The process has been accelerated not only by the demand but also by the pandemic, and the schedule for many digital projects has been reduced from several years to only some months. Companies must quickly develop solutions that meet new needs to keep up with changes. This is one of the reasons why low-code platforms are spreading like wildfire, enabling the building of various web applications with minimal manual coding. These software tools allow companies to save considerable time and resources. This is why Forrester Research predicts the low-code market to double in size soon and reach $14 billion by 2024. 

In light of this, it is worth considering specialising in this direction besides the “classic” IT career paths if you are interested in IT and also have an affinity for it. Let's see what you need to know about low-code development, what skills are required to learn it and who may get good opportunities in this field. 

Let’s start from the basics! What does low-code really mean? 

Low-code development is a platform-based development; it means that we do not create a new product from scratch but build on the existing functionality of a platform, writing code only to meet specific needs and integrate with external systems. Whilst helping companies to save time and resources, it improves the speed of coding and the quality of the code as well. Furthermore, it allows developers to focus on the creative process rather than on repetitive tasks.

So how do you know whether this field is right for you? There are a few tell-tale signs! ;)

1. Besides coding, you are also interested in business processes

Low-code significantly reduces the time spent on mundane manual coding steps. As a result, developers can focus more on solving business problems and deliver faster and better solutions.

That is why low-code developers get more opportunities to work on business problems, get to know more projects and even the user side. Their excellent business skills make their work more valuable to the business services. 

2. You like creative teamwork

Low-code encourages joint creative thinking, as developers and users or customers work more closely together. Developers get a deeper insight into the business processes, and the cooperation with other areas also builds on a range of soft skills that will serve them well when they move up the ranks. These soft skills include relationship management, knowledge of business domains (finance, logistics, sales, etc.), empathy and situational adaptability; all of which are ranked high on the list of key skills required for successful IT managers.

3. You like spectacularly fast and flexible results

Low-code platforms provide a low-risk, cost-effective way to try out new ideas. Developers can also use them to create prototypes and MVPs (minimum viable products) for products. The flexibility and speed of low-code development reduce time to market, allowing developers to get feedback from customers soon. 

4. You are familiar with project management and you are good at communication

Although technical orientation, critical thinking and analytical skills are necessary for the work of low-code developers, their everyday life is not just about coding, but more about understanding and solving business problems, liaising with business areas and clients, project management and teamwork. Of course, this doesn't mean that programming isn't an integral part of the job, but tasks in this area are very diverse. 

5. You want a future-proof career in which you can quickly find a job

According to the latest figures, the low-code market is expected to reach $187 billion by 2030 (from $10.3 billion in 2019), which sounds almost unbelievable.  This is the area that has developed most dynamically in recent years, and all industry forecasts indicate that it will dominate software development in the upcoming period.

At the same time, the demand for platform-specific low-code developers and consultants is already growing in the labour market, as the introduction of new software makes it increasingly urgent for companies to find the right people. So, if you are interested in business processes (e.g. IT, HR, finance, logistics), it is important for you to see and understand these business issues in addition to the “raw” code, and you want a future-proof profession that will get you into a job quickly, this is the right career path for you. 

Following market trends, at Green Fox we are working to create an educational space that responds to the current needs of the labour market. This also includes training students to learn the latest technologies and enabling them to choose from a wide range of career paths within the field of IT. 

‍Check out the opportunities we offer at our junior programmer courses!