Forrester Vice Presidents & Principal Analysts Rob Koplowitz and John Rymer explain how Forrester is revising their market segments and vendor assessments in and around low-code development platforms and digital process automation (DPA) in 2019.
They are now categorizing vendors in four overlapping markets:
1. Low-code for AD&D pros (professional developers).
These vendors typically target many use cases with products designed first for pro developers. These platforms are generally well suited for development of large numbers of applications and handle basic- and medium-level process complexity. Vendors in this category include Clear Software, GeneXus, Kony, Mendix, Microsoft, Netcall (MatsSoft), OutSystems, Progress Software, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Skuid, ThinkWise, and WaveMaker.
2. Low-code for business developers (businesspeople).
These vendors typically target many use cases with products designed first for businesspeople. Vendors in this category include Airtable, AppSheet, Betty Blocks, Caspio, FileMaker, Google (App Maker), Kintone, KiSSFLOW, Knack, Quick Base, Scopeland Technology, TIBCO Software (TIBCO Cloud Live Apps), TrackVia, and Zudy.
3. Digital process automation for wide deployment.
These platforms are process-first and focus on rapid deployment. They are less focused on the professional developer experience but can easily handle a very wide variety of low-code use cases. They are less well suited to most complex process requirements but tend to cost less than DPA solutions for deep deployment. Vendors in this category include AgilePoint, AXON Ivy, bpm’online, FlowForma, JobRouter, K2, Newgen Software, Nintex, and PMG.
4. Digital process automation for deep deployment.
These platforms excel at the high end of process complexity but may also be the right solution to meet the needs for a wide-deployment, low-code standard in your organization, albeit generally at a higher price point. Vendors in this category include Appian, AuraPortal, Bizagi, Bonitasoft, Genpact, Hyland Software, IBM, ISIS Papyrus, Kofax, OpenText, and Pegasystems.
Our Forrester report, “Now Tech: Rapid App Delivery, Q1 2019,” describes three of the four segments: digital process automation for wide deployments, low-code development platforms for AD&D pros, and low-code development platforms for business developers.
The fourth segment, digital business automation for deep deployment, will be defined in upcoming research reports.
For the 2019 Forrester Wave™ evaluations, they’ve reclassified some vendors into new segments to create groups of vendors most like one another in their functional value and go-to-market approaches.
We're looking forward to the next publication of the Forrester Wave, especially more about the overlapping aspects of these categories.
