• AI is creating a democratization of tech, enabling the rise of the “citizen developer” — business users with domain expertise who can create solutions to address their specific needs. 
• Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of all new applications will be built by low-code technologies, and that the low-code/no-code platform market will grow to $44.5B.
• These trends mean less need for specific highly technical skills, and a fundamental change in the way organizations will be structured.

As technology continues to evolve, two powerful trends are reshaping the future of work and redefining the role of developers: the democratization of technology and the rise of the citizen developer. 

These trends mean less need for specific highly technical skills, and a fundamental change in the way organizations will be structured, offering business owners and IT thought leaders new avenues for growth and opportunities for innovation and agility.

Navigation Points the Way

To put this into some context, let’s take a trip down memory lane. When I was a kid, my family would embark on big vacation trips every other year, driving with a camper attached to our station wagon. In the 1970s and 80s, we relied on paper maps, map books, and if you were lucky, a “Trip Tik” from AAA. 

Even now this feels primitive, but in the late 1900s navigating cross-country required even more complicated expertise, time, and tools, especially off major highways. Going back to the mid-1900s, before the interstate highway system, stopping for directions at a gas station was common. As far back as the 1800s, very few people traveled far, and folks like ship captains relied on highly technical skills like use of a sextant and astral navigation.

The further back you go, the more expertise was needed to reach new destinations. Today, space-age routing technology in our pockets allows us to navigate effortlessly almost anywhere on the planet. 

GPS, smartphones, and apps have revolutionized navigation, making everyone a “citizen explorer.”

Ok, great story, but what does that have to do with the future of work?  

As I look at this and similar trends in the past, I see the same progression happening for tech development, as do many future predictors like Forrester and Gartner. Let’s circle back to something I touched on in my previous article about low-code/no-code development. 

The Rise of the Citizen Developer

Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of all new applications will be built by low-code technologies, and that the low-code/no-code (LC/NC) platform market will grow to $44.5B and Forrester’s research shares similar numbers.  

Enter the democratization of AI and the rise of the “citizen developer” — business users with domain expertise who can create solutions to address their specific needs. 

By 2026, the requirements for development work will focus on understanding the problem, being able to articulate the solution you have in mind, and working with LC/NC platforms to build out a solution using modules and connectors and the right process flow. 

In the same way that developers aren’t generally writing code in assembler these days (although there are specialized cases where this is needed, like cryptography or high-frequency trading systems), and instead have been writing in higher-level languages, this trend will continue — to the point where it moves into a no-code experience with citizen developers building custom applications using drag-and-drop functionality and pre-built components.

A sales team, for instance, might build a no-code app with a platform like Microsoft Power Platform to automate lead nurturing or track customer interactions. This frees up IT resources for more complex tasks, while fostering a culture of innovation and problem solving across the business. It also empowers problem solving and creative ideas at all levels of the business.

This frees up IT resources for more complex tasks, while fostering a culture of innovation and problem solving across the business

I mentioned previously an example where the founder of a startup opted for an LC/NC option for speed and reducing cost to get his MVP up and running. This kicked off the continuous improvement cycle with user feedback, but his approach is already a common one for many startups.  

As those startups mature and competitors try to keep up, that need for speed and agility will continue to increase the attraction of this approach. Which is in part why Forrester Research is predicting that 50% of developers will be using LC/NC AI tools by 2025.

The Future of Work: A Collaborative Ecosystem

The convergence of these trends paints a picture of a future workplace characterized by collaboration between AI, citizen developers, and traditional IT professionals. AI will take over repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on creativity, strategy, and problem-solving. 

Citizen developers will bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions, building custom applications that streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

Citizen developers will bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions, building custom applications that streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

By 2026, successful organizations will embrace this collaborative ecosystem. IT departments will transition from gatekeepers of technology to facilitators, providing guidance and support to citizen developers. 

The focus will shift from building complex custom applications to integrating pre-built solutions and AI tools to create a dynamic and adaptable tech stack.

The Road Ahead

To this day, my dad continues to use paper maps to navigate — for a variety of reasons he would share with you, if you ask him — but he’s not trying to get to his destination efficiently or quickly these days.  Similarly, there are people in corporate leadership who will disagree and will continue to use their “paper map” equivalent, development process. 

But those who embrace the democratization of technology and foster innovation across their business will build a more innovative and agile culture. As AI and LC/NC development platforms continue to grow and improve, the future of work promises to offer unparalleled speed to market, innovation, and cost savings. They empower employees at all levels to contribute to problem-solving and drive continuous improvement.

They empower employees at all levels to contribute to problem-solving and drive continuous improvement.

I encourage you, as a leader, to explore these technologies and what they can do to accelerate your business and decrease development costs as the technology continues to evolve and improve.