IT development teams will scrutinize low-code platforms with a focus on these top 4 items:
1. Integration Capabilities:
o Seamless Connectivity: The platform must easily integrate with existing enterprise
systems (CRM, ERP, databases) and third-party APIs. This ensures smooth data flow
and avoids data silos.
o API Management: Robust API management tools are crucial for connecting to
various services and extending the platform's functionality.
o Data Mapping: The platform should offer intuitive tools for mapping data between
different systems, ensuring data consistency and accuracy.
2. Customization and Extensibility:
o Flexibility: While low-code platforms offer visual development, IT teams need the
flexibility to add custom code when necessary for complex logic or specific
requirements.
o Openness: The platform should support open standards and technologies, allowing
developers to extend its capabilities and integrate with other tools.
o Developer Tools: Access to developer-friendly tools, such as debuggers, code editors,
and version control, is essential for professional development.
3. Scalability and Performance:
o Enterprise-Grade Scalability: The platform must be able to handle increasing data
volumes, user traffic, and application complexity as the organization grows.
o Performance: Applications built on the platform should deliver optimal performance,
ensuring a smooth user experience.
o Cloud or On-Premises: IT teams will evaluate deployment options (cloud, on-
premises, or hybrid) based on their infrastructure and security requirements.
4. Security and Compliance:
o Robust Security Features: The platform should provide built-in security features, such
as authentication, authorization, and data encryption, to protect sensitive data.
o Compliance: The platform must comply with industry regulations and standards
relevant to the organization (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
o Security Audits: IT teams need the ability to perform security audits and vulnerability
assessments to ensure the platform's security posture.
In addition to these top 4, IT teams will also consider:
Ease of Use: While low-code aims to simplify development, the platform should still be user-
friendly for IT professionals.
Maintenance and Support: The vendor should provide reliable support and maintenance
services to address any issues and ensure the platform's smooth operation.
Vendor Lock-in: IT teams will assess the risk of vendor lock-in and prefer platforms that offer
flexibility and portability.
You're right to highlight the growing importance of AI in low-code platforms! Here's how AI usage is
impacting the top 4 things IT development teams look for when purchasing a low-code platform:
1. Integration Capabilities:
AI-Powered Connectors: AI can automate the process of connecting to various systems by
intelligently mapping data fields and suggesting integration workflows. This simplifies and
speeds up integration with existing enterprise systems.
Intelligent Data Mapping: AI algorithms can analyze data structures across different systems
and automatically suggest data mapping rules, reducing manual effort and errors.
API Recommendations: AI can recommend relevant APIs for integration based on the
application's requirements, making it easier to connect to third-party services.
2. Customization and Extensibility:
AI-Assisted Code Generation: AI can help developers write custom code more efficiently by
suggesting code snippets, completing code, and even generating entire functions based on
natural language descriptions.
Intelligent Debugging: AI can analyze code and identify potential bugs or performance issues,
helping developers to debug and optimize their applications more quickly.
Personalized Development Experience: AI can personalize the development environment by
suggesting relevant tools, documentation, and code examples based on the developer's
experience and project requirements.
3. Scalability and Performance:
AI-Driven Performance Optimization: AI can analyze application performance and identify
bottlenecks, suggesting optimizations to improve scalability and response times.
Predictive Scaling: AI can predict future application usage patterns and automatically scale
resources to meet demand, ensuring optimal performance even during peak loads.
Intelligent Resource Allocation: AI can optimize resource allocation across different
applications and environments, ensuring efficient use of infrastructure and reducing costs.
4. Security and Compliance:
AI-Powered Threat Detection: AI can analyze application code and user behavior to identify
potential security threats and vulnerabilities, helping to prevent attacks.
Automated Security Testing: AI can automate security testing processes, such as penetration
testing and vulnerability scanning, to ensure that applications are secure and compliant.
Compliance Monitoring: AI can monitor application usage and data access to ensure
compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
In addition to these, AI is also impacting other aspects of low-code platforms:
AI-Augmented Development: AI can assist developers throughout the entire development
lifecycle, from requirements gathering to testing and deployment.
Intelligent Automation: AI can automate repetitive tasks and workflows, freeing up
developers to focus on more complex and creative tasks.
Improved User Experience: AI can be used to create more personalized and engaging user
experiences, such as chatbots and recommendation engines.
As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of AI in
low-code platforms, further transforming the way applications are developed and deployed.
