“Low code is dead.” Or is it?
If you caught the recent post by Charles Lamanna (yes, the Microsoft person) declaring that “low code is dead”, you are forgiven for raising an eyebrow. On the surface, it sounds provocative: the leading edge of business apps just died overnight? But here at riivo, South Africa’s leading low code agency, we’d argue the truth is more nuanced.
Low code is not dead – it’s evolving. And the better question is: where is it headed?
Why someone might say “low code is dead”
First, let’s unpack why Lamanna and others are making this bold claim. According to commentary, the statement appears in the context of the latest announcements from Microsoft Power Platform and the broader push into AI-infused apps. One summary puts it this way:
“From ‘low code is dead’ to the AI-powered rebirth of the Power Platform.”
In other words: the classic drag-and-drop, purely visual low code era is being supplanted by something more: low code plus generative AI, intelligent agents, natural-language app building, etc.
A key article describes how Lamanna sees “foundation models” (big AI models) as the next stage, with specialised “derivatives” branching off to solve business problems. In other words, what was once about low code enabling citizens/developers to build apps is now shifting to AI-driven creation, with low code becoming part of a larger orchestration.
So when someone says “low code is dead”, they’re talking about low code as we knew it. The drag-and-drop toolkit being the endgame. They’re signalling: “heads up, things are changing.”
Related: The Shifting Role of Development Agencies in an AI-First World
Why low code not dead – just transforming
At riivo we’ve seen many organisations in South Africa and the UK deploy low code solutions to great effect. And here’s why we believe the story of low code is far from over.
1. Low code solves real business problems
From our work, the value of low code lies in enabling agility: it gets solutions out fast, involves business users, and reduces reliance on traditional heavyweight software development. That is as relevant today as ever.
The labour market still has a developer shortage; organisations still have urgent business-process pain. Low code addresses those.
2. The shift is additive, not eliminative
Rather than “low code is dead”, what we’re seeing is “low code evolves”. It now gets augmented by AI, by natural-language input, by citizen developer tooling that interfaces with pro-dev. This means low code becomes richer, more capable, more embedded in enterprise architecture.
3. South African context: still plenty of runway
In South Africa, many organisations are still in early-stages of digital transformation. Using low code to build workflows, integrate systems, automate manual tasks remains highly relevant.
The “next frontier” is layering in AI, but the foundation still counts. So for local firms: now is still the time to adopt low code, not to abandon it.
4. Governance, scale and complexity still matter
As organisations grow their low code projects, governance, reuse, integration, maintainability become key. This is where the “new low code” needs to feature pro-developer hand-offs, dev-ops, AI-assisted code and citizen maker collaboration. So low code isn’t replaced; it’s embedded in a mature practice.
Interesting read: Why 95% of AI Projects Fail, and How To Prevent It From Happening to You
So, where is low code going?
Let’s map out the direction we see for low code, especially from riivo’s vantage point, serving clients in South Africa and the UK.
a) Low code + AI = Co-development
We’re entering a phase where low code platforms come with generative AI, agents and natural-language builders. Users might say: “Build me an app that tracks my stock for our branch network, sends alerts to WhatsApp, and triggers a field-service job when inventory is low.” And the tool will scaffold a solution, propose logic, create integrations, surface flows. The maker (business user) tweaks it; the pro-developer adds polish. Low code becomes the glue between human creativity and machine intelligence.
Related: Vibe Coding Without Regrets: Bubble vs Lovable vs Power Platform (What to Use, When, Why)
b) From point solutions to platforms
Historically many low code apps were standalone: a workflow here, a form there. The trend now is to build platforms: low code toolsets that sit within enterprise strategy, integrate with ERP/CRM, and support change over time. Companies will increasingly demand that – they won’t just want a quick fix, they’ll want sustainable, governable, scalable solutions.
c) Coders to orchestrators
In older low code narratives the developer built the app. Going forward, the developer becomes an orchestrator: assembling pre-built components, orchestrating services, defining rules, monitoring performance, and letting AI handle the heavy lifting. The role shifts, but remains vital.
d) Governance, resilience, and architecture matter more
As low code becomes central to operations, issues like security, compliance (especially in regulated sectors), data governance and change management rise in importance. In South Africa, with its unique regulatory and infrastructure environment, low code practitioners must build for resilience. riivo’s role is not just speed but also structure.
e) Verticalisation and domain-specific accelerators
We see low code platforms offering “accelerators” for specific domains: manufacturing, mining, logistics, financial services. These pre-built templates plus low code/AI layering allow faster time to value. Clients benefit from domain-specific kits rather than generic drag-and-drop.
f) Hybrid development models
Low code is not ‘the only way’ anymore; it’s part of a hybrid model. Some features will be built in low code, others in pro-code, and increasingly AI-generated code sits between. That hybrid team delivers the next generation of custom business apps.
What this means for you (if you’re reading this)
If you’re in your business (in South Africa or the UK) and you wonder whether to adopt low code, whether it’s “too late”, or whether you should wait for AI-apps to take over, here’s what we suggest:
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The low code foundation is still highly valuable. Use this time to build your app-culture, your citizen-maker community, your governance frameworks.
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Don’t just develop one-off apps. Think in terms of platforms, re-usable components, integrations. Build with the future in mind.
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While you may not deploy full generative-AI agents today, consider how your data, workflows and logic will support AI augmentation tomorrow.
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Establish who owns low code in your organisation, what standards apply, how you monitor usage, how you integrate with IT and professional-dev teams.
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At riivo we find the best results come from agencies that understand both the business world and the pro-developer/AI world. Speak to us.
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Track outcomes, how many workflows automated, how many hours saved, how much agility gained. low code is alive when it delivers bottom-line value.
Get the best solutions for your business, today
At riivo, we’re confident that low code is very much alive. It’s just entering its second-act: richer, smarter, AI-empowered, embedded in enterprise strategy, and ready to deliver more than ever.
Your business, your team, with its unique challenges, skills availability, legacy systems, need agility. Low code offers an excellent gateway. The smarter question is not “Is low code dead?” but “How will low code serve me tomorrow?” That’s where we help: building custom apps and solutions that are sustainable for your business.
The future is here; it’s just being built differently. Let’s talk.