Low-Code Gartner Forecasts for 2023

Key takeaways

According to Gartner’s predictions for 2023:

• The global market for software technologies using little or no code is expected to reach $26.9 billion in 2023.
• The growing number of hyper-automation projects and complex business initiatives will be key factors accelerating the adoption of enterprise low-code application and no-code technologies by 2026.
• Low-code application platforms will be the most significant component of the low-code programming technology market in the nearest future. Their growth is estimated at 25%, reaching nearly $10 billion in 2023.
• Spending on technologies supporting hyper-automation software development will reach a ceiling of as much as $720 billion in 2023.
• Investments in enterprise low-code application technologies or no-code platforms that actively support innovation and composable integration will thus snowball, especially as enterprises choose to deploy composable solutions.
• An average of 41% of non-IT workers are currently customizing or developing data or application solutions. By the end of 2025, half of all new low-code customers will come from corporate clients outside of IT.

What is low-code development?

Low-code development refers to using a platform or tool that allows developers to build software applications with minimal or no traditional coding. These platforms provide a visual interface and pre-built components that can be assembled and configured to create custom applications.

An excellent example of this is the Java open-source low-code platform from Stratoflow, which significantly simplifies and accelerates the development of enterprise SaaS systems. Building a system on a production-ready, Java-based open-source code platform reduces development time and costs by an average of 3 times compared to building from scratch using modern Java frameworks such as Spring Boot.

Low-code application platforms or no-code platforms typically include:

• Drag-and-drop functionality,
• Templates,
• Other features allow even non-technical users to develop functional software.

Therefore, low-code development aims to make it much easier and faster to build and deploy applications, especially for organizations needing a larger team of dedicated developers or resources to devote to software development. In addition, enterprise low-code development can create many applications, including web and mobile apps, workflow automation tools, and business processes.

Gartner Magic Quadrant – the best low-code development platforms

More and more business world representatives recognize the need to digitize their operations. However, this can be a challenge for those who need help finding the right solution through traditional custom software development – due to personnel resources, finances, and time.

Enterprise low-code application technologies are increasingly coming to the rescue, offering the possibility to design complex digital products without involving much money, hiring professional developers, and a long product launch in the market. Instead, low-code solutions speed up the development process, allow hiring citizen developers for projects, and fewer working hours not only reduce costs but also speed up the application’s market launch and positively impact digital business acceleration.

However, one should know that low-code programming is not always a good choice. After all, traditional coding methods give you complete control over the written code and ensure its customization. However, if these aspects are not crucial, learn about the low-code application development platforms Gartner considers worthy of attention.

The following companies stand out among the leaders: Mendix, OutSystems, Microsoft, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. Challengers, meanwhile, include Appian, Orale, or Pega.

Gartner Predicts Worldwide Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms for 2023

What is the global market’s value for software technologies that use low-code?

According to the latest forecasts published by research firm Gartner, the global market for software technologies using little or no code is expected to reach $26.9 billion in 2023. This estimate represents an increase of nearly 20%, up 19.6% from 2022 to be exact.

Gartner researchers also predict that the growing number of hyper-automation projects and complex business initiatives will be key factors accelerating the adoption of enterprise low-code application and no-code technologies by 2026.

“Organizations are increasingly turning to low-code development technologies to fulfill growing demands for speed application delivery and highly customized automation workflows (…). Equipping both professional IT developers and non-IT personas — business technologists — with diverse low-code tools enables organizations to reach the level of digital competency and speed of delivery required for the modern agile environment.”

Explained Varsha Mehta, Senior Market Research Specialist at Gartner.

Low-Code Application Platforms (LCAPs) will be the most significant component of the low-code programming technology market in the nearest future. Their growth is estimated at 25%, reaching nearly $10 billion in 2023.

What about hyperautomation?

A Gartner report shows that interest in hyper-automation will grow due to evolving requirements for operational optimization, a widening skills gap, and increasing economic pressures.

According to Gartner experts, spending on technologies supporting hyper-automation software development will reach a ceiling of as much as $720 billion in 2023. Significantly, part of this spending will go specifically to low-code software technologies such as LCAP, iPaaS, RPA, CADP, and MXDP.

What are the predictions for composable infrastructure?

In today’s world, with almost unlimited access to networks and information, business ideas and opportunities for growth come quickly. However, the risk of missing these opportunities is too significant, so companies that want to stay ahead of the competition are investing in scalable infrastructure using composable components. Such measures enable IT departments to create and deliver new value quickly and without interruption.

According to Gartner analysts, investments in enterprise low-code application technologies or no-code platforms that actively support innovation and composable integration will thus snowball, especially as enterprises choose to deploy composable solutions.

“Low-code development technologies are supporting the composable enterprise by enabling the creation of more agile and resilient software solutions. These technologies can be used to compose and recompose modular components and PBCs, to create adaptive custom applications for changing business needs”.

Explained Wong.

What impacted the rapid development of low-code technologies?

Indeed, the development of the popularity of low-code and no-code development platforms was influenced by the coronavirus pandemic. Then there was a boom in remote software production, which ultimately translated into an increased interest in enterprise low-code application or no-code development resources.

Post-pandemic realities in many companies forced significant cost-cutting, often resulting in reduced budgets for the maintenance and development of IT infrastructure or new digital products. Not surprisingly, many have turned their attention to low-code and no-code platforms that enable rapid application development, streamline business process and enable digital transformation in key industries. Read also about the role of low-code in digital transformation.

Data presented by Gartner also supports these theories.

According to specialists from this research firm, the increase in interest in low-code application platforms is due to the increased demand for various types of applications and systems necessary for digitization. The availability of low-code solutions, in turn, has brought several non-IT professionals into the market, partially displacing professional developers and traditional development. Gartner analysis shows that an average of 41% of non-IT workers are currently customizing or developing data or application solutions. Interestingly, by the end of 2025, half of all new low-code customers will come from corporate clients outside of IT.

Why will low-code application platforms become increasingly popular in 2023?

Low-code application platforms are popular for a variety of reasons. Some of the main benefits include the following:

1. Increased productivity

Low-code platforms allow developers to build applications quickly and easily without writing as much code. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required to develop applications, making it possible to build and deploy them much faster.

2. Improved accessibility

Low-code development tools are often designed with a user-friendly interface, which makes them more accessible to non-technical users. This can help organizations involve a more comprehensive range of stakeholders in the development process and make it easier for them to build and maintain applications.

3. Reduced costs

The best low-code platforms allow developers to build applications more quickly and with less code, so they can help organizations save on development costs. This is especially beneficial for small companies, medium-sized businesses and startups with limited resources.

4. Improved agility

Low-code capabilities allow organizations to build and deploy applications more quickly, which can help them respond more rapidly to changing business needs and accelerate digital transformation. This can give organizations a competitive edge in fast-moving markets.

5. Enhanced collaboration

Low-code programming often has built-in collaboration features, making it easier for teams to work together on projects. This can improve communication and help ensure everyone is working towards the same goals.

Will low-code programming expand in the next few years?

Low-code programming has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to enable organizations to quickly develop and deploy custom applications without requiring a large amount of specialized programming expertise. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as low-code platforms evolve and become more feature-rich, making it easier for a broader range of users to create custom applications.

Several factors are driving the growth of low-code programming, including the increasing demand for custom applications, the need for organizations to be more agile and responsive to changing business needs, and the growing shortage of skilled programmers. As a result, low-code programming will likely expand in the next few years as more organizations adopt these platforms to meet their custom application development needs.

We are Stratoflow, a custom software development company. We firmly believe that software craftsmanship, collaboration and effective communication is key in delivering complex software projects. This allows us to build advanced high-performance Java applications capable of processing vast amounts of data in a short time. We also provide our clients with an option to outsource and hire Java developers to extend their teams with experienced professionals. As a result, the solutions designed for our customers contribute to their business development. We specialize in travel software, ecommerce software, and fintech software development. In addition, we are taking low-code to a new level with our Open-Source Low-Code Platform.