Low code
Low code platforms empower both technical and non-technical users to build applications quickly through visual interfaces and pre-built components, dramatically reducing the need for traditional programming while maintaining enterprise-grade capabilities.
How low code platforms work
Low code platforms transform complex programming into visual development. Instead of writing extensive code, users drag and drop pre-built components, connect them through APIs, and deploy applications through cloud-based services. Think of it as building with digital Lego blocks—each component handles specific functions like data processing, user interfaces, or business logic.
The architecture centers on reusable components, visual process modeling, and automated backend integrations. This approach handles the heavy lifting of data mapping, API connections, and business rules without requiring developers to build everything from scratch.
Visual development and citizen developers
The numbers tell a compelling story: by 2024, 80% of technology products will be built by non-technical professionals. This dramatic shift represents the democratization of software development, empowering business users to create their own solutions. By 2025, 70% of new enterprise applications will use low code or no code technologies—up from less than 25% in 2020.
This shift creates "citizen developers"—business users who understand their domain deeply but lack extensive programming experience. Low code platforms give these domain experts the tools to build solutions directly, eliminating the bottleneck of overburdened IT departments and reducing the gap between business needs and technical implementation.
Enterprise adoption and business impact
The results are measurable: organizations report development speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. Applications that once required months of development now launch in days or weeks. This acceleration helps companies respond quickly to market changes and customer feedback while significantly reducing development costs.
The results are measurable: organizations report development speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. Applications that once required months of development now launch in days or weeks. This acceleration helps companies respond quickly to market changes and customer feedback while significantly reducing development costs.
Market growth and technology integration
Low code adoption spans industries, with financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing leading adoption. Financial institutions use low code for customer-facing applications, process automation, and regulatory compliance tools that require frequent updates. Healthcare providers build patient management systems and telehealth solutions that improve patient engagement. Manufacturing companies streamline supply chain management and develop maintenance scheduling applications. An overwhelming 99% of manufacturing organizations now use low-code platforms to streamline operations and reduce costs. This near-universal adoption demonstrates how critical these tools have become for industrial innovation.
Recent advances integrate AI capabilities, enabling natural language interfaces, predictive analytics, and automated optimization. Organizations using AI-enhanced low code platforms report 50% faster development times compared to traditional approaches.
Common use cases across industries
Low code adoption spans industries, with financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing leading adoption. Financial institutions use low code for customer-facing applications, process automation, and regulatory compliance tools that require frequent updates. Healthcare providers build patient management systems and telehealth solutions that improve patient engagement. Manufacturing companies streamline supply chain management and develop maintenance scheduling applications.
Common applications include workflow automation, business process management, rapid prototyping, internal tools, and customer-facing applications that need frequent customization.
Governance and strategic considerations
While low code accelerates development, successful enterprise adoption requires thoughtful governance. Organizations must balance innovation speed with security, compliance, and integration requirements. By 2025, 75% of large enterprises will use at least four low code tools for both IT development and citizen development initiatives.
Key considerations include data security, system integration capabilities, scalability for mission-critical applications, and maintaining oversight without stifling innovation. Effective strategies often combine visual development with traditional coding where complexity demands it.
Glean's perspective on low code development
At Glean, we see low code as part of the broader democratization of technology that aligns with our mission to make AI work for everyone. Just as low code platforms enable non-technical users to build applications, Glean's AI-powered assistant empowers all employees to automate complex workflows and access organizational knowledge without deep technical expertise.
The rise of low code reflects the same principle driving our agentic AI approach—reducing technical barriers while maintaining enterprise-grade security and governance. Both low code and ai agents represent the future of work technology: powerful, accessible, and designed to augment human capabilities.
Frequently asked questions about low code
What's the difference between low code and no code platforms?
Low code platforms provide visual development tools while still allowing some custom coding for complex requirements. No code platforms offer complete visual abstraction with zero coding requirements, targeting purely non-technical users.
Can low code platforms handle enterprise-scale applications?
Yes. Gartner reports that low code platforms increasingly replace traditional development stacks for mission-critical applications. Modern platforms provide the controls, performance, and scalability that large enterprises require.
How much faster is low code development?
Low code platforms can accelerate development by up to 10 times compared to traditional methods. Organizations commonly report building applications in weeks that previously took months.
What are the main benefits of adopting low code?
Key benefits include reduced development costs, faster time-to-market, decreased IT backlog, and increased business user participation in solution development. This combination improves organizational agility and responsiveness.
Do low code platforms require IT governance?
Absolutely. Successful low code adoption requires strategic governance to ensure security, compliance, and integration with existing systems while enabling innovation and maintaining development speed.
