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In today’s changing tech world, businesses are under a lot of pressure to speed up their digital transformation. IT leaders are struggling to move faster, find enough skilled workers, and fill gaps in expertise. Yet, citizen development offers a promising way to tackle these challenges. With low-code/no-code platforms, employees without technical backgrounds can now create custom apps and develop unique solutions on their own.

What is citizen development?

Citizen development is a fresh approach to software creation, allowing non-IT employees to use low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms to build business applications. Even without traditional coding skills, these citizen developers have a deep understanding of their organization's or department's needs. This insight enables them to create effective business solutions and automate processes using LCNC tools.

This approach makes software development more accessible, empowering individuals to design and implement complex business applications and streamline workflows without needing extensive coding knowledge. By harnessing LCNC technologies, citizen development enables the rapid deployment of business solutions, enhancing efficiency and productivity across the organization.

Read more: Unlocking the Potential of Low Code

The Role of Citizen Developers

In many organizations, IT departments are overwhelmed with a large backlog of work, leading to delays in addressing new requests. The high volume of demands creates an unmanageable pipeline, making it difficult to keep up. Recent studies show that planned IT projects can experience backlogs of anywhere from 3 to 12 months, with 47% of developers lacking access to the tools they need to create products and apps on time.

Besides, the demand for application development is expected to grow at a rate five times faster than traditional IT departments can handle, a gap likely to widen due to a projected global shortage of software engineers, which could reach 85.2 million by 2030.

Citizen development offers a solution by easing the burden on IT departments and simplifying the creation of customized applications within organizations. This approach allows teams to develop tailored solutions using low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms with minimal involvement from IT.

Research from Gartner suggests that by 2026, the development landscape will undergo a major shift, with non-IT developers making up 80% of low-code tool users and 75% of new applications being created with these tools. As a result, citizen developers can democratize application development, extending it beyond the confines of specialized IT departments.

Benefits of Citizen Development

Citizen development, where non-IT professionals create applications using low-code or no-code platforms, offers several significant benefits to organizations:

• Faster Development: Low-code platforms provide a visual interface, reducing the need for extensive coding. This allows for rapid application development, enabling organizations to respond to changing business needs.

• Empowered Business Users: Citizen development empowers business users to take ownership of their processes and create solutions that address their needs.

• Reduced IT Burden: By enabling business users to create applications, citizen development can reduce the pressure on IT departments, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.

• Increased Efficiency: Customized applications built by citizen developers can streamline processes, improve workflows, and enhance efficiency.

• Cost Savings: Citizen development can reduce the costs associated with traditional software development, as it requires less time and resources.

• Improved Innovation: By encouraging employees to experiment and create solutions, citizen development can foster a more innovative and creative culture.

• Better Alignment with Business Needs: As business users are involved in the development process, applications are more likely to align with their specific requirements.

Deeper Discover: Jumpstart Your Journey into No-Code & Low-Code Development

How to Choose the Right Platform for Citizen Developers

The rise of citizen developers marks a new chapter in software development, driven by the accessibility of low-code/no-code (LCNC) technologies. This shift empowers non-IT professionals to create the applications and processes they need, easing the burden on IT departments.

Yet, unlocking the full potential of citizen developers hinges on selecting the right LCNC platform. With many options available, such as Mendix, Microsoft PowerApps, and Salesforce Lightning, it's crucial for organizations to choose a platform that aligns with their specific needs.

Many LCNC platforms are designed for particular industries or use cases, offering features and integrations tailored to the unique demands of different sectors. Thus, organizations must consider these options to leverage the benefits of citizen development.

Learn more: How No-Code and Low-Code Technology Are Changing Innovation and Design

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Are you ready to boost your business by unlocking your team’s creativity? At Prostean Studios, we help businesses use low-code platforms to make software development easier and more accessible. With our support, your non-technical employees can create custom applications that solve real problems—no deep coding skills required. This means you can streamline workflows, speed up digital transformation, and empower your team to innovate like never before.

Don’t let traditional software development hold you back. Partner with Prostean Studios to see how low-code platforms can change the way you approach technology. We’ll help you choose the right tools, offer tailored support, and make sure your team is ready to build solutions that make a difference. Contact us today to start your journey toward a more creative, efficient, and cost-effective way of developing software. Let’s work together to bring your ideas to life and lead your business into a bright, innovative future.