There is a 40 million skilled workers shortage globally, which will increase to over 85 million by 2030. Developers are few, and there’ll be a shortage of four million developers by 2025. This has led to the rise of citizen development. Citizen developers and non-programmers who create and customize digital applications with IT oversight significantly reduce IT backlogs, boosting an organization’s overall productivity. They use workflow software to build business-critical applications.
Organizations are adopting citizen development to accelerate their digital transformation efforts and reduce the burden on IT teams that are already stretched. The development approach greatly reduces the time it takes for applications to be developed and deployed. It also increases employee engagement and productivity significantly.
Is citizen development vital for digital transformation?
Digital transformation is one of the most crucial elements of modern-day business. Companies must keep up with the ever-evolving landscape, and citizen development is increasingly becoming part of the equation. Gartner predicts that by 2024, 80% of technology products and services will be built by non-tech professionals.
Citizen development is integral to digital transformation because it empowers non-developers to create innovative solutions that help businesses achieve their goals. It bridges the gap between business and IT. Business users develop solutions that are tailored to their individual needs.
Citizen developers are crucial to digital transformation because they can provide a unique perspective on how a company should approach its technology projects. They can advise on how to best leverage existing or develop new systems cost-effectively and efficiently. By doing this, they reduce the time and money spent on development.
Additionally, citizen development can be constructive in digitization. A company that uses a citizen development platform can get essential insights into replacing legacy systems with new ones that boost efficiency and performance. Non-developers can develop new apps that streamline business processes and make the workplace more productive. Because they understand their department’s needs, citizen developers can provide valuable feedback on using digital tools and technologies to improve processes.
How quickly a company transforms digitally largely depends on how fast it implements new technologies. Citizen developers can fast-track digital transformation by building apps faster than developers. Research shows that low-code and no-code software helps developers build apps up to 10 times faster.
Benefits of citizen development
1. Cost savings
Organizations can save on development costs by empowering business users to develop their own applications. Citizen development does away with hiring programmers since employees do all the work. Developing apps in-house eliminates the need to outsource work or purchase third-party applications.
No-code and low-code citizen development platforms allow citizen developers to create applications in less time and with fewer resources. Organizations can make the most of existing resources and employees and significantly reduce expenses.
2. Faster development cycles
Citizen development doesn’t have to learn complex coding languages. Using low-code/no-code platforms, users can build applications quickly and easily. The drag-and-drop interfaces allow citizen developers to automate workflows and build apps in weeks or hours instead of months.
3. Better user experience
A citizen development platform allows developers and non-developers to create applications that are customized to users’ needs. Users don’t have to adapt their workflows to use the applications. Apps are designed with them in mind, resulting in a better user experience.
4. Align business with IT
Low-code/no-code platforms help foster greater collaboration between IT and business units. Built-in agile development tools allow programmers and non-programmers to collaborate, model, and build new functionalities together. Citizen development brings the business side into development to ensure applications meet an organization’s specific requirements.
5. Reduce the burden on IT
IT teams have a lot on their plate. They have to create new apps, troubleshoot existing apps, oversee the installation and maintenance of computer network systems, and manage digital transformation. Citizen development reduces IT’s workload and allows IT to focus on more complex projects. They can easily monitor citizen developers while handling enterprise-critical projects.
6. Simpler maintenance
Citizen development empowers non-developers to build business applications for a simplified work process. They can easily maintain the applications on the low-code/no-code platform. The organization doesn’t have to hire additional developers to maintain the apps.
Citizen development fast-tracks digital transformation
There’s no need to outsource digital transformation services when you can empower non-programmers to build enterprise applications that enhance business operations. Citizen development can help fast-track your digital transformation efforts. Since non-technical professionals create their own digital solutions, they make it easier for their organizations to realize digital transformation goals.
To become a citizen developer, all that’s needed are basic digital skills and subject matter expertise. A low-code/no-code platform makes the process very easy. Companies with active citizen development programs score 33% higher on innovation.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
