Latest news with #lowcode
Fast Company
13-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Who will build the next generation of digital products?
AI is significantly impacting software development. Programmers write code. Their job is to translate product specifications into text a computer can understand, compile, and execute. There is some room for programming creativity to architect an application to simplify future maintenance or improve performance. However the most creative aspects of digital product development (e.g., mobile, wearable, web, and desktop apps) involve humans, from identifying their challenges when contemplating a product to gathering feedback when refining it. Successful digital products require a team of creative, critical thinkers. A typical team includes product owners, designers, developers, project managers, quality assurance specialists, and marketers. In recent years, low-code and no-code tools have become more capable, making it possible for non-developers to create prototypes and proofs of concept. AI is taking that to another level with its ease of building and the capabilities of the resulting product. Quantity versus quality in this new era Firebase Studio and tools like it generate code, not a black box. Suppose the product fails to meet requirements for any reason. It can then either be regenerated from an altered prompt or maintained like a traditional software project by engineers skilled in the project's programming language. That kind of troubleshooting and maintenance will benefit from a trained developer's knowledge and experience. I'm in favor of tools that help people get ideas out of their heads and onto a device where others can interact with it and provide feedback. Cocktail napkins may be relegated to their more limited wicking roles. But these new capabilities have the potential to rapidly expand the number of available digital products (web products, apps in the App Store, etc.). We could face a quantity over quality challenge with significantly more rough products obscuring the diamonds. Marketing teams will face a greater challenge boosting their product above the noise to be noticed. Technology and the role of human creativity The promise for non-developers is compelling, but what about professionals? Digital product professionals with extensive digital product development experience will benefit from advanced AI tools for design exploration, code generation, and test authoring. Drawing on experience, those professionals can direct AI tools to produce higher-quality results than someone with less experience directing the same tools. Lessons learned from prior experience should result in better prompts and, ultimately, better products. A powerful tool in the hands of someone who knows how to wield it can produce excellent results. A cautionary tale Decades ago, I was involved in the third rewrite of a struggling software product in the education market. The business owners were convinced their product's problems were tied to their programming language choice. It was early in my career, and the migration was to a language I enjoyed, so I didn't think to ask questions. As with previous rewrites, the feature set remained essentially the same. The basic architecture remained the same. And the team driving the requirements remained the same. Not surprisingly, the rewrite results were also the same. The product was not noticeably faster or easier to use, and customers didn't like it any more than the previous version. I learned an important lesson from the project. Technology by itself (in that case, a programming language) rarely moves the product success needle. Solving the right problem with the right basic approach, driven by user feedback and the marketing skills and budget to spread the word, has a far greater impact on the results. The same is true for AI. It is a fantastic tool that bestows the superpower on unskilled people to make really awful software products faster than they ever could before. Beyond programming: Solve the right problem with empathy While greater accessibility for non-developers and more powerful tools for skilled professionals are positive, the outlook isn't all rosy. Currently, AI is best at building products when specific instructions are given. The more detail we provide, the better the results. That is very similar to the programmer's role. Businesses that currently thrive by turning detailed specifications into functioning software products have the most to lose when AI tools most closely match their skillset. There is much more to digital product development than programming. Our clients value creative thinking, critical thinking, empathy, and a passion for creating compelling user experiences. Those characteristics are vital in ensuring we're solving the correct problems for our clients. Less programming effort will be required to build digital products. However, for the foreseeable future, there will still be a significant need for the distinctly human creativity and skills that make products great.
Zawya
11-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Newgen recognised in digital process automation software landscape, Q2 2025
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Newgen Software, a global provider of an AI-first digital transformation platform, announced its inclusion among 'Notable Vendors' in Forrester's The Digital Process Automation Software Landscape, Q2 2025 report, authored by Craig Le Clair et al. The Forrester report defined DPA software as ' platforms that develop process applications with low-code and advanced programming principles with modeling, orchestration, dynamic case management, and AI-led support.' The report emphasised the importance of understanding the value leaders can expect from a DPA vendor and investigating options based on size and market focus in the digital process automation space. Newgen's top three extended use cases were self-identified as customer self-service, document automation, and data-driven automation. Commenting on the recognition, Runki Goswami, Global Head of Marketing at Newgen, said: 'Automation today isn't just about faster processes it's about enabling smarter, adaptive ways of working. At Newgen, we're combining low-code, AI, and years of process automation expertise to help enterprises modernise with purpose. With our AI-first NewgenONE platform, we're empowering enterprises to adapt faster and drive measurable, end-to-end impact.' NewgenONE is a unified, AI-first, low-code digital transformation platform that is purpose-built for digital process automation across complex enterprise environments. The platform integrates low-code development, intelligent orchestration, and GenAI-led capabilities to automate processes, manage content, and enhance communications from a single, cohesive framework. With embedded AI agents like NewgenONE Marvin, LumYn, Harper, and domain-specific innovations, Newgen empowers citizen and professional developers to rapidly model, deploy, and scale adaptive, end-to-end automation that drives agility, efficiency, and business transformation. Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester's objectivity here. About Newgen Software Newgen is the leading provider of an AI-first unified digital transformation platform with native process automation, content services, customer engagement, and AI/ML capabilities. Globally, successful enterprises rely on Newgen's industry-recognised low-code application platform to develop and deploy complex, content-driven, and customer-engaging business applications on the cloud. From onboarding to service requests, lending to underwriting, and for many more use cases across industries, Newgen unlocks simple with speed and agility. For more details, visit
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
AI-Accelerated Development: Build, Buy Or Blend Your Tech Stack
Tiago Azevedo is CIO at OutSystems , a global leader in enterprise low-code application development. getty Until recently, businesses had two clear paths when assembling their tech stack: buy off-the-shelf software to activate quickly, or build custom tools with more time and resources. Now AI and low-code development are reshaping that paradigm. Instead of choosing one or the other, companies can blend SaaS, customized platforms and in-house solutions—with integration as the unifying layer. Enterprises that cling to the old build vs. buy debate may be left behind. Today, competitive advantage lies in the ability to tailor software systems with flexibility. The smart path forward blends both prebuilt and custom software in ways that fit business needs and scale with agility. Buying software has long promised faster implementation, lower upfront costs and built-in provided maintenance. These solutions are particularly effective for universal business needs like payroll or accounting, where standard processes apply. But innovation isn't something you can buy. While off-the-shelf solutions offer broad utility, they often lack the flexibility to support unique processes or proprietary workflows. Customization can be limited or expensive, and businesses may find themselves adapting to the software instead of the other way around. If you're bending operations to fit a prebuilt platform, it may be time to consider building your own solution. In-House: Built For Differentiation And Agility As competitive pressure increases, companies are turning to in-house development to gain an edge. Custom applications allow businesses to support specific processes, reduce onboarding time and align tightly with best practices already in use. The result? Greater differentiation and more innovation, faster. In recent years, low-code platforms enabled the rise of composable architectures, making it easier to rapidly build, adjust and scale unique applications. Organizations could stitch together systems and tools without compromising stability—a leap beyond the constraints of off-the-shelf platforms. Today's innovation landscape is powered by the combination of low-code development and AI tooling. This duo allows even lean IT teams to deliver custom applications faster—without the typical time, cost, or continuity trade-offs. More importantly, it puts innovation within reach for more companies than ever before. To make the most of these tools, organizations need guardrails: clear policies on data access, development responsibilities and governance. With the right structure, AI-assisted development can support real-time adaptation, troubleshooting, and continuous alignment with business needs. The Rules Have Changed—Now It's Your Move The barriers to custom development are lower than ever. What used to be slow, costly, and complex is fast, scalable and increasingly accessible. The combination of AI and low-code tooling makes it possible to design integrated systems that reflect your organization's strengths—without starting from scratch. Still, many teams default to off-the-shelf solutions. Not because they're better—but because they're easier. But true innovation isn't plug-and-play. If your organization wants to lead, not follow, it's time to shift your mindset. AI-powered development doesn't replace creativity—it accelerates it. With the right tools, you can build systems that scale and flex with your business, not against it. Innovation is no longer reserved for the few. It's on the table for every company willing to reach for it. So the only question left is: What will you create? Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Khaleej Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
A new era of AI-Powered low-code: How OutSystems is accelerating digital transformation in the UAE
The addition of ODC in the UAE marks a significant milestone for both OutSystems and the region's digital transformation journey In an age where digital solutions are essential for staying competitive, the ability to quickly build, test, and scale applications provides businesses with a clear edge. Generative AI presents a tremendous opportunity for organisations to improve developer productivity and accelerate software development. OutSystems Developer Cloud (ODC), a flagship AI-powered low-code platform, is now available in the UAE digital landscape and it enables organisations to create intelligent, adaptive applications that meet the ever-changing needs of today's businesses. Furthermore, with the recent addition of Mentor - a first-of-its-kind digital worker - OutSystems is bringing the combined power of generative AI and low-code directly into the enterprise software development space to address the region's diverse needs through self-managed, private, and public cloud environments. Software development now may take days, not months The most exciting breakthrough with ODC is how it dramatically reduces the time and effort needed to build, deploy, and evolve applications. By integrating generative AI into the industry's leading low-code platform - recognised by Gartner as the leader for eight consecutive years - OutSystems is taking developer productivity and value creation to a whole new level. Imagine generating the first version of an application in minutes, simply from a natural language prompt or a product requirements document. From there, developers can use ODC to visually refine it with AI-powered suggestions, test it, and deploy it with enterprise-grade security and lifecycle management. Beyond that, ODC offers a modern cloud-native architecture, built-in DevOps and developer tools as well as the speed, scale, and performance that modern business demands - making it the top choice for rapid enterprise application development, while continuing to build on the strengths that have long set our platform apart. Organisations can enhance the productivity of their development teams, empowering them to contribute effectively to business needs while reducing the heavy upfront investments in traditional software solutions. With ODC's app generation capabilities, IT teams can create tailored applications that meet their exact needs - whether for government services, banking and financial institutions, or any other industries. The new ODC cloud location in the UAE is designed to fully comply with local data residency and security requirements. By running on AWS, ODC inherits all the robust security and compliance measures that come with AWS infrastructure, ensuring that businesses can build and deploy applications while meeting regional regulatory standards. Driving digital transformation in the region ODC's unique capabilities provide a significant advantage to businesses across industries in the UAE by enabling them to build, iterate, and scale applications faster than ever before. ODC accelerates innovation and operational efficiency by empowering companies to modernize and customise core business systems and develop internal and external applications - all while ensuring they meet the highest standards of performance, security, and scalability. This represents a transformational shift for the UAE's software development ecosystem and the region's broader digital transformation efforts. Given the UAE's early and substantial investments in AI, along with OutSystems' strong presence in the region for over a decade, the UAE serves as a key hub for the Middle East and Africa. A long-term commitment to innovation The addition of ODC in the UAE marks a significant milestone for both OutSystems and the region's digital transformation journey. As a long-standing technology leader in the UAE, we recognise the country's commitment to AI, innovation, and cloud-first strategies. With ODC, we are enabling businesses to harness the competitive advantage of speed and agility, positioning the UAE as a powerhouse of innovation through software. This is more than just a product rollout - it's a catalyst for a future where enterprises can innovate faster, scale smarter, and drive transformation with unprecedented flexibility and security. It will allow us to double our regional growth in the upcoming months. Conclusion OutSystems investment in ODC in the UAE underscores the company's long-term commitment to the region. This marks yet another step forward in its decade-long journey in MEA, bringing the most advanced low-code and software lifecycle automation platform to businesses here. The UAE becomes one of the first worldwide with the new product, with more planned as OutSystems continues its rapid growth across multiple countries. As demand accelerates, further expansion is expected, reinforcing the company's investment in the region's digital transformation for years to come. Eduardo Cruz is the regional vice president, MEA at OutSystems.
Tahawul Tech
26-05-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Kissflow outlines the link between digital transformation and app development
Prasanna Rajendran, Vice President – EMEA, Kissflow, explains how low-code design methods are accelerating application software development and thus lifting up both citizen and professional IT developers in this exclusive article. Across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), governments and industries are busily equipping themselves for the digital future. IDC estimates that as much as 12% of business units' budgets is being allocated to digital business initiatives as organisations work to create compelling experiences for the employees and customers that demand them. To counter the threat to competition, shareholder pressure, regulatory requirements, shadow IT and more, they must do so at speed and scale. And because the regional IT talent shortage is a reality impacting organisations across the spectrum, many are now turning to low-code and no-code development platforms to maximise their existing resources beyond the IT department Low-code, high value To understand this shift better, we spoke to CIOs in the enterprise and shared what we learned in our Citizen Development Trends report. We found that a majority (62%) of organisations around the world believe citizen development programs can accelerate digital transformation. At the time of surveying, 86% of respondents had citizen development programs in place, with almost half (45%) having been in operation for more than a year. In MEA, earlier Kissflow research showed that a third (33%) of organisations were trying to address resource constraints in custom app development and faced the prospect of having to turn to expensive third-party developers. Some 80% of regional tech leaders see the refinement of the software development process as vital for effective digital transformation. To make citizen development programs work, business and IT teams must collaborate. This goes beyond just sharing updates—they have to work together as one team right from planning to execution. To bring shadow IT into the light, non-technical employees must find themselves in a permissive and supportive culture where IT is democratised, and upskilling is incentivised. Low-code brings this situation to reality by clearly highlighting the responsibilities and boundaries. All the business-oriented initiatives that technical staff find trivial can be handed over to business-trained employees to implement. Under the right governance, domain experts can skip requirements gathering and analysis and go straight to design. Since a lot of code is automatically generated, implementation times are reduced, and testing runs more smoothly. Through low-code, software development becomes much faster, going from timescales in months or years to weeks or days. Business innovators no longer need to join a queue. They can start building under the ever-watchful eye of the platform, which corrects errors, enforces governance standards, and suggests areas for improvement. Employees and customers receive enhancements to their experiences more frequently, leading to increased satisfaction levels among both groups. Bigger, better, faster When it comes to the regional skills gap, organisations that adopt low code solve three problems at once. First, they acquire the skills they need more quickly. Second, they increase talent retention rates by meaningfully fleshing out the daily routines of tech-savvy employees. And third, they increase the success rate of digital transformation because requirements are no longer lost in translation during the use-case analysis stages. Development backlogs are drastically reduced under low-code programs. When citizen developers are in play, bigger projects can still monopolise IT's attention, but with small windows dedicated to code reviews of citizens' work. Over time, reviews will become easier and faster, as signed-off solutions become reusable templates. Citizen developers will gradually build up libraries of these templates and create more ambitious applications as their experience grows. Not overnight, but certainly quite quickly, the business becomes scalable. Low-code tools are adaptable, so citizen developers can use them to manage changing requirements and demands. And as the business reaches new levels of scalability it also becomes more agile. That is important in MEA markets, which are home to youthful, tech-savvy populations hungry for the next digital experience. As the citizen developer experience-pool fills, low-code platforms offer the right functions to take the citizen vision further, but they also help IT teams work on larger projects. Many built-in features and integrations allow seasoned software professionals to accelerate their work. So, a single investment in the right low-code platform can benefit both citizen developers and IT. From A to Z It is not often one can point at a digital investment that benefits IT, DevOps, finance, human resources, warehousing, logistics, R&D, and everything in between. From the straightforward building of a self-service HR application to the integration of AI for predictive analytics in fraud prevention, low-code no-code development has something for every stakeholder. Image Credit: Kissflow
