Low-code platforms are transforming the enterprise landscape at an unprecedented scale. The numbers tell a compelling story: the global low-code development platform market is projected to reach $236.9 billion by 2035, growing at a remarkable CAGR of 21.0 percent, while another forecast shows the market reaching $264.40 billion by 2032 with a 32.2 percent CAGR.
But beyond these impressive growth figures lies a fundamental shift in how organizations approach software development. By 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65 percent of application development activity, marking a new era where business agility and speed trump traditional coding approaches.
The enterprise adoption of low-code platforms represents one of the most significant technological shifts of the decade. The low-code/no-code (LCNC) ecosystem has matured into a $45.5 billion global market as of 2025, achieving a 28.1 percent compound annual growth rate since 2020.
What makes this transformation particularly remarkable is its democratizing effect on software development. By 2026, developers outside formal IT departments will account for at least 80 percent of the user base for low-code development tools, fundamentally changing how organizations think about application creation.
These platforms offer visual, drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components that make application creation accessible to both IT professionals and business users with minimal coding expertise. This shift empowers business users, reduces IT dependency, and accelerates digital transformation across industries.
The benefits of low-code platforms make them strategic assets for organizations aiming to innovate faster, cut costs, and improve internal collaboration. Modern enterprises are turning to these platforms for compelling reasons backed by substantial data.
Low-code application development is 10 to 20 times faster than traditional coding methods, according to Forrester Research. This dramatic acceleration enables IT and business users to collaborate in real-time, significantly reducing development cycles.
Companies can cut development costs by 70 percent with low-code, while no-code low-code platforms can reduce the development time by 90 percent. These efficiency gains allow organizations to respond swiftly to changing market demands while maintaining quality standards.
72 percent of IT leaders now say project backlogs prevent them from working on strategic projects. IT backlogs arise as enterprises juggle complex digital needs with limited developer resources. A recent study finds out that 82 percent of organizations can't attract and retain the quality and quantity of software engineers.
Low-code platforms address this challenge by enabling business teams to handle straightforward tasks independently, such as updating forms, managing workflows, or creating simple applications. This approach takes routine tasks off the IT team's plate, allowing developers to concentrate on complex, high-value projects.
Without proper tools, business units often resort to unauthorized third-party solutions to meet their needs, creating significant security and compliance risks. Low-code platforms address this by offering a governed, centralized solution where business users can build approved applications within IT-defined boundaries.
Gartner estimates that more than 50 percent of medium to large enterprises are using low-code application platforms to improve operational efficiency and increase productivity.
Low-code platforms empower business users closest to process challenges to control their application needs directly. As of 2025, 41 percent of businesses already have active citizen development programs where non-developers are building apps and tools for business needs.
80 percent of organizations reveal that citizen developers have provided IT departments with more breathing space. With the freedom to create applications independently, business users don't need to wait for developers, enabling faster decision-making and execution.
The financial benefits of low-code adoption are substantial and measurable. Companies implementing low-code platforms report significant cost savings and return on investment through reduced development resources, faster time-to-market, and improved operational efficiency.
The average company avoided hiring two IT developers using no-code low-code tools. This reaped about $4.4 million increase in business value over three years from applications designed.
Low-code platforms provide a cost-effective solution by allowing companies to accomplish more with fewer dedicated IT resources. This efficiency extends to maintenance, as low-code applications are quicker to update and modify, lowering ongoing operational costs.
Shadow IT occurs when business units seek external applications to meet their needs, creating security vulnerabilities and compliance gaps. Low-code platforms reduce this risk by offering a sanctioned environment for business users to build applications within the company's secure infrastructure.
By consolidating application development within approved platforms, IT gains visibility over all tools in use, ensuring better governance, security, and compliance. This centralized approach minimizes the need for unsanctioned third-party solutions while maintaining business agility.
App development is 90 percent faster with low-code platforms. For both experienced developers and non-technical users, low-code platforms provide dramatically faster solutions compared to traditional development approaches.
72 percent of users can build and launch a fully functional app within three months after training. Developers save time by reusing pre-built modules and templates, while business users can create applications with intuitive, drag-and-drop tools. This capability allows applications to be launched and refined in days rather than months.
Traditional application maintenance often demands extensive time and resources. Low-code platforms simplify maintenance through modular architecture that allows applications to be modified, updated, and scaled efficiently.
Since low-code platforms rely on pre-tested, compatible modules, they reduce bugs and ensure that updates don't disrupt existing systems. As business needs evolve, low-code applications adapt quickly, allowing organizations to adjust processes and functionality with minimal friction.
By 2025, citizen developers will outnumber professional developers by 4 to 1. This dramatic shift represents a fundamental change in how organizations approach software development and innovation.
80 percent of organizations consider citizen developers to be extremely critical for their success. Embracing citizen development can improve a company's innovation score by 33 percent.
Within the first year of starting a citizen development initiative, around 79 percent of businesses are able to build and launch at least one web application.
Modern tools now generate functional code snippets, suggest workflow optimizations, and automate testing through natural language prompts. One firm recently reported cutting initial development cycles by 40 percent to 50 percent using AI-assisted low-code tools.
The integration of artificial intelligence with low-code platforms is transforming how applications are built, making development even more accessible while maintaining enterprise-grade quality and security standards.
Gartner predicts that 70 percent of new enterprise apps will utilize low-code/no-code by 2025, driven by platforms that now offer enterprise-grade scalability previously available only through traditional development approaches.
Modern low-code platforms include robust security features, compliance frameworks, and integration capabilities that meet the demanding requirements of large-scale enterprise deployments.
The BFSI segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 27.0 percent in 2022, driven by the growing demand for digitalization in financial services, including client origination, back-office operations, onboarding, and self-service options.
Financial institutions leverage low-code platforms to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and accelerate digital transformation while maintaining strict regulatory compliance.
Healthcare providers are using low-code platforms to create patient intake forms, appointment scheduling systems, and care management applications. Healthcare organizations report significant improvements in patient scheduling, resulting in 30 percent reduction in no-shows and optimized resource allocation.
Manufacturing enterprises report substantial cost savings through low-code automation. One manufacturing organization automated its procurement order approvals, cutting the approval cycle by 50 percent and saving over $500K annually in operational costs.
Manufacturing organizations use low-code platforms to optimize supply chain processes, automate quality control workflows, and create real-time monitoring dashboards.
Organizations implementing low-code platforms report significant measurable improvements:
71 percent of organizations using citizen development have accelerated application development by at least 50 percent, with 29 percent seeing delivery times improve by 100 percent or more
80 percent of organizations to free their developers for higher-level projects
80 percent of IT developers agree that low-code citizen development is handy for automating repetitive tasks, such as business rules and coding forms
66 percent of companies say that digital transformation is the main reason for adopting low-code platforms, showing how these tools align with long-term business objectives.
Companies that have adopted citizen development automation report an average 40 percent reduction in software development costs, while applications built using citizen development frameworks are deployed 5-10 times faster than traditional software.
47 percent of organizations worry about poor scalability, 37 percent are concerned about vendor lock-in, and 25 percent report security concerns. However, modern low-code platforms address these concerns through:
Reports indicate that over 65 percent of enterprises have adopted some form of citizen development model by 2025. Successful implementations require:
The global no-code low-code platform market is forecast to amount to $65 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. The global low-code/no-code development market reached $26.9 billion in 2023, marking a 19.6 percent year-over-year increase, and is projected to grow to $65 billion by 2027.
Gartner forecasts that by 2029, enterprise low-code application platforms will power 80 percent of mission-critical applications globally, a dramatic leap from just 15 percent in 2024.
The future of low-code and no-code platforms looks increasingly AI-driven, with tools being able to create advanced apps from simple prompts. By 2026, these platforms will build 75 percent of new apps.
The convergence of low-code with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced automation capabilities will continue to expand what's possible without traditional coding expertise.
Implementing comprehensive low-code capabilities doesn't have to be overwhelming or disruptive to your existing operations. Kissflow's advanced low-code workflow automation platform empowers enterprises to create, customize, and optimize business applications and processes without extensive technical expertise or lengthy development cycles.
With Kissflow's intuitive drag-and-drop interface and powerful workflow capabilities, organizations can automate everything from simple approval processes to complex multi-departmental workflows. The platform's enterprise-grade security, seamless integration capabilities, and scalable architecture ensure that your low-code initiatives grow alongside your business needs.
Whether you're looking to empower citizen developers, reduce IT backlogs, accelerate digital transformation, or improve operational efficiency, Kissflow provides the comprehensive low-code foundation that enterprises need to succeed in today's competitive landscape. The platform's proven track record of delivering measurable ROI and streamlining business processes makes it the ideal choice for organizations ready to embrace the future of application development.