Low-code platforms were designed to make building business apps faster and easier – especially for small businesses without dedicated development teams.
For Australian businesses, agility is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. As industries adapt to persistent economic pressures, technological advancements and shifting customer expectations, the demand for faster, smarter solutions has never been greater.
For a long time, only the businesses who could afford to enlist the help of highly-skilled developers could build the custom apps and solutions required to adapt, evolve and grow.
Then came low-code – with the promise of democratising software development. By offering drag-and-drop interfaces, prebuilt modules, and simplified logic, low-code platforms empowered non-technical users to create business tools and automate workflows. For time-poor teams and resource-strapped small businesses, it was a game-changer.
Now, low-code is undergoing its own transformation. Supercharged by artificial intelligence (AI), it’s evolving into a more intelligent, responsive, and powerful development environment. While traditional low-code platforms made app creation more accessible, they often fell short when businesses needed highly tailored, data-rich applications or the ability to quickly respond to changing operational needs. AI is bridging this gap – reshaping low-code into dynamic ecosystems that combine the speed of automation with the sophistication of human-like problem solving.
AI: Speed and smarter development
Low-code platforms were designed to make building business apps faster and easier – especially for small businesses without dedicated development teams. By replacing complex coding with simple drag-and-drop tools, visual workflows, and ready-made components, low-code empowers everyday users to create custom applications that solve real business problems. From tracking inventory to managing bookings or automating tasks, small business owners can build what they need without writing a single line of code.
Now, artificial intelligence is supercharging this approach. AI-powered low-code platforms make app building even more intuitive. Instead of manually piecing things together, business owners can simply describe what they need using plain language, voice commands, or business documents. The platform then intelligently creates the app – suggesting relevant fields, generating forms, and even organising data.
Now, AI-powered low-code is set to meet the growing need for faster, simpler ways to build business tools and automate everyday tasks. It allows businesses to adapt quickly and stay competitive – without relying on technical expertise. Even the smallest businesses can now access smart, easy-to-use app-building tools that save time, cut costs, and support more efficient ways of working.
Accessibility for all – not just IT teams
One of the most powerful implications of AI in low-code development is its ability to democratise technology further. In Australia, where SMBs account for over 97% of all businesses, many businesses lack in-house IT departments, or the budgets to outsource. Despite this, they still need custom apps, internal tools and automation systems that are essential for growth and efficiency.
AI removes the technical barriers, enabling employees from various departments – whether in operations, sales, or HR – to build specific solutions to suit their specific needs. These users, who are familiar with the challenges they face in their roles, can now use AI-powered low-code tools, like Zoho Creator, to develop software without needing to know how to code. This empowers teams to create solutions tailored to specific business needs, reducing the reliance on IT teams and external developers.
For example, a construction site manager might build a simple app to track equipment usage in real-time. In healthcare, a clinic coordinator could turn patient intake forms into a streamlined digital workflow. Whereas, in education, a school administrator could set up a system to manage event sign-ups or classroom resources. In each case, AI takes care of the heavy lifting – structuring data, designing layouts and applying the right logic – so teams get practical tools faster, with less effort and no coding required.
Smarter decisions with better data handling
Many small businesses struggle to access or organise their data, especially when it’s spread across spreadsheets, emails, and various systems. AI-powered low-code platforms can automatically clean, structure, and make sense of this scattered information – turning it into usable tools like dashboards, forms, or reports.
This means small businesses can build apps that not only manage day-to-day operations but also provide helpful insights. For instance, AI can help forecast customer demand, flag unusual spending patterns, or highlight which services are most popular. With these capabilities, small teams can make faster, more informed decisions – without needing a data analyst or IT department.
For small businesses, leveraging AI in this way offers a major advantage that was once only available to big businesses: the ability to make smarter, data-informed decisions without relying on external data analysts. By deploying custom AI models tailored to their own data, businesses can gain deeper insights into their specific challenges and goals, making their apps more relevant and impactful.
The path forward
The integration of AI into low-code platforms offers a game-changing opportunity for businesses in Australia, particularly SMBs, to rapidly build and scale their applications. AI-enhanced low-code platforms allow businesses to respond more quickly to changing market conditions, scale their digital solutions without adding headcount, and provide more personalised services to customers.
AI is pushing low-code development into a new era, one that is defined by speed, intelligence, and inclusivity. For Australian SMBs facing constant pressures to innovate and adapt, this transformation presents a critical opportunity to build smarter, more scalable solutions that drive growth and efficiency.
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