Innovation Beyond IT

For years, digital innovation was almost entirely in the hands of IT teams and professional software developers. Business leaders and employees had ideas for improving processes, streamlining workflows, or enhancing customer experiences – but making those ideas a reality often meant waiting in line for IT resources that were already stretched thin. This resource shortage is evident all around the world, with the US alone needing to fill a 1.2 million software developers shortage by 2026. The EU is facing a similar shortage of software developers with an estimated a deficit of approximately 500,000 software engineers.

Now, a long-needed shift is happening to bridge this gap. More and more business professionals – whether in finance, HR, marketing, or operations – are taking matters into their own hands. With low-code and no-code development platforms (LCDPs), they can build applications, automate processes, and solve problems themselves, without needing deep technical expertise.

This new era isn’t just about convenience; it’s about speed, agility, and aligning technology with real business needs. As companies look for ways to innovate faster while reducing costs, no-code and low-code platforms are emerging as powerful tools that put problem-solving directly in the hands of those who understand the challenges best.

What Are Low-Code and No-Code Platforms?

Low-code and no-code platforms allow users to create applications using visual, drag-and-drop interfaces rather than writing complex lines of code. While no-code platforms require no programming knowledge at all, low-code platforms allow some coding for customization, making them a flexible option for both beginners and more tech-savvy users. However, these functionalities are in practice ever evolving and the lines between the two are blurring. Now, the development process can even be enhanced with AI, where users create applications by describing the solution in natural language and letting AI put everything together.

By using these tools, business professionals can design and deploy solutions themselves, from automating routine tasks to creating entire applications. Instead of waiting months for IT to develop a new tool, teams can prototype and implement solutions in days or even hours.

These platforms are already widely adopted: 97% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft Power Platform. Also, a global beverage brand built 8,000 internal applications in just two years using no-code tools. Small and medium-sized businesses are also embracing these tools, reducing their reliance on expensive development teams while speeding up innovation.

Why It Matters for Business Leaders

The rise of LCDPs represents more than just a technical shift; it’s a fundamental change in how businesses operate. Instead of technology being a bottleneck, it becomes an enabler, allowing companies to innovate faster, improve efficiency, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

• One of the biggest advantages is speed. Traditionally, software development follows a long process of gathering requirements, coding, testing, and deployment – often taking months. With LCDPs, business teams can create functional applications almost immediately, responding to needs as they arise.

• Another key benefit is alignment. When solutions are built by the people who actually use them, they are naturally more tailored to the business’s specific needs. Instead of IT departments trying to interpret business requirements, employees can build exactly what they need, reducing miscommunication and ensuring better results.

• Beyond speed and alignment, cost efficiency is another major factor. Traditional software development is expensive, requiring skilled developers and significant time investment. LCDPs reduce these costs by enabling non-technical employees to create their own solutions, minimizing the reliance on external vendors or large IT teams.

• Perhaps most importantly, employee empowerment is at the heart of this shift. When people have the tools to solve their own problems, they take greater ownership of their work, drive innovation, and contribute to the company’s success in new and meaningful ways. This leads to a democratization of software development and harnesses diverse perspectives and collective creativity.

The Future of Business-Led Innovation

The next wave of business-led innovation is already here, and it’s powered by AI-driven low-code and no-code tools. What began as a way for business users to build applications without coding is now expanding to include AI agents ****that can be created and deployed using natural language. Platforms like Copilot Studio are leading this shift, allowing organizations to build AI-powered assistants, chatbots, and automation tools with just a few prompts. reduces the barrier for business user to build applications, as little to no tech expertise is required.

This is more than just an incremental improvement; it’s a fundamental shift in how businesses approach technology. IT it reduces the barrier for business user without any tech affinity to build new solutions such as workflows, logics, and integrations.

Organizations that embrace this shift early will gain a competitive edge, leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, boost innovation, and stay ahead of the curve.

Is your organization ready for this transformation? How do you manage and govern this new shift to business-led innovation - with or without AI?