THE STATE OF
LOW-CODE 2021:
A LOOK BACK,THE LIGHT AHEAD

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THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

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CONTENTS
01 FOREWORD

04

02 METHODOLOGY

05

03 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY		

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04 GLOBAL FINDINGS10COVID-19’s disruption of the digital world: both surprising and exciting
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to low-code
The move to low-code is well underway
The business benefits of low-code are now evidently clear
A new era of collaboration: coding moves outside the IT box
Low-code is the light ahead
Low-code can open new doors for talent

05 REGIONAL FINDINGS

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U.S.
China
Europe06 CALLS TO ACTION

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THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

Since the early months of 2020, there is little in our daily lives that hasn’t changed. The way
we live, work, travel, shop, communicate – all have been disrupted by a pandemic that reachedalmost every corner of the globe.

The State of Low-Code 2021 is based on a survey of 2,025 IT professionals (total audience),comprising 1,209 IT leaders (decision-makers) and 816 software developers (developer
audience) across six countries. The research was governed by Reputation Leaders, an
independent research consultancy.

FOREWORD

METHODOLOGYQ Q

This disruption has been keenly felt in the digital space as, almost overnight, offices closed whenenterprises sent employees home to work remotely, leading many businesses to become nearly 100%
reliant on digitalization.

How have CIOs responded to
the need to reimagine softwaredevelopment in the wake of a
massive paradigm shift?

How has the accelerated
demand for quick, agile
software solutions impacted
software developers in theIT “engine room” and thebusiness users that dependon their technology?

These are the questions that this research set out to answer. The findings reveal that low-code
development platforms offer organizations a powerful, scalable solution in these challenging times
and is a technology that has quickly come of age.
The report is based on the experiences of over 2,000 IT professionals across six countries, revealing
clear global trends and region-specific stories.
It uncovers a rapid evolution in software needs for businesses in every sector. And it explores
where these changing needs intersect with the experienced benefits of low-code – most notably
in productivity, cost, and time savings. With IT leaders reporting that two-thirds of major software
projects are behind schedule, there is no time to lose in adopting low-code.
Our findings reveal that low-code offers great hope for the future of software development – and is asolution whose benefits are only just beginning to be understood. It is increasingly being recognized
as having the power to change where and how technology is used, to democratize technology, and tofoster IT talent diversity for the better.

All IT professionals were employed in organizations with 50 or more employees. IT leaders wereidentified as either a CIO, CTO, or chief data officer/head of data/head of data management andconfirmed as having a major role in technology decisions and in managing IT resources.
Interviews were conducted online in the U.S., China, the U.K., Germany, Belgium, and theNetherlands between May 10 and June 21, 2021.

The margin of error for the total sample of 2025 is 2.2% at the 95% level of confidence.
In the U.S. (1012), the margin of error is +/-3.1%,
and in Europe (503) and China (510),
the margin of error is +/-4.4%.

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THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

CHAPTER THREEEXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

BENEFITS OF LOW-CODE:

THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted thedigital capacities of the business world, asorganizations have been required to movetheir activity online while responding to
the fast-changing needs of employees andconsumers alike.

agree that low-code is their go-to work-arounddevelopment solution. As many as 59% ofprojects using low-code are a collaboration
between IT and business groups, and aquarter (25%) report fewer instances of
shadow IT than before.

In this context, 57% of IT professionals surveyed
said that the number of staff needed for softwaredevelopment is increasing, and 76% say thatdemand for developers has reached a fever pitch.
Alongside this, 61% say the cost of softwaredevelopment is also rising. Two-thirds of major
software projects are currently being deliveredbehind schedule, and for 62% of IT professionals,
that backlog is only increasing.

IT professionals using low-code have quickly
become aware of major benefits to its use.
Two out of five low-code users reported morecollaboration, faster development, and lower
costs – and that low-code projects reduce costs by
53% and are 56% faster.

But far from being worried by digital disruption ina pandemic world and the resulting pressures, themost common response among IT professionals
is a positive one: 58% say their organization is
excited by the digital acceleration, and it hasbrought a new urgency for faster and morecollaborative development.
Indeed, 45% of IT professionals report feeling a
new sense of urgency – and it is becoming clearthat business-as-usual software development
cannot meet the growing demand.
These pressures have led to enthusiasm among
IT professionals for new solutions and different
ways of working. IT departments are embracing
opportunities to break software development outof the IT box: 64% of organizations have relied on
non-technical staff to relieve pressure on the IT
department during COVID-19.
Low-code is central to this effort. Lowcode is already used in some way in 77% oforganizations, and 64% of IT professionals

The benefits have flowed to the top line, too.
Customer apps built using low-code increased
customer revenues by an average of 58%.
Increasingly, low-code solutions are becoming
central to business operations: among those using
low-code, 33% have used it to build missioncritical apps. Software developers acknowledge
and welcome its flexibility, saying that half of theireveryday development work (51%) could be doneon a low-code platform.
With this comes low-code’s potential to createa brighter future. As it opens up softwaredevelopment to more people with a wider
range of skills, it creates possibilities for morediversity in IT teams; 40% of IT leaders saytheir IT department will become more diverse,with a greater range of ages, ethnicities, andbackgrounds represented.
Low-code offers businesses the opportunity
to meet the challenges of digital disruption
head-on and expand what their IT department
can achieve. Three-quarters (75%) of IT leadersagree low-code is a trend they can’t afford to miss.

Costs

Speed

Customer
App Revenue

53%
56%
58%

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THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

In a world of startling
digital disruption.
75% of IT leaders say
low-code is a trend
their organization
can’t afford to miss

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CHAPTER FOUR

GLOBAL FINDINGSCOVID-19’s disruption of the digital world: both surprising and exciting

Meanwhile, the cost, time, and number of staff needed have all risen.

The disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to every aspect of people’s lives can’t beoverstated, and the digital world is no exception. It has caught IT leaders off-guard, with 56%
saying that the pace of digital disruption during the pandemic has been greater than they expected;
IT professionals in manufacturing (63%) and finance (63%) sectors have been particularly astonishedat the pace of disruption.

The increasing squeeze between software demand and supply has naturally created a new sense ofurgency among IT professionals (45%). But the most common response is one of excitement (58%)
rather than being overwhelmed (16%): IT professionals are ready to embrace new ways of working,particularly in the finance sector, where 74% are excited.
Which feelings would you use to describe the response to digital acceleration and softwaredevelopment demand within your company?

56%
39%

58%

Excited45%

A new sense of urgency

5%
The pace of digital disruption has
been more than I expected

The pace of digital disruption has
been the same as I expected

32%

Surprised

The pace of digital disruption has
been less than I had expected

21%

Worried we can’t keep up

Traditional approaches to software development are no longer fit for purpose. Two-thirds ofmajor software projects are behind schedule – rising to nearly three-quarters in the manufacturingsector – and 62% of IT professionals are seeing the backlog of work increase.
Has your organization seen costs or resources rise for software development in the past two years?

61%

57%

20%

Calm

16%

Overwhelmed
Unconcerned

7%64% agree that low-code is their go-to
44%

work-around development solution
since they can’t keep up with
5%
The financial investment
needed to develop
software has increased

The number of staff
needed to develop
software has increased

The time to develop
software has increased

None of the above

the intense demand for developers

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CHAPTER FOUR

GLOBAL FINDINGS CONTINUED...
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to low-code

The business benefits of low-code are now evidently clear

The pandemic has prompted different ways of working to meet the changing needs of customers,
workers, and employers. These shifts have accelerated the trend toward low-code as a go-to-market
software development solution for businesses across sectors and countries. More than four-fifths (83%)
of organizations using low-code say they are using low-code more since the pandemic.

IT professionals using low-code have quickly become aware of major benefits to its use. Two out of five
low-code users reported more collaboration, faster development, and lower costs – and that low-code
projects reduce costs by 53% and are 56% faster.

And low-code adoption increased across many areas of business activity, from e-commerce, process
automation, and the Internet of Things to mission-critical solutions.

Increasingly, low-code solutions are becoming central to business operations: among those using
low-code, 33% have used it to build mission-critical apps. Software developers acknowledge andwelcome its flexibility, saying that half of their everyday development work (51%) could be done ona low-code platform.

Now thinking about the next two years (2022-23), does your company plan to accelerate,
maintain or reduce the pace of its software development?

The benefits have flowed to the top line, too. Customer apps built using low-code increased customer
revenues by an average of 58%.

82%

54%

84% of IT leaders globally
79% of software developers globally
93% of IT professionals in China

28%
16%
2%
Significantly accelerate thepace of software development

Accelerate the pace ofsoftware development

Maintain the current paceof software development

Slow the pace ofsoftware development

The move to low-code is well underway
COVID-19 has driven a major shift in businesses’ software needs. Four out of five IT professionals
have seen increased demand for apps in their organization, and 82% see the pace of softwaredevelopment increasing in the future. This is increasing demand for software developers, which
76% of IT professionals say has reached a fever pitch – particularly in healthcare (84%), professional
services (82%), and finance (81%).
Businesses are already adapting to greater demand for software. Many have turned to low-code asa solution, which is in use at 77% of organizations – and an incredible 94% of retail organizations
recognize the power of popular e-commerce platforms for streamlining their business activities.
Unable to keep up with the intense demand for developers, 64% of IT professionals agree that
low-code is their go-to work-around development solution.

To what degree has your organization achieved the benefits of adopting low-code? (If using low-code)
By how much have the customer focused apps you
have built with low-code increased revenue

58%

What percentage of your legacy systems have beentransformed or replaced by low-code applications

58%

On average, how much faster does your organization
develop software solutions with low-code

56%

What percentage of solutions you are developing with low-code could
not have been delivered in an acceptable timeframe without it

56%

On average, how much has low-code saved insoftware development costs

53%

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CHAPTER FOUR

GLOBAL FINDINGS CONTINUED...
A new era of collaboration: coding moves outside the IT box

Low-code is the light ahead

IT professionals report that most employees have now embraced low-code in their organization: it ispositively accepted by IT decision-makers (92% say it has been accepted or enthusiastically acceptedby IT decision-makers) and business users (79% say it has been accepted or enthusiastically acceptedby business users).

As we emerge from the pandemic and its many challenges, IT professionals see low-code as the lightahead. Low-code offers more than just hope; it is a tried and tested solution to ever-increasing timeand cost demands across the enterprise. Thus, low-code is being used in more and more fundamental
areas of business activity. Among organizations using low-code, its use for mission-critical apps(33%) is quickly catching up with more traditional uses like data modeling and visualization (38%).
In organizations that use low-code, more than half (56%) of employees are now using apps built on
low-code platforms.

To what degree has your organization achieved the benefits of adopting low-code? (If using low-code)
What percentage of your software solutions created using lowcode are incorporating technologies like AI, big data, and IoT

59%

On average, what percentage of your projects using low-code
are a collaboration between IT and business groups

59%

How much has shadow IT been reduced due to low-code

56%

What percentage of solutions you are developing with low-code could
not have been delivered in an acceptable timeframe without it

56%

Does your organization use low-code for any of the following applications?
38%

Data modeling and visualization
Productivity apps (i.e., automateddata gathering and management)

36%Standardized data security

35%

Automating existing work processes

35%
34%

Business Internet of Things (IoT)

At organizations where low-code is in use, 59% of low-code projects are a collaboration between the
IT department and business users and incorporate technologies like AI, big data, and IoT (59%). A
quarter (25%) report fewer shadow IT projects than before and claim it has been reduced by 56%.

Developing its e-commerce apps

33%

Developing mission critical software solutions

33%

51%

Software developers sayhalf of their everyday
development work could bedone on a low-code platform

Low-code platforms free up software development teams to workon new projects:•

Software developers say that half of their everyday development
work (51%) could be done on a low-code platform.

•

And low-code offers the opportunity to resolve major pain points
reported by organizations, particularly training time (35%) andoverall time needed to develop software solutions (30%).

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CHAPTER FOUR

GLOBAL FINDINGS CONTINUED...
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected hiring and employment in your organization?

Low-code can open new doors for talent
Low-code has the potential to empower more people from more varied backgrounds to participate insoftware development than ever before.
It breaks software development out of the IT box, so that non-technical staff can be part of theprocess, which has become more necessary during the pandemic than ever. Pandemic-relatedpressures on IT departments have already led 64% of organizations to rely on non-technical staff tohelp relieve that pressure – particularly in manufacturing (70%) and finance (71%). A quarter of all IT
leaders and developers surveyed reported that their employer was now more likely to hire developers
with no formal IT qualifications. Two out of five IT leaders say their IT department will become morediverse as more people from many backgrounds enter the IT field. 45% of IT leaders in technology
companies similarly expect an increase in diversity in their IT department post pandemic.
This shift would not be possible without low-code making software development more accessible. IT
professionals see low-code empowering more people to break down social barriers to entering the IT
field – particularly those without a college education (48%) and people of different ages (48%) andraces (46%).

Our IT department will become more diverse as more
people from diverse backgrounds enter the IT field40%

We are offering more training to upskill internal staff
to help with the talent shortage37%

We are more interested in hiring people with technical skills,
even if they are not formally part of the IT department

36%

Hiring talented software developers is moredemanding than before the pandemic

36%

We are more likely to hire developers without
formal IT qualifications

26%

In what ways, if any, can low-code platforms help to empower a greater diversity ofpeople to break through barriers into technology/IT jobs and opportunities?
People can have a career in IT without necessarily having acollege education/degree

48%

Provide IT opportunities for workers regardless of age

48%

Provide opportunities for people of all races to learn
to code or to build applications

46%

Promote more gender equality in IT departments

39%

Provide opportunities for people with physical disabilities tocollaborate in building applications

38%

LGBTQ inclusion in IT opportunities and leadership31%

IT professionals see low-code aspart of a bright future that ismore collaborative and diverse.
72% say low-code is a trend they can’t afford to miss.

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Low-code is a trend we
can’t afford to miss!
75% of IT leaders
67% of developers
72% overall

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THE STATE OF LOW-CODE 2021: A LOOK BACK, THE LIGHT AHEAD

CHAPTER FIVEREGIONAL FINDINGSU.S.
The U.S. leads the way when it comes to lowcode. Four out of five organizations now use it(compared to 77% globally), and three out offive employees are now using apps built with
low-code (compared to 56% globally). This may
be linked to greater time pressure felt by U.S.
organizations, which report that 72% of theirmajor software projects are behind schedule(compared to 67% globally).
The reaction to recent digital disruption has
been one of surprise (36%) – although there islittle concern about not keeping up (18%). This
contrasts particularly with China, where, despite
being less surprised (24%), respondents are moreworried about not keeping up (27%).
The greatest barrier to adopting low-code in the
U.S. is organizations being tied to legacy systems,
which is an issue for 31% (compared to 23%
globally). Those not yet using low-code in the U.S.
also suggest that other barriers include reluctancefrom IT decision-makers (28% compared to 19%
globally) and business decision-makers (25%compared to 18% globally).

CHINA
China’s low-code adoption lags behind the U.S.
at 75%, but there is greater enthusiasm for it anda keen awareness of its necessity for business.
Chinese IT professionals have already seen the
biggest increase in the demand for software(85% compared to 80% globally), as well as thefinancial investment needed for development(68% compared to 61% globally), the number ofstaff needed to develop software (72% compared
to 57% globally), and the time taken to develop
software (53% compared to 44% globally).
They are the most likely to say that demand forsoftware developers has reached a fever pitch(86% compared to 76% globally).
Despite more projects being delivered on time in
China (58% compared to 33% globally), there isoverall higher concern about not keeping up (27%compared to 21% globally). China is now braced
for rapid change: 93% think digital disruption
will accelerate (compared to 82% globally). It
is a change they welcome, more so than otherregions: 70% report feeling excited, compared to
58% globally.
Acceptance of low-code is most widespreadin China compared to other regions, with over
90% of each group of IT professionals positively
accepting low-code. The Chinese are also themost likely to suggest that low-code is a trend
their organization can’t afford to miss (84%compared to 72% globally).
Low-code’s positive impact is already being felt in
China, with 81% saying it has helped tear downwalls/silos in their organization (compared to 69%
globally) and that it could put the manufacturingsector back on its feet (85% compared to 73%
globally). Adaptability and forward-thinking
characteristics in Chinese organizations are
already evident, with non-technical staff alreadycrossing over into IT more often (78% comparedto 64% globally).

Mendix, ‘Navigating the UK landscape: It’s time for a low-code approach’ https://www.mendix.com/press/
low-code-software-development-is-key-to-navigating-post-brexit-post-covid-world-british-businesses-report/

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IT professionals in China are more likely (34%compared to 28% globally) to look to new
development approaches such as low-code anda broader talent pool to achieve their softwaredevelopment goals over the next two years –indicating the benefits of more diversely skilled
development teams are only
set to grow.

EUROPEThe adoption of low-code has been slowest
compared to other regions (74% in Europe
compared to 77% globally), but this varies widely
across the countries included in the research.
Belgium lags the furthest behind, at 48%, in
contrast to the U.K., which is in line with the
U.S. at 80%. The U.K.’s swifter move to low-code
is likely linked to the double challenge of thepandemic and Brexit, which has driven the needfor collaboration and adaptability1.
Despite more projects being behind schedulein Europe (81% compared to 67% globally), IT
professionals are relatively relaxed about thedigital disruption of recent months. They areless excited about it than other regions (44%compared to 58% globally), particularly in
Belgium (25%), and are the most likely to feel
unconcerned (11% compared to 7% globally). In
the Netherlands, IT professionals are particularly
unfazed: 30% say the pace of digital disruption
has been less than they expected (compared to
6% globally).

When thinking ahead to software development
over the next two years, Europeans tend to
downplay the need for change. They are more
likely to claim that their company intends tomaintain the same pace (24% compared to 16%
globally) and less likely than others to see it
accelerating (74% compared to 82% globally).
They anticipate a continuation of a more
traditional approach to software development,such as hiring developers to help meet softwaredevelopment demand over the next two years(21% compared to 17% globally) rather thankeeping up with other regions’ preference tolook to new development approaches such as
low-code and a broader talent pool (22% vs. 28%
globally). In line with this, software developers
in Europe are less likely to see low-code skills asimportant to future career opportunities (43%compared to 58% globally) and more of a “nice tohave” (32% compared to 16% globally).

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CHAPTER SIXCALLS TO ACTION
The State of Low-Code 2021 report reveals how low-code’s use has evolved and accelerated. Based onthese findings, here is what business leaders can do to best leverage the opportunities low-code offers:

Harness the excitement of digital
disruption. Accelerate the pace ofsoftware development by democratizing
software development to include
business users. Low-code has thepotential to bring major software projects
back on track while keeping costs down
and using the hidden technical talentalready in your organization.

Embrace collaboration. Low-code
allows non-IT business users to engage
with the IT department and collaborate
on software development projects,
bringing their expertise and energy tothe process. As this report shows, bothbusiness users and IT professionals
respond positively to the opportunity
to collaborate with low-code.

See the possibilities, not thelimitations. Don’t place unnecessary
limits on low-code. Software developers
say that as much as half of their everyday
development work could be done using
low-code. It can do more than expected
and is already used in mission-criticalapplications across businesses of all
sizes and sectors.

Low-code can change the world.
Opening doors for more people from
more backgrounds doesn’t just benefit
a business2 by expanding its talent pool;
it paves the way for a more fair andinclusive business world. Low-code isalready being recognized as a means tofoster diversity in age, education, and race
among those working in IT departments.

Mendix, a Siemens business, is the leading low-code software development platform, working withorganizations across the globe to make it possible for people with varied skill sets to build world-classsoftware. It has received the highest score in Forrester’s analysis of the top low-code development
platforms. It is identified in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant as a leader in both multiexperiencedevelopment platforms and enterprise low-code application platforms.

2

World Economic Forum, ‘The business case for diversity in the workplace is now overwhelming’

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/business-case-for-diversity-in-the-workplace/

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