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Low-code and no-code platforms are revolutionizing the world of application development, offering a faster and more efficient way to create software. These platforms have been proven to reduce app development time by a staggering 90 percent. It is no wonder that the global market for low-code platforms is expected to reach approximately $53.07 billion by the end of next year.

One region that is particularly keen on adopting these platforms is the Middle East. Enterprises in this region are expressing a high level of intent to embrace low code platforms, which is expected to contribute significantly to the overall market growth.

So, what exactly are low-code and no-code platforms? Essentially, they allow users to build applications and processes without the need for complex coding. Even business users with no advanced knowledge of coding can utilize visual interfaces with drag-and-drop capabilities to create various software, including mobile and business applications.

Dinesh Varadharajan, the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Kissflow, explained, “In this way, users with no advanced knowledge of coding or software creation may use these intuitive techniques to build software for several purposes, such as creating mobile and business applications.”

But how does artificial intelligence (AI) fit into the equation? According to Varadharajan, generative AI has the potential to disrupt the market further by making the interface between humans and computers more intuitive and frictionless. When combined with low-code platforms, generative AI can seamlessly connect end users with systems, eliminating the need for coding knowledge.

Kissflow, for example, is actively incorporating generative AI features into their platforms to democratize application development. AI suggested fields are already being used to assist users in quickly creating processes and applications.

The convergence of generative AI and low-code technology not only accelerates innovation but also allows systems to manage the work, reducing the burden on humans. By combining AI with low-code platforms, organizations can solve business problems faster and more efficiently. Visual drag-and-drop editors combined with AI models give end users the option to choose between visual elements and natural language processing for app development.

Furthermore, low-code platforms can offer chatbots to guide developers throughout the process, while AI can generate multimedia assets or text to speed up development even further. The application development process can be accelerated as a whole, with reduced errors, decreased development time, and improved quality. It also helps to reduce the learning curve for low-code platforms.

The growth potential of AI and the low code industry is immense. In a report by Microsoft, over 87 percent of IT professionals and CIOs believe that embedding increased automation and AI capabilities into low-code platforms can enhance their usage. McKinsey analysts also estimate that the direct impact of AI on software engineering productivity could range from 20 to 45 percent of current annual spending on the function.

Looking ahead, governance is set to become a crucial topic in the low-code/no-code space. With the integration of generative AI, the focus on governance will likely increase. Kissflow has already introduced a dedicated governance layer for their platform, and other industry players are expected to follow suit. Additionally, in the coming year, we can anticipate more products with native generative AI integrations entering the market. However, enterprise adoption of these solutions will likely proceed cautiously, especially for systems involved in critical operations, until there is a greater level of maturity.