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Citizen Developer
What is a Citizen Developer?
A citizen developer is a non-professional programmer or a business user who creates applications, automates processes, or develops digital solutions using low-code or no-code platforms. Citizen developers typically do not have formal software development training, but they leverage intuitive development tools to build applications that solve specific business problems or improve workflow efficiency within their organization. These platforms enable them to create software using graphical interfaces, drag-and-drop features, and pre-built templates, minimizing the need for deep coding knowledge.
Citizen developers often work in departments such as marketing, HR, finance, or operations, where they identify process inefficiencies and use these tools to automate tasks, build apps, or manage data.
How does a Citizen Developer work?
Citizen developers work by utilizing low-code or no-code platforms to design and implement applications or process automations. Here's how they typically operate:
1. Identifying Needs or Problems: Citizen developers start by identifying a business need or problem within their department or role, such as automating data entry, creating a customer-facing app, or improving a manual process.
2. Using Low-Code or No-Code Platforms: They use platforms like Microsoft Power Apps, Mendix, AppSheet, or Zapier that provide pre-built components, templates, and drag-and-drop interfaces, allowing them to quickly assemble apps or workflows without requiring programming skills.
3. Building Applications or Automations: Citizen developers assemble the various components of the application, integrating data sources, configuring forms, setting up workflows, and defining business rules. These platforms often offer integrations with other enterprise tools (such as CRMs, databases, or cloud storage) to streamline work.
4. Testing and Iterating: Once the application or automation is built, citizen developers test it to ensure it works as intended. Based on feedback from users or their own testing, they iterate and improve the solution.
5. Deploying the Solution: After testing, the citizen developer deploys the application for use by the relevant teams or departments. These applications typically support real-time use cases like automating approval workflows, managing customer data, or generating reports.
6. Collaborating with IT (if needed): While citizen developers can build and manage many applications independently, they may collaborate with IT teams for more complex integrations, governance, security checks, or support in scaling the solution.
Why are Citizen Developers Important?
Citizen developers play a critical role in accelerating digital transformation within organizations for several key reasons:
1. Faster Innovation: Citizen developers enable rapid development of business solutions by bypassing the traditional software development lifecycle, reducing the time required to implement new processes or applications.
2. Empowerment of Business Users: With low-code/no-code platforms, employees closest to business challenges can develop their own solutions without waiting for IT or external developers. This democratization of development fosters creativity and innovation across departments.
3. Reduction in IT Workload: By allowing business users to build and maintain their own applications, organizations can reduce the burden on IT teams, freeing up resources for more complex or strategic projects.
4. Cost Efficiency: Citizen developers reduce costs associated with custom software development or outsourcing by enabling non-technical employees to build solutions internally, often at a fraction of the cost.
5. Customization and Flexibility: Since citizen developers work directly with the business process, they can quickly adapt and fine-tune applications to meet specific needs, providing customized solutions that fit the unique demands of their departments.
6. Improved Business Agility: Citizen developers help organizations stay agile by enabling quick responses to changes in the business environment, such as market shifts, new regulations, or evolving customer demands.
Conclusion
Citizen developers are an essential component of modern business environments, helping organizations achieve faster, more cost-effective digital transformation by enabling non-technical users to create applications and automate processes. With the rise of low-code and no-code platforms, these business users can tackle challenges directly, fostering innovation, reducing the strain on IT departments, and creating tailored solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency across the organization. As this trend continues to grow, citizen developers will become increasingly critical in shaping the future of digital business.