Suits Blog: Low-Code Platforms in the Age of AI: Why a Digital Core Matters.
By Jeffrey Piszczek, VP Americas, Neptune Software
After more than two decades in enterprise software, from the early days of middleware to Business Process Management (BPM) to leading Low-code platforms, I’ve been repeatedly asked the same question as of late:
What’s the future of Low-Code Platforms now that we have AI capabilities for developers?
It’s a fair question. AI-generated code, agentic automation and tools that can spin up apps from a few prompts are here to stay. So, at first glance, it might seem like Low-code tools had their moment.
But what persists needs to create quantifiable business value (QBV). And that type of value doesn’t come from simply generating detached code faster. App dev acceleration is great, but companies derive QBV when those generated apps are part of a company’s digital business core, tied to real data on real production enterprise systems.
Let’s break this down.
Sometimes the Juice Isn’t Worth the Squeeze
There are plenty of impressive tools out there right now. Many conversationally generate functional front ends or basic apps in seconds. And that may suffice for a quick prototype or a small departmental use case. But for enterprise business apps that require mission-critical data and connectivity to production core systems like SAP – it’ll most likely fall short.
This is where companies are seeing lower ROI than expected from all these ultra-fast AI development tools and general-purpose Low code platforms. Lines of Business are seeing gaps in the value and applicability of these generated apps. There’s no doubt that AI or general-purpose Low-code platforms can generate apps extremely fast. However, if they’re untethered to your real data, systems, security, governance, etc. or it takes significant effort to force-fit them into your ecosystem…the juice may not be worth the squeeze.
Modernizing from the Inside-Out
When custom, value-add apps are embedded in core business processes and can easily operationalize enterprise data in a secure manner – it leads to innovation and differentiation.
For example, if you’re building custom apps on top of your SAP system, there’s less derived value if that app development lives outside the ERP infrastructure and connects through some 3rd party adapter. On the other hand, if you live within SAP’s transactional core then you’re modernizing systems more effectively from the inside–out. Meeting IT and the Business where they live…not the other way around.
That’s why being embedded, whether in SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow or any other core system puts you in a different league. You’re not just building apps. You’re building value into the systems that run your business.
Low-Code Isn’t Dead. It’s Evolving.
Low-code is moving into a new phase. It’s no longer just focused on developer productivity, though that’s still important. It’s about delivering composable, scalable, secure solutions that fit seamlessly into the enterprise tech stack.
this is what the market is telling us:
- Gartner predicts that by 2028, 60% of software development teams will use enterprise low-code application platforms (LCAPs) as their primary internal development environment.
That’s up from just 10% in 2024.
(https://www.sap.com/research/information-technology-organizations-move-to-low-code) - A separate Gartner survey found that low-code and no-code platforms will be used in more than 65% of all application development globally by the end of 2024, with adoption expected to grow 165% every two years. (https://www.sap.com/products/technology-platform/build/what-is-low-code-no-code.html)
- Yet despite the hype, KPMG research shows a gap: 81% of organizations say low-code is strategically important, but only 31% have made it central to their delivery model. (https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/transformation/how-low-code-platforms-are-driving-digital-transformation.html)
What that tells me is this: the vision is clear, but the execution isn’t there yet…and that’s the opportunity.
Low-code platforms that live within critical enterprise system’s Digital Core and support open frameworks/standards to optimally integrate and operationalize that data across the enterprise, are best positioned to fill that gap.
That’s where AI comes in. Not to replace Low-code, but rather to amplify it.
“AI is powerful, but only when it’s built into platforms that understand your business.”
When AI is layered into a low-code platform that already understands your data models, your authorization logic, your SAP backend, your mobility requirements, that’s when the magic happens.
You get generative capabilities where they actually make sense. You shorten delivery cycles without losing compliance. And you empower both developers and business users, not by handing them a shiny toy, but by giving them tools that are grounded in enterprise reality.
The Digital Core Is the Real Enabler
A big part of the equation is architectural. You can’t bolt on composability and openness as an afterthought. You have to design for it.
That’s why I’m excited about the direction we’re going at Neptune. We’ve spent over a decade building a platform that doesn’t just integrate with SAP. It runs inside it. We’ve optimized for performance, transportability, lifecycle alignment, and security from day one. I’ve spent years watching companies try to bolt innovation onto SAP from the outside. It is hard, it is slow, and it rarely delivers the agility customers expect. Even SAP’s own tools sometimes fall short of creating true Fiori apps with the right standards.
“We’re not locked in. We’re built in.”
Because we made smart architectural decisions using open standards, modular components, and support for any front-end framework, we’re now able to bring in AI, automation, and cross-system orchestration without re-platforming.
That gives us real freedom to innovate. And more importantly, it gives our customers the same freedom.
What to Look for in the Next Phase of Enterprise Development
If I were advising a CIO or a product team right now, I’d ask three things:
1. Is your development strategy aligned with your system of record?
If it’s not, you’ll spend more time stitching things together than building solutions.
2. Can your platform handle both the complexity of SAP and the creativity of your business users?
You need something that’s powerful for developers but accessible to business teams, with AI as a bridge, not a shortcut.
3. Are you future-proofing your stack with openness and composability?
Closed-off systems may work today, but they’ll limit your ability to adapt tomorrow.
“The future of enterprise development is open, composable, and built from the inside out.”
Final Thought
There’s a lot of noise in our industry. New platforms, new promises, new acronyms. But the fundamentals haven’t changed. The companies that win are the ones that stay close to the core, move with speed, and design for change.
Low-code and AI are not competing forces. When done right, they’re the foundation for the next era of enterprise software and will provide real, long-term value.
