We have discussed in Leverage on low-code platforms and key advantages about the key advantages of using Low-Code and how business can leverage from it. Undoubtedly, the low-code platforms OutSystems and Mendix are powerhouses with a bundle of great features, but still, a lot of work lies ahead for continued success. It is recognized that both the leading platform providers have commercial targets and focus on market penetration and new clients and less on continued and successful implementation. But to create a sustainable ecosystem with many skilled developers, a wide and large market penetration is necessary.

This, therefore, contains a substantial risk (many new clients but limited use of the platform at each client) for the low-code ecosystem. Despite the powerful easy-to-use low-code platforms and numerous success stories, many companies are struggling to successfully realize the implementation and high-scale adoption in their application landscape.

The providers should also focus on increasing the use and adoption of the platform with their clients. The true value of the platform is not being retrieved if only a handful of applications are being realized. New clients are often left with a license and a partner for implementation. They either need to train their staff or rely on hiring new staff on the market. Skilled developers are scarce due to relatively young technology and shortage in the IT labor market. An alternative is to extend the development team with the entrepreneurial boutique firms for the execution. The largest of such boutique firms in the Netherlands employs around a hundred developers. Today, as the pressure is continuously building to increase the digital footprint on every line of business, you need a large pool of developers or professional consultants. Admittedly, OutSystems says “Low-code is still quite a young software category… and there is a lack of expert partners” ([Warr18a]).

Since the platform provider’s strategic focus is on tapping and increasing the market share in the competitive and attractive low-code market, there is a less priority on the advisory and architectural support. The consistent quality of the small and mid-sized applications is often lower than the quality of CMMI5 level development of large traditional vendors (e.g. TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, Capgemini).

There are examples in the Dutch market where clients are dissatisfied with the low-code platform. This is in most cases not caused by the platform but by a poorly designed software architecture. The root cause can often be found in the lack of skilled software architects, uncontrolled citizen development and in some cases insufficient quality control measures. KPMG discusses ([Koed20]) the quality risk of citizen development and advocates the quality-centered low-code development approach. One can argue that the platform provider should have been part of the quality control system. Have they perhaps focused on new business too much?

The growing demand for low-code in the Netherlands is paired with the claim of not having enough certified developers (certification assures the knowledge and demonstrated experience). We crunched the numbers in August 2020 to find the figures, and they are supporting the claim. An overview of OutSystems community shows a total of 24,104 certifications awarded across the globe. This number includes all types and levels of certifications and not the certified personnel, which means that the figure includes multiple certifications attained by a single developer. OutSystems has multiple guided learning paths that train you to become a web developer, mobile developer, or a support engineer (now retired). Examining OutSystems’ community members’ directory led to nearly 800 public profiles from the Netherlands with at least one minimum level of certification. At the same time, Mendix claims to have 13,503 certifications globally, and its community members directory led to nearly 920 public profiles from the Netherlands in possession of a minimum level of certification. In either case, the numbers of certified developers do not meet the demand of the growing consumer base. However, a growth has been observed in the number of certified professionals, likely as an effect of free certifications in the Covid19 period and/or access to a wide range of free online courses and workshops.

Next: The way to successful usage of low-code software

[Warr18a] Warren, N. (2018, October 3). Low-Code Myths, Fears, and Realities: Vendor Lock-in. OutSystems. Retrieved from: https://www.outsystems.com/blog/posts/vendor-lock-in/

[Koed20] Koedijk, J. & Stam, D. (2020, June 5). Citizen development flourishes due to COVID-19 crisis, but can your organization maintain its output? KPMG. Retrieved from: https://home.kpmg/nl/nl/home/social/2020/06/citizen-development-flourishes-due-to-covid-19-crisis-but-can-your-organization-maintain-its-output.html