Identify your readiness for AI-first development with agents and Microsoft Power Platform

In an era where innovation drives success, organizations are eager to shift to an AI-first development approach, blurring the lines between no-code, low-code, and pro-code development. Using AI tools within Microsoft Power Platform—a comprehensive suite that allows its users to create business applications, workflows, and custom AI-powered agents with minimal or no coding—is key to unlocking greater efficiency and creativity.

Recent research conducted by Forrester Consulting and commissioned by Microsoft shows a strong correlation between generative AI (gen-AI) readiness and low-code maturity, suggesting that the increased use of AI-fueled tools in development is boosting low-code adoption. 

Power Platform and agents could be your gateway to a future of accelerated development, improved efficiency, and greater overall productivity. Prior to implementation, it’s important for organizations to determine their level of readiness, or maturity index, for these AI-powered, low-code tools. 

Take the AI and low-code readiness assessment.

Changing development preferences with low-code and generative AI

Low-code platforms emerged to help organizations adapt to the digital shift and manage complex software development processes. Before the introduction of AI, Power Platform already allowed business users with little or no formal coding experience to create custom applications and streamline workflows, accelerating the development process and empowering more people within an organization to participate in digital transformation. The introduction of AI and Microsoft Copilot capabilities to agents and Power Platform further enhances development by allowing even more people to create innovative solutions using natural language. 

“One of the big benefits for us of Power Platform is that it all works together so seamlessly. That’s making it even easier to leverage the benefits of AI and add it to applications that have a real impact on our business.” 

Brian Hodel, Senior Analyst, Business Systems, T-Mobile 

Forrester’s research highlights a shift in application development towards low-code platforms and AI tools. Notably, the adoption of generative AI-infused capabilities is projected to boost low-code development by 28%, signaling a major shift towards these innovative methodologies such as Power Platform and agents. 

Understanding where your organization stands can identify areas for improvement and strategic growth, helping to ensure that you maximize the benefits of these modern development methodologies. But where should you begin? 

Assigning maturity level 

To effectively prepare for AI-first development, organizations should assess their readiness to integrate AI into low-code platforms, ensure that robust governance policies are in place for AI usage, and address data security gaps. The Forrester Consulting AI and low-code readiness assessment commissioned by Microsoft provides insights and recommendations to boost development efficiency, guide investment decisions, and improve data management. 

Specifically, the assessment measures: 

Low-code maturity—evaluating your organization’s current use (if any) of low-code tools and overall strategy for low-code development. 

AI readiness—assessing your organization’s understanding of generative AI, governance and policies for AI usage, and ability to integrate AI capabilities.

Data security and governance—identifying gaps in data curations, access controls, and training to manage and secure data effectively. 

This proactive approach helps organizations make informed decisions and enhances their overall readiness for AI-first development. Dive deeper into why this assessment is instrumental for businesses aiming to stay ahead. 

Evaluate your organization’s current development strategy 

Understanding your organization’s current use of low-code tools and the level of adoption is a crucial first step for staying competitive. Forrester’s research indicates that 78% of development leaders say their firms empower non-IT employees through a citizen developer strategy or plan to do so in the next 12 months, showing how crucial it is to understand the integration of these tools into workflows and their effectiveness in achieving development goals. 

Assessing your organization’s current use of low-code tools is not just about understanding where you stand; it is about strategically positioning yourself to harness the full potential of these low-code and AI technologies, driving innovation, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. 

Assess your organization’s understanding of AI

By using Power Platform and agents, organizations can automate repetitive tasks, generate code, and provide intelligent recommendations, accelerating the development lifecycle. AI-infused tools in Power Platform and agents offer transformative potential—but to harness its power effectively, it is crucial to assess your organization’s existing knowledge and readiness. According to Forrester’s research, 81% of IT leaders state that most or all developers in their organization use generative AI tools for various tasks, emphasizing the widespread adoption and necessity of understanding these tools. 

Before deploying Power Platform and agents, IT leaders should assess existing governance and security policies regarding AI usage to comprehensively understand the organization’s readiness for AI-first development. This approach helps to ensure that the integration of AI tools is innovative, secure, and strategically sound. 

Evaluate your existing security and governance standards 

The integration of AI and low-code platforms has the potential to greatly improve development efficiency and drive innovation. Additionally, it presents new opportunities for maintaining robust organizational security and governance. 

As businesses increasingly adopt low-code and AI technology, IT leaders must identify any existing gaps in their data curation, access controls, and training throughout implementation and usage. Forrester’s research highlights the importance of governance in facilitating safe and effective use of generative AI tools. Addressing these challenges is crucial to harnessing the full potential of low-code and AI technologies, driving innovation and maintaining competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. 

In addition to incorporating a diverse development strategy, nearly 75% of IT leaders anticipate increased investments in AI-enhanced development tools over the next year, highlighting the need to address gaps in security and governance strategies. Identifying gaps in data curation, access controls, and training is crucial for secure and effective AI and low-code integration. Building and maintaining a robust plan for data security and governance practices are essential to both avoid inaccuracies that could compromise AI models and low-code applications and foster a culture of security awareness and proactive risk management. 

By identifying and addressing these key gaps, IT leaders can help to ensure that their organizations manage and secure data effectively while embracing agents and AI in Power Platform. 

Key recommendations for enhancing readiness 

Based on the findings, Forrester provides several recommendations in the study to assist organizations in improving their low-code and AI maturity1. Power Platform and agents can provide substantial support in implementing these recommendations. 

Establish a proactive development program. Use the core managed platform capabilities within Power Platform to enhance security, governance, and operations at scale. Use the Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) to provide structured tools, best practices, and resources, facilitating effective management and support of the platform. Aligning these activities with organizational objectives encourages innovation and improves developer efficiency to continuously benefit from AI-first development. 

Empower developers with AI-first development platforms. Use platforms such as Power Platform and agents to expedite development processes while integrating AI-powered business insights. AI-powered agents boost developer efficiency, enhance code quality, and reduce the time needed to bring new applications to market. Tools like Microsoft Copilot Studio facilitate the incorporation of generative AI features in low-code environments. 

Classify, secure, and expose data and endpoints. Deploy data governance frameworks through Power Platform to classify, secure, and expose data and endpoints. This involves setting up data loss prevention (DLP) policies and using managed identities for secure access. The platform helps to ensure curated, clean, and secure data sources and endpoints, offering robust security, compliance, and operational excellence. 

Govern through pragmatic risk management. Implement automated risk management processes with Power Platform and Power Platform admin center (PPAC), tailored to application complexity and risk levels. PPAC provides continuous monitoring, real-time alerts, and adherence to compliance standards, helping to ensure managed security, governance, operations, and availability. This comprehensive approach helps mitigate risks and maintain a secure development strategy. 

Scale AI experimentation through citizen development. Allow IT leaders to spearhead AI experiments and develop innovative solutions using Power Platform and agents. This approach fosters continuous improvement and innovation. Providing training and support for developers at all levels enhances their technical skills and process knowledge, empowering them to effectively use AI capabilities. 

Take the readiness assessment today 

Begin your journey toward AI-first development with our AI and low-code readiness assessment. This crucial first step will set the foundation for implementing cutting-edge development tools in Power Platform, allowing your organization to realize the full benefits of AI-first development. 

Take the assessment now and unlock the full potential of AI capabilities in the Power Platform.

AI and low-code readiness assessment

Help your organization get the most out of Microsoft Power Platform.

Take the assessment

Explore the Power Platform Implementation Guide to discover how Power Platform and agents can help boost your score.

Gain insights and inspiration from the 2025 AI Decision Brief.

By addressing gaps and boosting maturity, your organization can better prepare for the future of AI-supported development. Empower developers, secure data, and transform application development with Power Platform. 

Source:

1 Improve Productivity And Efficiency With GenAI-Infused Low-Code Development Tools, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft, 2025. 

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Source: Microsoft Power Platform