What is Citizen Development & Why Does It Matter?
Technology is no longer confined to IT teams. Across industries, employees are taking control, using low-code tools to build apps, automate workflows, and solve challenges – without needing coding expertise. This movement, known as citizen development, is revolutionising digital transformation.
Traditionally, businesses relied on IT to develop every new system or automation. But with growing demand, IT teams struggle to keep pace. Meanwhile, frontline employees – whether in sales, HR, finance, or operations – understand their own challenges best. Citizen development bridges this gap, empowering employees to build tailored solutions quickly and efficiently.
Low-code platforms provide drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, and seamless integrations with existing systems. Employees who once relied on spreadsheets and manual processes can now create automated workflows, interactive dashboards, and mobile apps – without writing a single line of code. This shift fosters a more agile, responsive workplace where innovation comes from all levels of the business, not just IT.
As companies embrace hybrid work and digital-first strategies, enabling employees to create their own solutions is no longer a luxury – it’s a competitive advantage.
The Power Platform: The Engine Behind Citizen Development
Citizen development thrives with the right tools, and Microsoft’s Power Platform is leading the charge. This suite of low-code tools enables employees to build apps, automate tasks, and analyse data without advanced technical skills.
- Power Apps allows employees to create custom business applications through a simple visual interface. Whether tracking customer feedback, managing expenses, or streamlining approvals, users can build solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing business data.
- Power Automate eliminates repetitive tasks by automating workflows. Instead of manually sending email updates or processing approvals, employees can set up automated triggers to handle these tasks in real time.
- Power BI empowers users to transform scattered data into interactive dashboards and reports. With real-time insights, teams can make informed decisions without waiting for IT-generated reports.
- CoPilot enables employees to create AI-powered chatbots to handle routine queries, improving customer service and internal support without requiring coding expertise.
Together, these tools give employees the power to create, automate, and analyse – removing inefficiencies and unlocking new levels of productivity.
The Business Impact: Why Empower Employees with Low-Code?
Many businesses struggle with outdated manual processes and overstretched IT teams; citizen development changes the game by enabling employees to create their own solutions, leading to:
- Greater efficiency; employees save hours by automating admin tasks, eliminating delays, and reducing errors.
- Faster processes with automated workflows achieving goals in minutes rather than hours.
- Increased innovation as employees closest to daily business challenges can develop tailored solutions instead of waiting for IT priorities. This has the added bonus of fostering a sense of ownership and proactive problem-solving.
- Cost savings! Let’s be honest, traditional software development is expensive and time-consuming. Low-code tools allow businesses to build solutions in-house, reducing reliance on costly third-party applications.
The benefits extend beyond technology – they create a culture of continuous improvement and agility.
Supporting Citizen Developers: Training & Resources
Providing employees with low-code tools is just the first step; success depends on the right training and support. Without proper guidance, employees may struggle to use the tools effectively, create inefficient solutions, or even introduce security risks. A well-planned approach ensures they feel confident in building applications while staying aligned with business objectives.
Structured training is key, and platforms like Microsoft Learn offer free courses on Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI, allowing employees to develop their skills at their own pace. But learning isn’t just about formal training – peer support can be just as valuable. Many businesses establish a network of “low-code champions” – early adopters who guide their colleagues, share best practices, and act as a bridge between IT and the wider workforce.
Here at Blackbird Corporate we can provide training that will elevate the skillset of your employees on many of these platforms, so click on the links to see what we offer!
Hands-on experimentation is also essential. By providing sandbox environments, safe spaces where employees can test ideas without disrupting live systems, businesses help teams build confidence and refine their solutions before full implementation.
Most importantly, citizen development should be driven by real business needs. Employees need to focus on solving practical challenges, not just building apps for the sake of it. Leadership teams can encourage this by helping employees identify inefficiencies in their workflows and supporting them in designing impactful solutions.
Citizen development is not a one-time initiative but an ongoing journey. Businesses that continuously invest in upskilling their employees and fostering a culture of innovation will see the greatest long-term benefits.
Governance & Security: Setting the Right Guardrails
While citizen development offers huge benefits, it also introduces risks if not managed properly. Without clear governance, businesses can face security gaps, compliance issues, and an overload of poorly designed apps. Striking the right balance is essential – giving employees the freedom to innovate while maintaining control over security and quality.
One way to achieve this is by monitoring and managing app usage. IT teams can use Managed Environments in Power Platform to track applications, enforce policies, and maintain oversight without stifling creativity. Security measures are equally important, and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies ensure that sensitive business data remains protected and compliant with company regulations.
Consistency is another key factor. Without clear guidelines, employees may build apps that are difficult to scale or integrate. Establishing best practices for app design, naming conventions, and documentation helps maintain usability and ensures that solutions remain structured and effective.
Governance should be an enabler, not a blocker. With the right framework in place, businesses can empower employees to build secure, scalable, and impactful solutions—ensuring that citizen development drives innovation without introducing unnecessary risk.
The Future of Citizen Development in Business
Citizen development is more than a trend – it’s reshaping how businesses approach digital transformation. By giving employees the tools to innovate, organisations eliminate bottlenecks and accelerate progress.
The real value lies in the culture it fosters. When employees are encouraged to solve problems proactively, they no longer accept inefficiencies as “just the way things are.” Instead, they drive continuous improvement, helping businesses stay competitive in a fast-moving world.
Success requires the right mix of training, governance, and collaboration between IT and employees. Organisations that master this balance will reap the rewards – lower costs, greater agility, and a workforce empowered to lead digital transformation from within.
The question isn’t whether businesses should embrace citizen development – it’s how much they stand to gain by doing so.
Want to explore citizen development in your organisation? We’re happy to have a no-obligation chat with you to discover ways in which your business can embrace this concept. Contact us to get the ball rolling!