Top 2025 Low-code Trends: What Every CIO Should Watch

In the rapidly evolving world of digital transformation, low-code development platforms have become a critical tool for organizations looking to innovate and scale efficiently. Gartner projects that by 2025, 70% of new enterprise applications will be built using low-code or no-code technologies, a sharp rise from under 25% in 2023.

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As we move into 2025, CIOs and IT leaders must stay ahead of emerging low-code trends to remain competitive in this increasingly digital landscape. This blog explores the top five low-code trends every CIO should watch closely, from no-code development and AI integration to the rise of citizen developers.

1. The Rise of No-code Development

As low-code platforms continue to evolve, no-code development is emerging as a powerful subset. No-code tools empower users with no technical background to create applications by using intuitive, drag-and-drop interfaces. This trend is transforming how businesses approach software development by democratizing the process and allowing more non-developers to contribute to creating solutions.

For CIOs, this means the ability to increase productivity and reduce time-to-market without overburdening IT teams. By leveraging no-code platforms, business users can build simple applications or prototypes, leaving IT professionals to focus on more complex, strategic projects.

2. AI and Generative AI Integration

One of the most transformative low-code trends for 2025 is the integration of AI and Generative AI into development processes. AI-driven low-code platforms can automate many aspects of development, from code generation to testing and deployment. Generative AI, in particular, can create code snippets, design workflows, and even suggest improvements, significantly reducing the time and effort required to develop applications.

For CIOs, the integration of AI into low-code platforms offers enormous potential. It allows for greater efficiency, fewer errors, and the ability to scale development processes while keeping costs low. Additionally, AI-enhanced platforms can analyze vast datasets to generate predictive insights, enabling more informed decision-making across organizations.

3. Low-code Development for Mobile Platforms

As mobile devices dominate business operations, the demand for low-code development for mobile platforms is set to skyrocket. In 2025, CIOs should prioritize low-code solutions that can seamlessly develop and deploy mobile applications across different operating systems, including Android and iOS.

Low-code platforms designed for mobile development allow organizations to build responsive, mobile-first applications that meet the needs of today’s on-the-go workforce. By supporting cross-platform development, these tools reduce the need for multiple codebases, making the development process faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective.

4. The Rise of Citizen Developers

Another significant trend in the low-code space is the growing influence of citizen developers—non-IT professionals who use low-code platforms to build applications. This trend empowers employees from various departments to create tools that directly address their unique operational needs. As citizen developers continue to gain traction, businesses will benefit from faster innovation cycles and more tailored, user-driven solutions.

For CIOs, the rise of citizen developers presents both opportunities and challenges. While this trend allows for greater agility and collaboration across the organization, it also requires robust governance models to ensure that applications are secure, compliant, and scalable. Providing adequate training and establishing clear policies around low-code usage will be key to harnessing the full potential of citizen development.

5. Expanding Low-code to More Industries and Use Cases

Initially popular in industries like finance, healthcare, and retail, low-code platforms are now expanding to serve a broader range of industries and use cases. From manufacturing and logistics to public sector applications, low-code development is enabling organizations in traditionally slower-moving sectors to embrace digital transformation.

As low-code platforms become more versatile and industry-specific, CIOs should identify opportunities within their sectors where low-code can add the most value. Whether it’s automating workflows, building customer-facing applications, or streamlining internal operations, the potential for low-code is limitless, and organizations that adopt it early will gain a significant competitive advantage.

6. Enhanced Collaboration with DevOps and Agile Teams

Low-code platforms are evolving to better align with DevOps and Agile methodologies, offering tools for real-time collaboration, continuous integration, and automated deployment. These features help bridge the gap between IT and business teams, enabling faster delivery of high-quality applications.

For CIOs, this trend signifies a shift toward more integrated development environments where low-code platforms play a critical role in streamlining workflows. The combination of low-code with DevOps practices ensures that applications are not only built quickly but also meet high standards of security, scalability, and reliability.

7. Focus on Security and Compliance in Low-code Platforms

As low-code platforms become mainstream, security and compliance are emerging as critical focus areas. In 2025, CIOs will prioritize low-code solutions that integrate robust security features, such as role-based access controls, automated compliance checks, and data encryption.

For organizations operating in regulated industries like healthcare and finance, low-code platforms must ensure adherence to standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. This trend underscores the need for CIOs to carefully evaluate low-code providers and select platforms that align with their security and compliance requirements, mitigating risks while enabling rapid development.

8. Low-code for Legacy System Modernization

Modernizing legacy systems remains a top priority for CIOs, and low-code platforms are becoming a go-to solution for this challenge. By enabling seamless integration with existing systems and offering tools to rebuild outdated applications incrementally, low-code platforms reduce the risk and cost of modernization projects.

CIOs can use low-code platforms to extend the life of their legacy systems while improving performance and user experience. This approach allows for a gradual transition to modern architectures, ensuring business continuity and scalability in the long term.

A Quick Summary

As we look ahead to 2025, low-code trends like no-code development, AI integration, and mobile-first platforms will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of software development. The rise of citizen developers and the expansion of low-code into new industries further solidifies its place as a key enabler of digital transformation. Enhanced collaboration with DevOps and Agile teams, a strong focus on security and compliance, and the growing use of low-code for legacy system modernization highlight its versatility and strategic importance. Together, these trends underscore low-code’s ability to drive innovation, streamline operations, and future-proof businesses in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Keeping up with the Low-code trends

For CIOs, staying ahead of these trends will be critical to fostering innovation, improving operational efficiency, and driving business growth. By leveraging the power of low-code, organizations can adapt more quickly to changing market demands, streamline development processes, and unlock new opportunities for success.

At VTI, we offer comprehensive low-code services that cover every stage of the implementation process, ensuring your organization’s needs are met from start to finish. Our services include consultation, development, testing, maintenance, and ongoing operation support, providing you with a seamless and efficient experience. By leveraging top low-code platforms like OutSystems, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Power Platform, VTI ensures you have access to the most advanced tools on the market, helping you achieve your digital transformation goals quickly and effectively.

Are you ready to embrace the future of low-code? Let’s talk about how your organization can benefit from these trends in 2025!