Beyond the No-Code Hype

kommit
Mar 26
4 min read

Updated: Aug 29

Automation has become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. As companies seek to streamline operations and boost efficiency, the market has responded with a wave of "No-Code" and "Low-Code" platforms promising to democratize automation for all. The appeal is obvious—who wouldn't want that?

The Rise of Citizen Developers

The data tells an interesting story. Gartner projects that by 2025, 70% of new applications businesses develop will use low-code or no-code technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020. [1]

This isn't just a minor shift. It's a fundamental change in how organizations approach technology implementation.

Platforms like n8n, Microsoft Power Automate, and Make have opened doors for what Gartner calls "citizen developers"— employees without formal coding experience who can now build automated workflows.

By democratizing automation, companies unlock new opportunities for innovation. Capabilities once exclusive to IT are now accessible to marketing teams, HR specialists, and that one enthusiastic person who's always trying new tools.

However, there's a catch.

"It Looked Easier in the Demo"

Behind the simple interfaces lies a more complex reality. Even the most intuitive platforms come with learning curves that many organizations underestimate.

Forrester coined the phrase "low-code doesn't mean low expertise," which is a polite way of saying "it's still complicated." The truth is that knowledge has to live somewhere, whether it's built into the tool or in the people using it.

A slide featuring a quote from Forrester: 'Low-code doesn't mean low-expertise.' It's visualized with an iceberg diagram showing a 'Simple Interface' above the surface and complex foundational blocks below the surface.

The typical journey goes like this: initial excitement leads to quick wins with simple automation. Your team celebrates saving some minutes per day. But as you push toward workflows that could deliver substantial value, you hit unexpected roadblocks. Suddenly, you're diving into forum threads from 2019, watching tutorial videos at 1.5x speed, and considering whether it's worth connecting with that consultant at the top of your inbox.

What started as "drag-and-drop simple" now requires understanding API responses, data transformation logic, and error handling scenarios that would make a software engineer reach for their stress ball.

This isn't to say these platforms don't provide value — they absolutely do. But the promise of eliminating technical expertise? That's where expectations and reality diverge.

Is there a way to do it without choosing between "DIY" and "call in the experts"?

90% Automation, 10% Expertise

Our approach at kommit stems from a simple observation: the most powerful automation solutions emerge when technical expertise meets accessible technology.

This insight changes the fundamental question. Instead of asking "How can we automate without technical expertise?" we ask "How can technical expertise maximize what automation tools can achieve?"

The results of this approach speak volumes:

One engineer noted that n8n "saves me 90% of the work; I only have to do custom development for the remaining 10%." That's like having a robot handle your email inbox while you focus on the messages that actually require the human touch. [2]
Forrester documented that combining citizen developers, low-code tools, and IT supervision in a large company produced a 216% ROI over three years, avoiding expenses equivalent to more than $60 million in traditional development and IT. That's serious money that can go toward strategic initiatives. [3]

While the most recognized no-code/low-code platforms come with substantial price tags, another option is often overlooked. Numerous automation tools and AI solutions exist at much lower price points—they simply require technical knowledge to implement effectively.

We don't advocate the impulse of building from scratch, nor asking clients to invest heavily in DIY platforms that still require considerable time to master. Instead, we use technical knowledge to leverage powerful AI tools fully, creating customized solutions that adapt to their workflows and not the other way around.

The Formula for Workflow Success

To bring this vision to life, we follow a six-stage process designed to maximize impact while removing the chaos that typically accompanies digital transformation:

The Automation "Sweet Spot"

The future of business automation isn't about eliminating technical expertise—it's about finding the sweet spot between accessible tools and specialized knowledge.

For business leaders evaluating automation strategies, consider these questions:

How complex are your automation needs really? Are we discussing "scheduling a meeting" or "coordinating a global supply chain"?
Do your workflows involve legacy systems that might require specialized integration? (If your software is older than your newest team member, that's probably a yes.)
How much customization do you need beyond what templates can provide?
What are your scalability requirements? Is this solving for 10 users or 10,000?

The most promising path forward is collaboration between humans and AI technologies. This balanced approach delivers results that aren't just theoretically possible on a features list but effective in the messy reality of day-to-day business.

By embracing this synergy between AI and technical expertise, you achieve automation that delivers on its promise: less time on repetitive tasks and more focus on the work that moves your business forward.

Written by: kommit