The popularity of no-code tools is increasing as more businesses are recognizing the benefits of building custom applications without writing any code. Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional coding systems and programmers that can carry out development work. Modern organizations are using no-code to build scalable, production-ready applications quickly and easily, without having to rely on expensive technical expertise.
With the global shortage of high-code developers, no-code tackles the gap by creating a lower barrier to entry for non-technical users. Couple that with how much faster a no-code solution can respond to your needs, and the time and cost savings on building in-house tools, and it’s easy to understand why businesses are turning to no-code solutions to modernize their organizations.
The shift towards low code and no-code is showing no signs of slowing down. According to Gartner, the market is projected to total $26.9 billion this year, an increase of 20% from 2022. All in all, no-code and low-code tools are revolutionizing the software industry, allowing companies to do things smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
This increasing popularity means we can expect to see new trends in 2023 that will shape the future of low-code and no-code development. Whether you’re already using no-code or you’re considering it for your business, this article will give you a better idea of the no-code trends to watch out for in 2023.
No-Code Trends and Predictions for 2023
1. Greater Adoption by Large Enterprises
No-code platforms are not just for startups and small businesses anymore. In 2023, we can expect to see more large enterprises adopting no-code platforms to build custom applications and automate processes. The software offers a range of benefits for large enterprises, including lower development costs, faster time-to-market, and increased agility—especially during economic downturns. For example, the manufacturing sector has turned to no-code tools to fast track Industry 4.0 initiatives and drive productivity across their organizations. No-code databases allow factories to unlock real-time data about daily operations to drive actionable insights and create organizational agility. In August 2022, 45% of manufacturers said they had already introduced digital technologies, and this is expected to continue through 2023.
2. Improved Security & Governance
As more critical applications are developed using low-code and no-code platforms in 2023, data security will become a priority. The platforms themselves will increasingly prioritize security by design, while IT professionals and citizen developers must share responsibility for ensuring that security and governance aren’t afterthoughts. No-code vendors will be expected to provide robust, built-in security features with layered permissions for handling sensitive data. User authentication and data encryption will be baked into the process from the start, along with compliance tools such as role-based access controls to ensure that sensitive data is protected against unauthorized access. Administrators must also be able to track changes made to applications such as database logins, edits, and deletions. No-code trends for 2023 are likely to include an increase in features like audit logs that can provide complete visibility into what collaborators have been working on. This allows administrators to monitor changes and investigate any suspicious activity. It’s also likely that we will see a greater emphasis on user education around security. As users of no-code platforms become increasingly diverse with varying levels of expertise, organizations will provide more training on how to use security features, how to identify and mitigate security risks, and how to build secure applications.
3. A Trend Towards End-to-End Solutions
As we move further into 2023, no-code vendors will continue to expand their offerings to offer end-to-end solutions for businesses. Standalone systems can lead to siloed data, meaning employees can struggle to work together in larger businesses as they cannot share data across departments. Meanwhile, a unified solution built on one common – yet open – platform allows data to flow seamlessly through multiple applications, making it easier to establish workflows that benefit businesses. For instance: app builders will build integrations for multiple databases, database vendors will start building application development modules for website and mobile applications, workflow automation will become part of web builders’ product suites, and so on. As an example, Zapier has recently released Zapier Tables, a no-code tool that allows users to share, edit, and automate data, all in one place. Similarly, the latest release of Baserow includes some great new tools to help businesses unify their work into one central database connects their data, workflows, and teams.
4. Citizen Developers Will Create More Applications
The no-code, low-code conversation rests on the premise that technology should speed up innovation by empowering non-tech users, or “citizen developers,” to build custom applications with simplicity and ease. Gartner predicts that developers outside formal IT departments will make up a whopping 80% of users of low-code and no-code development tools by 2026, up from 60% in 2021. As the responsibility for app development spreads to more non-technical teams in 2023, it’s anticipated that the priority to train and educate citizen developers will rise accordingly. With citizen developers adept at building apps using no-code development, non-technical teams will be able to put together innovative projects themselves, reducing the burden on traditional developers. Over the next few years, citizen developers and non-technical teams will create more applications, products, and services than ever before, solving their own business challenges, especially at a time when IT professionals are in short supply.
5. A Demand for Seamless Integration & Interoperability
The demand for faster and easier integrations is likely to continue through 2023 as organizations need to connect to a growing number of applications and services, often from different vendors and with varying degrees of compatibility. While integration allows systems to connect with each other, interoperability is also vital to get all systems talking the same language. No-code platforms that can seamlessly connect disparate systems are likely to see increased adoption if they are truly interoperable through APIs and plug-in capabilities to make integrations faster and easier. Unsurprisingly, tools that require extensive organization changes or radical new ways of working will face tougher adoption challenges within companies. Additionally, there is likely to be a continued emphasis on no-code solutions that offer a high degree of customization and flexibility. These platforms allow users to create bespoke solutions tailored to their specific needs, without requiring specialist coding. As organizations continue looking for ways to automate and streamline their operations, no-code tools that enable rapid implementation of custom, user-friendly solutions will become increasingly important.
6. More Open Source Alternatives
In 2023, we’ll continue to see lots of open-source alternatives to other tools. For instance, Baserow is the leading open-source, no-code alternative to Airtable. Large organizations such as banks, governments, universities, and more want to have access to powerful SaaS solutions that often power world-renowned companies. However, due to strict IT requirements and legal and compliance rules, they find themselves unable to adopt these cutting-edge solutions that often don’t meet strict data requirements. With the inability to store sensitive data on the servers of SaaS tools, we’re likely to see more open-source software that’s accessible and compliant to those who cannot use a typical SaaS product. The rise of no-code tools is evident, and it’s likely we will see a continued trend towards more open-source no-code tools in 2023 and beyond.
7. No-Code Tools Will Be Geared Towards Scalability
While no-code platforms have been used to create minimum viable products and internal tools, we’re reaching a stage where using no-code to build scalable and enterprise-level applications is no longer a pipe dream. No-code trends for 2023 will see a shift in platforms providing more advanced capabilities to allow users to build complex applications with more advanced workflows, integrations, and management features. We should expect to see solutions being optimized for high-performance and scalability which are critical requirements for production-ready applications. Features like collaboration and version control, advanced security features, and more customization will be essential to make the shift to enterprise-grade applications. Pricing models will also evolve to accommodate exponential growth in users, datasets, and a shifting feature set.
8. The Integration of No-Code and Low-Code with Traditional Development
Another no-code, low-code trend to look out for in 2023 is more integration between no-code/low-code and traditional software development. While many organizations are seeing the benefits of no-code, low-code platforms in terms of speed, cost, and agility, there will always be some development tasks that require custom coding. And in these cases, integration of no-code or low-code tools with traditional development processes can be highly beneficial. For instance, developers might use traditional coding to build the core functionality of an application, while citizen developers can use a no-code platform to build the user interface and workflows. This way, companies can enjoy the best of both worlds, the speed and agility of no-code/low-code development, combined with the flexibility and customization of traditional coding.
9. Integration of No-Code/Low-Code with AI, ML, and IoT
No-code, low-code trends for 2023 are likely to include more integration with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of things (IoT), making these complex technologies more accessible to non-technical users. One example of this trend is the emergence of no-code/low-code platforms that integrate with AI and ML tools, such as TensorFlow and Keras, which allow users to build machine learning models using visual interfaces and pre-built components, without the need for coding expertise. This opens up the world of machine learning to a wider range of users, enabling them to build applications that can recognize patterns, make predictions, and automate processes. Similarly, no-code/low-code platforms are increasingly integrating with IoT devices and services, allowing users to create applications that collect and analyze data from sensors and other connected devices. By providing easy-to-use interfaces for configuring data sources and creating workflows, these platforms enable users to build IoT applications without requiring specialized knowledge.
10. The Emergence of New No-Code, Low-Code Platforms and Tools
As the market for these platforms continues to grow, it’s highly likely that we will see the emergence of new low-code and no-code platforms and tools in 2023. As we have seen, the trend towards these technologies is growing rapidly, and as a result, there is lots of innovation and investment in this space. In addition, we’re likely to see the continued evolution of existing no-code and low-code platforms, as vendors compete to differentiate their offerings and provide more features, capabilities, and value to customers. Overall, the trends towards no-code and low-code development show no signs of slowing down, and we can expect to see continued investment and innovation in this space in 2023 and beyond.
In conclusion, the overall trend for no-code and low code in 2023 will likely be towards increased adoption of these platforms, enabling businesses to develop and deploy applications faster and more efficiently and become more agile and responsive. No-code and low-code tools can significantly improve a business’s performance and drive efficiency at a time when economic uncertainty demands budgetary prudence and innovative thinking. The future of no-code and low-code development looks bright, with these platforms and tools becoming more sophisticated with each passing year. As we move into the future, we can expect to see even more innovation in this space, with the emergence of new platforms and tools that offer even more advanced features and capabilities. As long as these platforms are implemented responsibly and with proper governance in place, they have the potential to unlock enormous value and transform the way that we work and live.
Tags: no-code, low-code, trends, software development
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