Kissflow Report: Low-Code and AI are SEA CIOs’ Digital Growth Engines

Kissflow’s latest CIO Low-Code Strategy Pulse Report 2025 reveals a sweeping trend across Southeast Asia: AI-powered low-code platforms are emerging as the backbone of the region’s rapidly growing digital economies.

With ASEAN’s digital industries projected to surge from US$300 billion to as much as US$1 trillion by 2030, and AI adoption expected to contribute 13–18% of regional GDP by decade’s end, businesses and governments alike are accelerating digital-first initiatives.

The report highlights that 86% of CIOs globally are now leveraging low-code tools to speed up application delivery and reduce reliance on traditional development teams. Amid rising digital mandates and talent shortages, organizations are under pressure to deliver more applications faster, with over half of CIOs (55%) anticipating that AI will dramatically increase the volume of apps developed.

“Southeast Asia is at the digital frontier,” says Rakesh Nandakumar, AVP, APAC, Kissflow. “Low-code and AI together empower CIOs to scale innovation and localize solutions rapidly—without being constrained by limited technical talent.”

Key Southeast Asia Insights:

• Low-Code Momentum Across Sectors: Banking, government, and logistics are leading the shift. Complex operations, compliance requirements, and high service expectations are driving enterprises away from traditional development.
• Rise of Citizen Developers: Business teams are increasingly building applications themselves. Operations (33%), finance (25%), and HR (23%) are already leveraging no-code tools with minimal IT support. This trend signals a shift toward business-led innovation at the edge, where speed and agility matter most.
• AI as a Strategic Differentiator: AI is not just accelerating development—it’s reshaping technology purchasing decisions. 34% of CIOs globally consider AI capabilities a core factor when selecting low-code platforms, particularly for multi-country operations with local compliance needs.

Southeast Asian organizations now see low-code as essential to bridging talent gaps and supporting regional expansion. For CIOs, these platforms offer a path to deliver new services faster while building a workforce equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.