This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 12, 2024 - August 18, 2024

The country’s digital economy is scaling new heights — the National Tech Association of Malaysia forecasts an increased contribution of 24.4% from the sector to national gross domestic product this year. Amid an emerging digital revolution driven by advancements in areas such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, the country is cementing its position as a beacon of innovation and a burgeoning hub for technology and innovation in Southeast Asia.

Efforts by government agencies to enhance their  own digital transformation are a testament to this and are evident in the increased foreign investment in the country. At the recent KL20 Summit 2024, the prime minister announced that several high-tech companies would establish operations, research and development facilities and regional headquarters in Asia and Southeast Asia. Yet, while this spells a bright future for Malaysia, the rapidly advancing tech landscape calls for skilled people who can take us to the next level.

The need for AI-savvy individuals has never been more pressing, yet the talent crunch and skills gap pose significant obstacles. To overcome these challenges, low-code technology is quickly emerging as a means to democratise technology development and enhance the country’s digital transformation.

Low-code is an approach to software development that allows individuals of all backgrounds to create complex web and mobile applications with minimal coding. Unlike tedious traditional coding, enterprise low-code profoundly simplifies and accelerates application development with the use of visual interfaces, plug-and-play elements and pre-built components, thus expediting the development process.

In Malaysia, where aspirations for technological advancement run high, low-code development has emerged as a transformative force, democratising access to software development. Traditional software development often requires extensive coding knowledge, limiting participation to a select few with specialised skills.

However, low-code platforms dismantle these barriers, empowering a broader spectrum of individuals to foster innovation and empower aspiring developers, entrepreneurs and organisations to thrive in the digital age.

Gartner reports that over 50% of chief information officers plan to adopt generative AI (GenAI) within the next 24 months. The focus now is to operationalise GenAI to unlock efficiency savings among developer teams.

Low-code platforms have begun to adopt GenAI features, which provide a distinct advantage over traditional coding when it comes to GenAI.

By democratising software development, low-code platforms make GenAI accessible to all Malaysians, particularly full stack, front-end and back-end developers who can benefit from AI-powered suggestions across the full technology stack and DevOps, who can leverage AI to improve deployment processes and operational efficiencies.

While using generative AI to create code will improve developer productivity, it also increases the risk of technical debt and orphaned code. Low-code platforms can help to eliminate this risk by focusing on model creation and reusable building blocks that do not lead to rampant code creation.

In short, low-code can enable safe AI that is easily verifiable because of the higher abstraction levels — delivering productivity gains without the risks.

Moreover, the low-code platform’s user-centric approach encourages experimentation and iteration, enabling developers to iterate and refine AI-driven solutions iteratively. Whether it is building an app, optimising its life cycle or even accelerating the app’s development, the marriage of low-code and AI can empower individuals to harness the technology’s transformative potential, propelling Malaysia towards a brighter and more inclusive future.

The benefits of low-code cover those of businesses across diverse industries. In Malaysia’s dynamic digital landscape, agility is paramount for businesses to thrive. Low-code enables organisations to rapidly prototype, iterate and deploy AI-driven applications, accelerating innovation and time-to-market.

For instance, retail companies can leverage AI algorithms to analyse customer behaviour, personalise marketing campaigns, drive sales and foster customer loyalty. With low-code, local businesses can adapt and innovate to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced environment.

Last year, Petronas Digital Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding with OutSystems to promote and accelerate the use of low-code app development. Through training materials, research and other know-how processes, the partnership helped Petronas pursue technology-based innovation.

As technology continues to evolve, embedding digital capabilities is no longer a benefit but a prerequisite for industry players. Businesses need to differentiate their offerings through the quality of their user experiences and customer services.

Arnold Consengco is the regional vice-president for Southeast Asia and the Greater China region at OutSystems, a low-code development platform that provides tools for companies to develop, deploy and manage omnichannel enterprise applications

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