Low code development platforms – Trends to dominate 2024

According to Research and Markets, the low-code no-code market is expected to generate revenue of $187.0 billion by 2030. That’s insane and awesome.

Needless to say the demand for digital continues to grow. Post-pandemic business landscape has witnessed the most massive shift to digital. IDC forecasts that the global creation of cloud-native applications will reach 750 million by the year 2025. That is much more than decades of apps put together!

To add to that, accessibility to digital tools or no-code or low-code solutions has furthered reduced the barrier for teams of any shape or size to accelerate implementation – be it the corner retail shop to a custom tshirt design ecommerce startup to high growth SMEs to large conglomerates.

Industry-agnostic magic

Low-code and no-code (LCNC) tools have found innovative applications in diverse domains. For instance, in citizen science initiatives, it facilitates the creation of applications for non-experts contributing to scientific research. Educational games and simulations benefit from LCNC, empowering educators to develop interactive learning experiences without extensive coding skills. Internal process automation sees non-technical staff using LCNC tools for workflow management and task automation.

Healthcare professionals leverage LCNC for patient data tracking and scheduling applications. Additionally, LCNC aids in the creation of community engagement platforms, empowering users to manage events and communication channels. LCNC’s impact extends to unconventional areas, such as museum exhibition apps, marketing campaigns, and even IoT device management, where domain experts with limited coding skills can design solutions. As the technology evolves, LCNC applications diversify, ranging from legal document automation and agricultural monitoring to personalized productivity apps and custom gamification platforms. The adaptability of LCNC tools ensures they continue to drive innovation across industries, offering accessible solutions for those with limited coding experience.

Broadstrokes for 2024 and Low-code tech:

1. Increased adoption of low code platforms

The adoption of low-code platforms is expected to soar. Businesses across various industries are recognizing the benefits of leveraging low-code platforms to develop applications quickly and efficiently. 

At its current rate, 70% of new business applications will use low-code/no-code technologies by 2025. By 2024, 80% of non-IT professionals will develop IT products and services, with over 65% using low-code/no-code tools.

With the rising demand for digital transformation, organizations are seeking ways to build applications rapidly and optimize available resources. Low-code platforms provide an ideal solution to this challenge, enabling businesses to streamline their development processes and accelerate time-to-market.

2. Integration with AI and Machine Learning

Another significant trend that we can anticipate in 2024 is the integration of low-code platforms with AI and machine learning.  With APIs, making AI accessible to a broader audience, not just AI experts, is a game-changer for businesses. Low-code platforms are providing a bridge between engineers and AI integration, simplifying the process of incorporating AI into business systems. This integration empowers developers to create intelligent applications with advanced capabilities such as natural language processing and predictive analytics.

By leveraging AI and machine learning, developers can rapidly build intelligent applications that automate tasks, make data-driven decisions, and provide personalized user experiences.

3. Expansion of low code to complex applications

Traditionally, low-code platforms have been associated with the development of simple applications. We can expect low-code platforms to expand their capabilities to handle more complex applications. Picture this: Couple years back low code or no code platforms could help you roll out apps for data collection, approval systems, dashboard and reporting. Refined functionality and improved capabilities now support development of comprehensive solutions like CRM extensions, HRMS tools, AI enabled apps that cut down work by 10x and more!

As the demand for sophisticated applications grows, low-code platforms are evolving to accommodate the development of intricate, enterprise-grade solutions. This expansion will enable organizations to leverage the benefits of low-code development across a wider range of projects.

4. Integration with DevOps and agile methodologies

KPMG suggests that about 60% of the company managers surveyed rate low-code development as “critical to very critical” for the further performance of their companies, both from an operational and a strategic point of view.

DevOps and Agile methodologies have revolutionized software development, emphasizing collaboration, continuous integration, and rapid iteration. Low-code platforms are projected to integrate more seamlessly with DevOps and Agile practices. This integration will enable organizations to adopt a more streamlined and efficient approach to application development, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and accelerating the delivery of high-quality software.

5. Integration with data analytics and BI tools

Data analytics and business intelligence (BI) play a crucial role in driving informed decision-making and enabling organizations to extract actionable insights from their data. Low-code platforms are expected to increasingly enhance their integration with data analytics and BI tools. This integration will empower developers to incorporate powerful data analysis capabilities into their applications, enabling users to visualize, explore, and derive insights from complex data sets.

6. Mobile development

Did you know that up to 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use some form of low-code or no-code technologies by 2025?

With the increasing demand for mobile applications, low-code platforms are poised to play a significant role in mobile development. These platforms provide developers with the tools and frameworks necessary to create mobile applications quickly and efficiently. By leveraging low-code platforms, developers can build mobile applications with minimal coding, saving time and resources. This trend will enable businesses to capitalize on the growing mobile market and deliver engaging experiences to their users.

7. Emphasis on security and compliance

In an era of increasing cyber threats and stringent data privacy regulations, security and compliance have become paramount concerns for organizations. Low-code platforms are expected to place a greater emphasis on security and compliance features. 

This is especially true when low-code tools will be behind more than 65% of application development.

By incorporating robust security measures and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, low-code platforms will enable developers to build secure applications with confidence. This trend will help organizations mitigate risks and protect sensitive data throughout the application development lifecycle.

8. Increased automation

Did you know that 26% of executives believe low-code platforms are the most critical investment in automation (up from 10% since the pandemic)?

Automation is a driving force behind increased efficiency and productivity in software development. We can expect low-code platforms to incorporate more automation capabilities. These platforms will facilitate automated testing, deployment, and monitoring, enabling developers to focus on higher-value tasks. By automating repetitive and time-consuming processes, low-code platforms will help organizations streamline their development workflows and deliver applications faster.

9. Customization

Customization is a key aspect of any development platform, allowing developers to tailor applications to meet specific requirements and user preferences. Low-code platforms are expected to offer increased customization options. These platforms will provide developers with a range of templates, modules, and plugins that can be easily integrated into their applications. This flexibility will enable developers to create unique and personalized experiences for their users, driving customer satisfaction and engagement.

In summary, the choice to adopt a low-code platform offers numerous benefits for businesses. From increased agility and productivity to faster time to market and effective risk management, low-code platforms provide a powerful solution for organizations looking to stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape. 

By leveraging the visual development environment, businesses can streamline the development process, empower developers, and deliver high-quality applications in record time. Furthermore, the built-in security measures and governance features offered by low-code platforms ensure that organizations can develop applications that are secure, compliant, and reliable. So, if you’re looking to boost your organization’s efficiency, competitiveness, and overall success, consider making the low-code platform choice today!

Remember, the key to success lies not only in adopting these trends but also in selecting the right low-code platform that aligns with your specific business needs and objectives.

How DronaHQ can revolutionize your app development process

Traditional coding methods can be time-consuming and require extensive technical expertise. However, with the emergence of low code platforms like DronaHQ, app development has become more accessible and streamlined. Here’s how DronaHQ can revolutionize your app development processes.

Scalability and Security

DronaHQ is designed to cater to the needs of businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small startup or an enterprise-level organization, DronaHQ can scale to meet your requirements. Its scalable architecture ensures that your apps can handle increasing user loads and growing data volumes without compromising performance. Additionally, DronaHQ prioritizes the security of your data. With self-hosting options, your sensitive information remains within your servers, providing an extra layer of protection.

Frontend actions for enhanced user interactions

With DronaHQ, developers have access to a wide range of frontend actions that can enhance user interactions. By simply dragging and dropping action blocks, developers can validate screens, fire queries into databases, call APIs, generate PDFs, send emails, show toasts, navigate to screens, refresh data, and perform over 100 other actions. These actions can be triggered by events like screen open or button clicks, allowing you to create dynamic and interactive app experiences.

Data integration made simple

DronaHQ simplifies the process of integrating data from various sources. Whether you need to connect to databases, APIs, or other third-party apps, DronaHQ provides a seamless solution. Your data never leaves your servers, ensuring the highest level of security and compliance. Developers can query and bind all their data sources on demand, enabling real-time data updates and ensuring that your apps are always up to date with the latest information.

Mobile app development made easy

Having a mobile app is essential for reaching a wider audience. DronaHQ understands this need and automatically converts your apps into both web and mobile applications. This allows users to access your apps seamlessly across different devices, ensuring a consistent user experience. By leveraging DronaHQ’s platform, you can develop highly secure and fully functional mobile apps without the need for building apps from scratch for different devices or OSes.

Troubleshooting and detailed app building

DronaHQ offers a range of tools and features to simplify troubleshooting and enhance the app building process. Developers can add watchlists, breakpoints, view states, timelines, and connector logs to troubleshoot and build apps with great detail and precision. These features enable you to track approval requests, monitor complex workflows, and gain deeper insights into your app’s performance. By leveraging these tools, you can ensure that your apps are robust, efficient, and free from any bugs or issues.

In conclusion, DronaHQ is a powerful low code platform that can revolutionize your app development process. With its drag-and-drop interface, seamless integrations, customizable components, and extensive features, DronaHQ empowers developers to create innovative and efficient apps. Its scalability, security, and mobile app development capabilities make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging DronaHQ’s advanced features and tools, you can streamline your app development process, save time, and deliver high-quality apps that meet the needs of your users.

FAQ’s 

What is Low-code?

Low-code is an application development method, with minimal coding. It uses a drag-and-drop visual interface that enables those with no technical expertise to build fully functioning applications

Why choose a low code platform?

Traditional software development methods can be time-consuming and cumbersome, often leading to delays in delivering solutions to market. This is where low-code platforms come into play. Some reasons to adopt low-code are:

1. Accelerating time to market

In today’s fast-paced business environment, time to market is a critical factor for success. Businesses that can bring their products and services to market faster gain a significant competitive advantage. Low-code platforms play a pivotal role in accelerating time to market by enabling rapid application development.

With traditional development methods, building complex applications from scratch can take months or even years. Low-code platforms, on the other hand, provide a framework that allows developers to quickly assemble applications using pre-built components. This significantly reduces the development time and enables businesses to launch their products or services much faster.

2. Higher productivity

One of the key advantages of low-code platforms is their ability to boost productivity. Traditional software development processes can be complex and time-consuming, requiring developers to write extensive lines of code. This not only slows down the development process but also increases the chances of introducing errors and bugs.

IDC found that low-code spread up the software development lifecycle by 62% for new applications and 72% for adding new features, achieved an additional $19.8 million in annual revenue and increased productivity by 123%.

This eliminates the need for manual coding, significantly reducing the time and effort required to develop an application. Developers have access to out-of-box functionality, requiring them to only code for custom enhancements, if any.

3. Effective risk management and governance

When it comes to software development, risk management and governance are crucial aspects that organizations cannot afford to overlook. Traditional development methods often lack the necessary checks and balances, which can lead to security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and other risks.

Low-code platforms provide a structured development environment that promotes effective risk management and governance. These platforms often come with built-in security measures, such as authentication and authorization mechanisms, to ensure that applications are developed with security in mind. Additionally, low-code platforms often adhere to industry best practices and compliance standards, reducing the risk of non-compliance.

By choosing a low-code platform, organizations can build applications that are secure, compliant, and reliable. This not only reduces the risk of security breaches and downtime but also instills confidence in customers and stakeholders.