A cycle of digital transformation has significantly shifted the business landscape by increasing software demand. However, a gap in the amount of developers for all these initiatives has also emerged. Which is why now a citizen development concept is coming about. If you have long dreamt of trying your hand at programming some app — now is the time.
In this article, we are showing who a Citizen Developer is, where this concept came from, the difference between this and a classic developer, and pros and cons of it.
Who is a Citizen Developer?
A Citizen Developer is an amateur developer, the company’s employee, who has almost no knowledge of coding, but creates business software using low-code or no-code tools. These tools allow people with no specific technical knowledge to create apps, automate processes and solve business tasks.
Citizen Developers usually work in departments, which directly face business needs, so they can quickly react to the changes and create solutions to boost workflow efficiency without turning to the IT team.
For example, thanks to Zapier or Integromat, a Citizen Developer can automate work processes, namely, set up automatic e-mail notifications of project status changes or deadline reminders.
Business analysts, project managers, HRMs, marketing managers, technical support experts etc. can be Citizen Developers.
Why Citizen Developers emerged
Citizen Developers have emerged thanks to a set of reasons that rely on technological progress and business landscape shifts:
- Increased demand for digital transformation. Modern companies face a constant need to quickly adapt to new conditions, implement innovations, and automate processes. Common IT departments often cannot keep up with all the requests, leading employees from other departments to seek ways to create their own solutions.
- Shortage of IT resources. The demand for professional developers and IT specialists exceeds the number of available ones, preventing many companies from meeting all the needs for new applications and software solutions. This has created a demand for simple tools that allow non-professionals to create solutions independently.
- The rise of low and no-code platforms. Microsoft Power Apps, Google AppSheet, OutSystems, Zapier, and others enable the creation of apps, system integration, and process automation with no need to know complex programming languages.
- Pace of task completion. Since Citizen Developers work within operational departments (such as marketing or sales) and have a good understanding of the company’s needs, they can create solutions for specific tasks more quickly without waiting for the IT department.
- Cost reduction. Using internal resources for application development (without involving external IT specialists or developers) allows companies to reduce costs while providing a high level of customization for internal needs.
Differences between professional developers and Citizen Developers
The key differences are presented in the table below:
| Citizen Developers | Professional Developers | |
| Education | No deep knowledge or skills in software development | Have a technical degree or specialization, which gives them extensive knowledge |
| Expertise | Have basic skills, relevant for creating simple apps | Are characterized by enhanced coding skills and comprehensive understanding of how the software development is carried out |
| Tools used | Low-code and no-code platforms, simplifying the development with intuitive and easy templates and interfaces | Many tools, including low-code platforms for efficiency as well as classic programming environments for more complex issues |
| Software complexity | Focus on the simple apps to optimize internal processes | Complex, scalable software which often serves external users |
| Ways to use software | For internal use within your company | Initially, to improve customer interaction and meet external business requirements |
Who needs Citizen Developers
- Small and Medium Businesses (SMB). These companies often have no IT departments or resources to develop custom software solutions.
- Large corporations. Even large companies with substantial IT teams cannot always respond quickly to all requests from different departments. Citizen Developers can help reduce the workload of the IT department and speed up business operations.
- Non-profit organizations. They require simple solutions to solve complex tasks. A Citizen Developer can automate routine processes, while traditional developers handle more complex tasks.
- Freelancers and entrepreneurs. For those who work independently, engaging Citizen Developers allows quick software creation and saves costs compared to hiring professional developers.
Advantages and disadvantages of Citizen Developers
Advantages:
- Optimized IT department workload. Citizen development reduces the strain on the IT department by allowing non-IT staff to create applications using low-code/no-code platforms. This enables IT specialists to focus on other important tasks and better manage risks and software development requirements.
- Cost efficiency. It creates a larger pool of employees capable of developing software, reducing dependency on IT specialists.
- Increased productivity and efficiency. Low-code/no-code platforms speed up development and enable faster adaptation, increasing overall company productivity and efficiency.
Disadvantages:
- Technology is constantly changing. These developers require constant training to keep up with frequent technological updates.
- Questionable quality. Without proper guidance from IT specialists, the quality of software developed by Citizen Developers may not be the best. Involvement of IT experts remains crucial in ensuring the functionality, security, and overall quality of the final product.
The future of Citizen Development
- Adoption in various industries
The demand for citizen developers is constantly growing across various industries. Now, companies are choosing them to optimize operations and drive innovation in infrastructure. This trend is expected to continue growing in the future.
- AI and ML integration
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are trending technologies. They allow citizen developers to create smarter business apps. In the future, they will unlock new possibilities for automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent process management.
- Expansion of low and no-code platforms
Low-code and no-code platforms will significantly grow. They will become more user-friendly and enable non-technical users to develop software that helps companies stay ahead in market competition.
Earlier, we discussed serverless computing.
