Are we at an Inflection Point for Low-Code Development? Reflections from Indium’s experience from several Mendix Implementations

According to Forrester Research, the global low-code development landscape is slated to touch USD 21.2 billion by 2022. According to another study published by Markets and Markets, the low-code market is slated to touch USD 52.3 billion by 2024.

These are, of course, top-down numbers created by leaders in the market research industry.

But, if we were to analyze this bottom-up, what is causing this boom? Why low-code? Why now? 

Any explanation revolves around three key macro trends we’re witnessing first-hand in Indium Software. Our team has over the last two years built deep expertise in the latest digital transformation tools and processes, helping many clients in the US and Europe with their digital transformation efforts. 

Trend #1: Fast is not enough. We need super fast.

The point is organizations have to keep up with the rapid pace of disruption. Low-code Platforms where software applications and mobile apps on the cloud can be built with “drag-and-drop” interfaces and quick integrations. This is not to say developers of low-code platforms like Mendix are not experts. They certainly are. They understand the underlying architecture and systems needed to build an application. They understand the business process and underlying strategic need.

But low-code allows them to build microservices where they don’t have to spend time reinventing existing code.

At Indium, we’ve noticed that low-code applications work well, specifically, in three contexts:

1. Internal applications to drive efficiency into internal processes: The key here is to implement this digital transformation process rapidly and quickly; not spend several months or years writing this piece of code.
2. Customer-facing apps for a small number of users (<10,000 users): Low-code may not necessarily work in all contexts. But if you want to build a customer-facing application to manage relationships with a small group of enterprises, for example, it totally works.
3. On-premise Apps that are not supercritical can be replaced with a cloud-based solution: This works very well especially for low-use on-premise, legacy apps. One would certainly like to take advantage of cloud-based systems and replace legacy systems, but this process needs to be quick and efficient. Low-code works well in this scenario.

Trend #2: Take advantage of cloud-native architecture

The benefits of cloud-based software has become extremely clear for CIOs and technology leaders around the world. The key benefits of using a cloud-based automation process is that these software products are scalable and flexible. Cloud-based products are also designed to be highly secure, especially with the ability to deploy security-related bug fixes in one-shot. Modern cloud-based products are also easy to maintain, upgrade and customize, with the added benefits of low cap-ex.

With low-code platforms like Mendix, enterprises get the ability to create apps in a single go for all devices. Additionally, Mendix allows the enterprise to:

• One-click deployment to various public clouds
• Create rich user experiences including chatbots, conversational UI
• Take advantage of Mendix Assist, to accelerate the process of development
• Easy integration with SAP and IBM systems

Trend #3: Allow business heads to drive digital transformation without the need for layers of technology professionals

The biggest trend of all is that low-code allows for business and functional heads to notice a bottleneck in a process and commision software to be built to make a process more efficient. A product requirement document can then be sent to a partner like Indium Software to build the application on a platform like Mendix. It does eliminate the need for elaborate and complex IT product outsourcing documentation, CIO approval and large budgets, so to speak.

It simplifies the entire lifecycle of a new application – from a key business need to an application that just works.

Indium Software’s Digital Leadership Team can spearhead the process of advising business and functional heads on the right approach to digital transformation, whether the application can be built on a platform like Mendix, and even possibly allow the client to visually modify the app using drag and drop.

At Indium Software, we’ve worked on numerous Mendix implementations, working closely with enterprise leaders in rapidly deploying new applications they need in record time.

Please download a case study of a recent Mendix project we worked on for the global digital real estate industry: Mendix Application Development for Digital Real Estate Business