In the latest episode of Beyond the Hype, our very own Ryan Grey, Chief Technology Officer at Marra, joined Oliver Cronk and Anita Allen to unpack the changing face of software development. From the rise of low-code platforms to the role of AI in accelerating build times, Ryan brought a practical perspective grounded in real-world delivery.
Here’s a summary of his key insights, especially for IT leaders looking to make sense of this rapidly evolving landscape.
Low-code isn’t a trend, it’s a toolset
Before joining Marra, Ryan spent nearly a decade in the “Pro-code” world, writing full-stack applications and wrestling with the realities of custom software builds. That’s why low-code platforms like Microsoft Power Platform caught his attention. Not because they replaced traditional development, but because they helped fill a critical gap.
In the podcast, Ryan emphasises that low-code doesn’t mean low design, low testing, or low governance. It means we can build faster by using tools purpose-built to solve common enterprise problems and that speed can be game-changing.
At Marra, a Microsoft Power Platform consultancy, that speed matters. Whether working with clients to automate back-office operations or empowering IT teams to roll out solutions at scale, Marra leverages Power Platform’s low-code tools to unlock efficiency without cutting corners.
Citizen developers: Good in theory, tricky in practice
One hot topic Ryan didn’t shy away from was citizen development. In theory, putting tools like Power Apps in the hands of business users sounds empowering. But the reality is more complex.
He emphasises that it’s not a tech challenge, it’s a people and process challenge. Ryan explains that without the right training, governance, and time carved out for business users to engage meaningfully with the tools, uptake is often lower than expected.
That’s why Marra helps clients focus on what Ryan calls “guardrails”: a governance framework that allows citizen developers to innovate, but in a way that aligns with security, compliance, and IT strategy.
AI in low-code: Useful, but not quite there yet
AI assistants are appearing in nearly every dev tool, including Microsoft’s Power Platform. Ryan sees the promise, but he’s also realistic about where things stand today.
In his team, the AI tooling isn’t a game-changer just yet. Sometimes it can be over-eager or introduces noise. There are still many instances when the team know exactly what change they want to make and use the editor directly because it is faster.
That said, Marra is already delivering real-world AI-powered projects Microsoft Copilot Agent Development, like a chatbot that retrieves internal policy documents using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). It’s a good reminder that while AI agents for developers are still evolving, AI features within apps can already drive significant value.
Practical advice for getting started
Ryan shared a few tips for IT leaders dipping their toes into low-code development:
- Start with spreadsheets. If a process today runs on Excel, Word, and email, that’s a great candidate for a low-code upgrade.
- Validate with quick wins. Early successes build confidence across the business.
- Invest in governance. Consider a Centre of Excellence to manage standards, security, and support.
- Think enablement, not shortcuts. Developers still need to understand application lifecycle, testing, and deployment, even if the code is visual.
Final thoughts: Right tool, right job
Perhaps Ryan’s biggest takeaway was this: low-code isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s a powerful part of the modern developer toolkit.
His top tip is to pick the tool that fits the use case. Sometimes that’s Power Platform. Sometimes it’s traditional development. The important thing is being intentional and understanding what each tool brings to the table.
Want to hear more from Ryan, including his take on AI copilots, the future of software development, and why shadow IT isn’t going away anytime soon? Catch the full episode of Beyond the Hype here.
