The Wave of Field-Led “IT DIY (Citizen Development)”
Until now, developing business applications and building systems typically meant allocating large budgets to outsource to external system integrators (SIers) or internal IT specialist departments. However, the situation is changing dramatically.
The driving force is the proliferation of intuitive “no-code/low-code tools” and, above all, technological evolution of “generative AI coding assistance.” The trend of “IT DIY (Citizen Development)” - where non-IT department staff and individuals build applications themselves - is rapidly spreading regardless of company size.
Why is IT DIY Exploding in Popularity Now?
The biggest factor is that development barriers have dropped to unprecedented levels.
- The Impact of “Natural Language Programming” Brought by Generative AI Previously, you had to memorize programming language syntax. Now, simply instructing AI in everyday language like “write a script to extract specific data from Excel and send emails” instantly produces practical code. This makes customization beyond no-code tools achievable through DIY.
- Abundance of Cloud Services (SaaS) and APIs Without building systems from scratch, advanced business systems can be assembled like building blocks just by connecting excellent existing services.
| Comparison Item | Traditional Outsourced Development | IT DIY (AI & Low-Code Utilization) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Months to years from requirements to delivery | Start the day you think of it, implement in days to weeks |
| Cost | High initial costs (millions of yen~) | Only cloud usage fees and AI tool monthly costs |
| Required Skills | Advanced programming language knowledge | Logical thinking and appropriate AI instructions (prompts) |
| Improvement Cycle | Additional costs and estimation periods for each modification | Immediate modification by field when noticed |
Three “Essential Values” Gained Through DIY Development
The greatest merit of IT DIY isn’t simply “getting systems cheaply.” The process of taking action and trial-and-error itself brings powerful growth to organizations and individuals.
- Visualizing Business “True Purpose” and “Waste” Through systemization and giving AI instructions, you notice contradictions in existing operations like “Is this approval flow really necessary?” and “Isn’t this data entry duplicated?” Business processes themselves become streamlined before creating systems, producing secondary effects.
- Acquiring “Fail Small, Learn Fast” Agile Thinking Rather than aiming for perfect 100 points from the start, have AI create prototypes and improve while using them in actual operations. This “culture permitting trial-and-error” and “improvement cycle” are essential skills in rapidly changing modern business.
- Raising Field IT Literacy and Problem-Solving Ability When field staff understand “how systems work behind the scenes,” problem-finding ability and logical thinking dramatically improve. This also smooths communication with IT departments, becoming a powerful driving force for company-wide DX.
Overcoming “Time and Cost Barriers” with a Relaxed Mindset
Many hesitate thinking “we don’t have time to build ourselves” or “it seems difficult.” However, IT DIY’s key to success is a relaxed mindset like “DIY home improvement - just try it first.”
Rather than aiming for huge systems from the start, have AI write code to automate “annoying 10-minute daily repetitive tasks.” Or create simple input forms with free no-code tools. The iron rule of DIY is small starts: “experiment at zero cost, then deploy fully when effective.”
ePrize’s “Companion-Style” DIY Support
While “just trying” is most important for IT DIY, moments come when you want to take the next step.
“I want to scale this convenient tool I created so departments or the whole company can use it safely” “I want to challenge more complex, advanced business automation using AI” “I want advice on tool selection fitting our operations and design considering future scalability”
When you challenge IT DIY and envision such “next steps,” please consult ePrize. We function not as mere “outsourcing” but as your “DIY companion.”
By combining your “operational knowledge” with our “AI utilization know-how and architecture design capability,” we help grow your ideas into larger, more reliable forms. Let’s enjoy creating new value together, aiming for low-cost, rapid realization.