Table of Contents
- Key Highlights
- Introduction
- The Emergence of Low-Code and No-Code Development
- Current Landscape: Usage Statistics and Insights
- The Influence of AI on Development Tools
- Transformational Benefits of Low-Code and No-Code
- The Shift Toward Custom Development
- Future Outlook: Adapting to Change
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Key Highlights
- Widespread Adoption: 95% of companies have utilized low-code and no-code tools for software development within the past year.
- AI Integration: Despite the rise of AI, 84% of tech leaders believe it will enhance rather than replace low-code and no-code solutions.
- Efficiency Gains: Tech leaders report significant time and cost savings, with 98% noting they save time using these tools.
Introduction
The landscape of software development is undergoing profound transformation, driven by new technologies and shifting organizational needs. In a recent survey conducted for the 2025 App Development Trends Report released by Infragistics, an overwhelming majority of tech leaders—84%—assert that artificial intelligence (AI) will not supplant low-code and no-code tools but rather enhance their functionality. This insight arrives at a pivotal time when businesses are increasingly aware of the necessity for agility and customization in application development. With 95% of companies reporting usage of low-code and no-code platforms in the past year, this report sheds light on how these solutions have become essential for organizations aiming to drive efficiencies in their development processes.
As we delve into the implications of these findings, it is crucial to unpack the nuanced interplay between emerging technologies and established tools in shaping the future of app development.
The Emergence of Low-Code and No-Code Development
Low-code and no-code development methodologies have gained wide acceptance over the last decade, largely because they empower non-technical users to participate in software creation. Gartner has predicted that by 2025, 70% of new applications will be developed by business users outside of the IT department, a trend underscored by Infragistics' findings.
Historical Context
The roots of low-code and no-code development can be traced back to the early 2000s, with platforms designed to simplify aspects of coding. However, it wasn't until 2015 that these tools gained significant traction, spurred by the growing demand for rapid application development cycles and digital transformation initiatives across various industries. The onset of cloud computing further accelerated this trend, providing the infrastructure to support scalable, collaborative development environments.
Current Landscape: Usage Statistics and Insights
According to the Infragistics report, nearly all surveyed tech leaders recognized substantial time and cost efficiencies attributed to low-code and no-code solutions:
- Time Savings: 98% reported saving time, with 78% of companies achieving up to 50% reductions in development time.
- Cost Reductions: 62% experienced lower software development costs, with 67% indicating savings of up to 30% on budgets.
The report highlights that as businesses increasingly prioritize achieving custom solutions tailored to their unique needs, low-code and no-code tools enable rapid iterations and flexibility that traditional development methods often lack.
Perspective from Tech Leaders
Jason Beres, SVP of Developer Tools at Infragistics, states, “Companies’ use of low-code and no-code tools have steadily increased over the past decade—and today these solutions are critical to how developers, designers, CIOs, and others build scalable applications and effective development processes.” He emphasizes the synergy between AI and low-code systems—a convergence that stands to not only expedite app development but also broaden the democratization of coding skills among users.
The Influence of AI on Development Tools
While numerous tech leaders report that the integration of AI will not lead to the obsolescence of low-code and no-code platforms, it will bring meaningful enhancements:
- Increased Efficiency: 76% of respondents believe AI will make their existing development tools more efficient.
- Advancements in Automation: By automating routine coding tasks, AI can allow developers to focus on strategic planning and decision-making, thus driving innovation.
These findings resonate with an industry trend toward employing AI for repetitive tasks, which can greatly accelerate the application development process. As organizations implement AI alongside low-code platforms, the means through which applications are designed, developed, and deployed will evolve, fostering a new paradigm of collaboration between technical and non-technical users.
Transformational Benefits of Low-Code and No-Code
The implications of adopting low-code and no-code solutions extend beyond individual development tasks; they encompass broader strategic benefits for organizations:
1. Enhanced Developer Productivity
An overwhelming 37% of tech leaders cite improving developer productivity as the primary reason for utilizing low-code/no-code tools. This significant uptick in productivity can often be attributed to:
- Streamlined collaboration among developers and business users.
- Reduced bottlenecks in the development pipeline, allowing for a focus on core competencies.
2. Focus on Strategic Work
Many companies have noted a shift in how developers allocate their time. A growing portion (25%, up from 22%) have reported using these tools to focus on more strategic initiatives—an acknowledgment of the shifting dynamics within development teams.
3. Increased End-User Satisfaction
As companies strive to create applications that resonate more closely with user needs, 20% of tech leaders highlight the enhancement of end-user satisfaction as a significant outcome of utilizing low-code/no-code tools.
4. Reduction of Errors
Manual errors can plague software development, especially in traditional coding practices. The report indicates that 19% of leaders have observed a decrease in these errors since implementing low-code solutions, allowing for smoother development cycles and enhanced outcomes.
The Shift Toward Custom Development
In an age where generic software solutions cannot meet complex business demands, the push for custom applications is intensifying. Nearly one-third of tech leaders (29%) cited increasing flexibility to create tailored applications as the primary motivation for adopting low-code and no-code solutions.
This quest for customization reflects a larger trend in the market where businesses are becoming less satisfied with off-the-shelf solutions that do not cater to specific operational needs. Companies are recognizing that their competitive edge lies in their ability to adapt technology to suit their workflows and customer interactions.
Case Study: Custom Solutions in Action
Consider a medium-sized retail company that faced challenges in managing inventory and customer engagement through traditional systems. By leveraging a low-code platform, their internal team designed a custom application within weeks, integrating real-time inventory data with customer profiles. This adaptability not only improved efficiency but also enhanced customer satisfaction by offering timely promotions based on purchasing behaviors.
Future Outlook: Adapting to Change
As we gaze into the future of app development, it is evident that a hybrid model combining low-code/no-code platforms with AI capabilities will dominate the landscape. Organizations that harness this combination will not only streamline their processes but also cultivate a culture of innovation and agility.
Addressing Skills Gap and Upskilling
As low-code and no-code tools become more prevalent, the need for comprehensive training programs to equip current and future developers with the necessary skills becomes paramount. Tech leaders must strive to:
- Foster an environment conducive to learning and growth.
- Implement training initiatives that encompass both technical and non-technical teams.
As Beres aptly states, "It’s clear low-code and no-code tools are here to stay." The onus is now on organizations to evolve alongside these technologies, enhancing their workforce's capabilities and remaining competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Conclusion
The findings presented in the 2025 App Development Trends Report portray a pivotal moment in the software development industry. As low-code and no-code solutions continue to gain acceptance, organizations are embracing their potential to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and encourage innovation. Even as the specter of AI looms large, the consensus among tech leaders is clear: these tools are not going away. Instead, they are set to evolve hand in hand with artificial intelligence, creating a landscape where the boundaries between technical and non-technical users blur, ultimately facilitating more efficient and customized solutions.
FAQ
What is low-code and no-code development?
Low-code and no-code development refers to the practice of creating applications with minimal hand-coding, allowing users with little or no programming experience to build and deploy applications using graphical interfaces.
How do low-code and no-code platforms benefit businesses?
They allow for quicker development cycles, reduced costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to create custom solutions that cater to specific business needs.
Can AI enhance low-code/no-code tools?
Yes, according to the report, AI integration is expected to enhance the efficiency of existing low-code/no-code tools, allowing users to automate tasks and focus on more strategic work.
Why are companies moving toward custom application development?
Many organizations are dissatisfied with generic applications and are focusing on custom solutions to better meet their unique needs and achieve greater operational efficiency.
What are the predicted trends for the future of app development?
The future will likely see a greater convergence of AI with low-code and no-code platforms, fostering a culture of innovation and flexibility, while necessitating the upskilling of current and future development teams.