Developers are in high demand and short supply, and many companies are left without the tech talent needed to build apps or automate business processes as pressure for new software to support digital transformation efforts mounts. This comprehensive guide discusses one solution to the talent shortfall: Low-code development platforms.

From the guide:

What does the market for low-code platforms look like and what products are available?
The market for low-code tools will grow to $15 billion by 2020, Forrester predicts. Leading vendors and smaller providers have seen more than 50% growth per year, according to a 2017 Forrester report. These platforms brought in about $3.8 billion in 2017.

Some 67 distinct vendors already exist in the space, with dozens of others found on a small or regional scale, Forrester said. Among large enterprise vendors, only Salesforce had embraced low-code platforms prior to 2017, with Force.com. However, since then, Dell, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and SAP have joined the market.

Leading low-code development platforms as of Q4 2017 include those from OutSystems, Mendix, Appian, Kony, and Salesforce, according to another Forrester report. Other strong performers in the market include ServiceNow, K2, AgilePoint, and Bizagi.

Businesses should seek out detailed product evaluations and match offerings to their individual needs, Forrester recommended. The leading vendors tend to cost the most, but others may offer solid fundamental features that are useful in many cases, often at lower costs.

Most vendors in this space have “getting started” platforms and freemium offerings for businesses that want to give these tools a try, Hammond said. “Look at the companies, download their starter editions, and try building an app and solving a problem’ It’s very easy to adopt these tools a project at a time.”