation doesn’t care if you’ve got a CS degree. Sometimes it just needs someone who understands the problem and has the right tools to solve it. Low code is the tool. The rest is up to us.

10. Enhanced Productivity

Low-code platforms have the ability to improve productivity across teams by eliminating the need to write endless lines of boilerplate code.

Instead, they can rely on pre-built components and drag-and-drop features to quickly assemble applications.

A marketing team might use low code to build a campaign tracking app within hours rather than weeks.

Similarly, an HR department could automate employee onboarding processes with minimal input from the IT team. These efficiencies ripple through the organization, leading to faster decision-making and improved outcomes.

(Source: App Builder, 2024)

11. Centralized Governance

As low-code platforms gain popularity, the importance of maintaining centralized governance to ensure the successful management of applications has come to light. By 2025, it’s expected that many organizations will adopt governance policies for low-code development.

With governance policies in place, businesses can ensure that all low-code applications meet security, compliance, and performance standards. For instance, sensitive data used in applications must adhere to industry regulations. Centralized policies ensure that these requirements are consistently met, even when non-technical users are involved.

Tools and frameworks for centralized governance are already being integrated into leading low-code platforms. Features such as built-in audit trails, permission controls, and standardized templates allow organizations to maintain oversight without stifling creativity.

(Source: aisel, 2024)

12. Future-Proof Technology

AI is now suggesting entire workflows before you even sketch them out. We’re watching automation tackle the boring stuff in real-time. Logistics companies now automate their entire reporting system through low code. Their analysts finally can now have the time to actually analyze.

IoT integration is what’s rather turning the heads. A manufacturing plant recently connected their entire shop floor through low-code apps. Sensors talking to systems, and systems talking to people, all without writing complex code. Their maintenance team spotted problems before they happened, not after.

The future now is about creating ecosystems where everything – AI, automation, IoT, edge computing – works together seamlessly and low code platforms are leading this shift.

What makes this exciting is that companies don’t need to wait for the future anymore. They can build it themselves, piece by piece, today. When your marketing team can create AI-powered customer apps, and your warehouse crew can set up automated IoT systems – that’s not just future-proof. That’s future-defining.

Will Low-Code Replace Custom Development?

Many are wondering if low-code tools will completely replace traditional custom development. The answer is no. Low code and custom development will likely work together, not against each other.

Studies show that 65% of apps will use a mix of low code and custom coding in the future. This means businesses will choose the best depending on what they need.

Low code is great for building apps quickly. For example, it’s perfect for creating tools to help teams work together efficiently or apps for customers that need to be built quickly. Its drag-and-drop features make the development process simple and fast.

Having said that, custom development is still important. It’s used for projects that need special designs or complicated features. For instance, companies might use custom coding for banking apps or systems that manage sensitive data.

The best solution is to use both these development methodologies in tandem. Low-code can handle fast and simple projects, while custom development can take care of the detailed and complicated ones.

This way, businesses save time and money without losing quality.

Low-code won’t replace custom development, but together they make a powerful team. Businesses that use both will be able to stay competitive and meet their goals faster.

Final Verdict: Is Low Code the Future?

The low code development future likely belongs to a hybrid model. Low code isn’t the antagonist to custom development but an ally that enables faster innovation when time and resources are tight. But when things get complex, traditional coding will step in to push boundaries further.

Low code will continue to grow, not because it’s perfect but because it offers something development desperately needs: accessibility without losing efficiency. And that makes it a cornerstone of what’s next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the future of low-code programming?

Low-code programming is set to become a cornerstone of software development to drive faster innovation and expand access to app creation. 

Q: Will low-code replace developers?

No, low-code won’t replace developers. It complements their work by handling repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on complex, custom solutions. Developers will always be essential for building high-performance and complex applications.

Q: Is low code the future?

Low code development is a significant part of the future. However, it won’t entirely replace traditional development, as complex projects still require custom coding for unique functionality.