As someone who runs a digital studio and works extensively with WordPress and modern development tools, I’ve always been fascinated by how low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms are reshaping software development. For my MBA thesis at KU Leuven, I investigated a question that’s been on my mind: How do LCNC platforms actually impact Agile development teams?
I interviewed eight industry experts—from developers and tech leads at OutSystems and Capgemini to freelance consultants and academics—all with experience in both LCNC platforms and Agile frameworks, particularly Scrum. Here are the key findings of this research:
Quality Improves, But Context Is Everything
LCNC platforms generally reduce defects and make software easier to maintain. Frontend errors decrease, bugs are faster to fix, and maintenance becomes simpler. But the impact depends heavily on developer skill, project complexity, and governance processes. The platform can only do so much—quality still depends on who’s using it and how.
Communication Shows a Split Personality
External communication with stakeholders improved dramatically. Faster iterations meant more frequent feedback, and non-technical stakeholders could participate directly as citizen developers.
Internal team communication was more complicated. Smaller teams streamlined coordination, but some LCNC platforms lack version control features, creating new challenges. Integrating citizen developers without technical backgrounds sometimes caused friction.
Speed Gains Don’t Always Scale
Individual sprint cycles definitely accelerated. I experienced this firsthand building a transcription web app using Claude Code CLI and n8n for this research—what might have taken days took about 3 hours.
But here’s the catch: overall project delivery doesn’t always speed up proportionally. Removing development bottlenecks often just shifts them to requirements gathering, stakeholder decisions, or quality assurance. As complexity increases, LCNC’s speed advantage diminishes.
Teams Are Getting Smaller and More Cross-Functional
LCNC is fundamentally reshaping team structures:
- Team members wear multiple hats—UI/UX designers become citizen developers
- Product Owners get more hands-on with configuration
- Scrum Masters can manage multiple teams simultaneously
- Business Analyst roles often merge with Product Owner or Scrum Master
This consolidation could mean cost savings, but requires careful management to avoid overload.
The AI Factor
The integration of AI into LCNC platforms is just beginning, but it’s a game-changer. Interviewees saw AI as a copilot for developers and a way to automate processes within applications. My transcription tool combined AI transcription with LCNC workflow automation—a glimpse of what’s possible.
The Bottom Line
LCNC platforms can significantly enhance Agile team performance, but success is highly context-dependent. They work best when projects aren’t overly complex, teams have appropriate governance, and management processes support the technology.
The combination of LCNC, Agile, and AI represents a powerful toolkit for modern software development. The research reveals that while LCNC platforms align well with Agile principles of rapid iteration and customer collaboration, their impact varies significantly based on project complexity, team maturity, and organizational context.
Based on my MBA thesis at KU Leuven’s Faculty of Economics and Business, supervised by Prof. Dr. Yves Wautelet. Download and read the full research below: