83% of firms confirm active citizen development programs - report

Kissflow has published its Citizen Development Trends Report for 2024, detailing significant progress in the use of citizen development strategies by organisations aiming for digital transformation.

The survey, which included Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from enterprises with over 5,000 employees, shows a notable embrace of citizen development, with 83% of respondents confirming they have active programs in place.

The report highlights that citizen development allows non-IT employees - referred to as "citizen developers" - to build applications and automate processes using low-code/no-code platforms. This approach intends to democratise technology, enabling non-IT staff to develop solutions tailored to their needs without relying on IT teams. Such strategies have been identified as critical in accelerating digital transformation and achieving business objectives, with 92% of respondents affirming its importance in their digital strategies.

Key findings from the report include that 56% of the surveyed CIOs have prioritised citizen development as a top initiative, with dedicated funding supporting these efforts. In terms of the impact on innovation, 62% of respondents believe citizen development empowers employees to create and deploy solutions rapidly, significantly accelerating digital transformation. Operations and HR departments are noted as leading adopters of this approach.

Besides accelerating innovation, there are tangible business benefits linked to citizen development. A considerable 76% of tech leaders expect quicker responses to market changes as a direct advantage of this strategy. Additionally, 75% anticipate enhanced solution customisation. In terms of productivity, 58% of those surveyed predict over a 10% increase in individual productivity resulting from streamlined workflows and reduced inefficiencies brought by citizen development.

A historical reference was made to Kissflow's previous findings in Southeast Asia, where 90% of tech leaders viewed app development improvement as essential for digital transformation. However, 33% noted that app development exceeded six months due to inadequate platforms. These historical and current insights underline the growing significance of citizen development across different regions, aiming to overcome traditional development hurdles and promote innovation.

"Citizen Development is no longer a concept for the future. It is already driving digital transformation in organisations around the world," said Suresh Sambandam, CEO of Kissflow. He added that IDC predicts a requirement for over 750 million digital apps by 2025, despite a forecasted shortage of four million developers by the same year.

Sambandam elaborated, "With an increasing number of engineering talent entering the workforce, the culture of business teams building simple apps is becoming common. Organisations that have been early adopters of this paradigm are seeing transformative results, across the enterprise. This report shows that by empowering non-IT professionals to contribute to application development, businesses can innovate faster, reduce backlogs, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market."

The report also identifies several challenges to maximising the potential of citizen development. Chief among these are data security concerns, with 44% of CIOs listing it as their top issue. Furthermore, seamless integration with existing IT infrastructures, effective governance, and adequate training for citizen developers are noted as significant challenges needing resolution.

The Citizen Development Trends Report 2024 is based on a third-party online survey of CIOs spanning various industries, all from companies with more than 5,000 employees. These findings provide vital insights into the current landscape and future direction of citizen development within major enterprises globally.