An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm

Dongmei Gao; Fabian Fagerholm

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11

An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Given the growing popularity and productivity promises of low-code development (LCD), it seems natural that software consulting firms are increasingly offering low-code solutions. This paper explores how a Finnish consulting firm has adopted two LCD platforms and how they impact internal workflows and client relationships. We interviewed 11 members of the firm’s LCD team to understand their experience and how clients perceive low-code solutions. While LCD has not fundamentally changed the overall development process or collaboration style, it has enabled faster development and adjustments to the workflow. Clients were generally satisfied, though concerns remain. Participants were positive about LCD and its future potential. The study outlines both benefits and challenges of LCD adoption and highlights key considerations for clients, such as feature limitations, vendor lock-in, cost, and the distribution of responsibilities between consulting firms and platform vendors.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Product-Focused Software Process Improvement
Subtitle of host publication	26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings
Editors	Giuseppe Scanniello, Simone Romano, Rita Francese, Valentina Lenarduzzi, Sira Vegas
Publisher	Springer
Pages	169-185
Number of pages	17
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-032-12089-2
ISBN (Print)	978-3-032-12088-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2025
MoE publication type	A4 Conference publication
Event	International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement - Salerno, Italy Duration: 1 Dec 2025 → 3 Dec 2025 Conference number: 26

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	16361
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement
Abbreviated title	PROFES
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Salerno
Period	01/12/2025 → 03/12/2025

Keywords

consulting firm
developer experience
low-code development
technology adoption

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11

Cite this

Gao, D., & Fagerholm, F. (2025). An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm. In G. Scanniello, S. Romano, R. Francese, V. Lenarduzzi, & S. Vegas (Eds.), Product-Focused Software Process Improvement : 26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings (pp. 169-185). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; Vol. 16361). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11

Gao, Dongmei ; Fagerholm, Fabian. / An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm. Product-Focused Software Process Improvement : 26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings. editor / Giuseppe Scanniello ; Simone Romano ; Rita Francese ; Valentina Lenarduzzi ; Sira Vegas. Springer, 2025. pp. 169-185 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ).

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abstract = "Given the growing popularity and productivity promises of low-code development (LCD), it seems natural that software consulting firms are increasingly offering low-code solutions. This paper explores how a Finnish consulting firm has adopted two LCD platforms and how they impact internal workflows and client relationships. We interviewed 11 members of the firm{\textquoteright}s LCD team to understand their experience and how clients perceive low-code solutions. While LCD has not fundamentally changed the overall development process or collaboration style, it has enabled faster development and adjustments to the workflow. Clients were generally satisfied, though concerns remain. Participants were positive about LCD and its future potential. The study outlines both benefits and challenges of LCD adoption and highlights key considerations for clients, such as feature limitations, vendor lock-in, cost, and the distribution of responsibilities between consulting firms and platform vendors.",

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Gao, D & Fagerholm, F 2025, An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm. in G Scanniello, S Romano, R Francese, V Lenarduzzi & S Vegas (eds), Product-Focused Software Process Improvement : 26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science , vol. 16361, Springer, pp. 169-185, International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement, Salerno, Italy, 01/12/2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11

An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm. / Gao, Dongmei ; Fagerholm, Fabian.
Product-Focused Software Process Improvement : 26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings. ed. / Giuseppe Scanniello; Simone Romano; Rita Francese; Valentina Lenarduzzi; Sira Vegas. Springer, 2025. p. 169-185 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; Vol. 16361).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceedings › Scientific › peer-review

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AU - Gao, Dongmei

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N2 - Given the growing popularity and productivity promises of low-code development (LCD), it seems natural that software consulting firms are increasingly offering low-code solutions. This paper explores how a Finnish consulting firm has adopted two LCD platforms and how they impact internal workflows and client relationships. We interviewed 11 members of the firm’s LCD team to understand their experience and how clients perceive low-code solutions. While LCD has not fundamentally changed the overall development process or collaboration style, it has enabled faster development and adjustments to the workflow. Clients were generally satisfied, though concerns remain. Participants were positive about LCD and its future potential. The study outlines both benefits and challenges of LCD adoption and highlights key considerations for clients, such as feature limitations, vendor lock-in, cost, and the distribution of responsibilities between consulting firms and platform vendors.

AB - Given the growing popularity and productivity promises of low-code development (LCD), it seems natural that software consulting firms are increasingly offering low-code solutions. This paper explores how a Finnish consulting firm has adopted two LCD platforms and how they impact internal workflows and client relationships. We interviewed 11 members of the firm’s LCD team to understand their experience and how clients perceive low-code solutions. While LCD has not fundamentally changed the overall development process or collaboration style, it has enabled faster development and adjustments to the workflow. Clients were generally satisfied, though concerns remain. Participants were positive about LCD and its future potential. The study outlines both benefits and challenges of LCD adoption and highlights key considerations for clients, such as feature limitations, vendor lock-in, cost, and the distribution of responsibilities between consulting firms and platform vendors.

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KW - developer experience

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Gao D , Fagerholm F. An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm. In Scanniello G, Romano S, Francese R, Lenarduzzi V, Vegas S, editors, Product-Focused Software Process Improvement : 26th International Conference, PROFES 2025, Salerno, Italy, December 1–3, 2025, Proceedings. Springer. 2025. p. 169-185. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science ). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-12089-2_11

An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm

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Supplementary materials for the paper "An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish Consulting Firm"

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An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish IT Consulting Firm

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Datasets

Supplementary materials for the paper "An Investigation of Low-Code Development Adoption in a Finnish Consulting Firm"

Cite this