Custom Application Development (CAD) continues to be a strategic priority for enterprises seeking digital agility, scalability, and competitive differentiation. Despite challenges such as geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and talent shortages, demand for customized solutions remains strong. Enterprises are embracing platform-centric approaches, modern development methodologies, and AI-augmented tools to streamline delivery and meet evolving user expectations. In this context, providers are not only expected to deliver engineering talent but also act as transformation partners with deep domain expertise and a focus on business outcomes. This report profiles 31 leading CAD providers and assesses how they are helping enterprises navigate today’s complex IT and business environment. Each provider profile includes details on service focus, proprietary solutions, recent investments, and case studies. The analysis also highlights how providers are differentiating through low-code platforms, CI/CD tools, and AI-powered development assistants. This compendium supports decision-makers in identifying partners that align with their digital and operational priorities.

Generative AI is fundamentally shifting how software is developed and maintained. What began as discrete copilots for code suggestions has evolved into a more mature and integrated layer of AI-powered software engineering. Generative AI is now embedded across the entire development value chain – from requirement gathering and prototyping to code generation, testing, documentation, and deployment – reshaping development workflows and enabling asynchronous, agent-assisted collaboration. As enterprises move from experimentation to execution, generative AI solutions are expanding from point tools to full-stack development platforms, offering intelligent support for decision-making, team collaboration, and engineering governance. Increased investments in contextual intelligence, orchestration, explainability, and secure AI integration are driving this shift. In this report, Everest Group assesses 21 leading generative AI solution providers across four segments: Luminaries, Fast Followers, Influencers, and Seekers, based on their market performance and ecosystem positioning. The report provides insights into how these providers are enabling practical value, improving software delivery speed, and redefining developer experiences in the age of generative AI. Scope Geography: global Industries: all industries adopting software development practices Focus: generative AI solutions in software development, covering providers of copilots, intelligent agents, development platforms, and contextual coding tools Contents In this report, we: Position 21 technology providers offering gen AI products for software development on Everest Group’s Innovation Watch Assessment framework Assess the providers’ gen AI capabilities for software development Examine key business challenges and gen AI’s role in overcoming them

At Google Cloud Next 2025, Google unveiled a reimagined application development experience centered around AI assistance, visual design, and unified lifecycle management. The announcements reflect a strategic shift toward abstracting infrastructure complexities and enabling developers to operate at the application level – a move that aligns with enterprise priorities around speed, maintainability, and developer productivity. Key launches included the Application Design Center (a visual canvas for application infrastructure design), Cloud Hub (a centralized control plane for application operations), and expanded integration of Gemini Code Assist and Gemini Cloud Assist across development and management workflows. Google also introduced updates to Firebase Studio, providing an agentic environment to prototype and test mobile apps, and announced enhancements to Kubernetes Engine and FinOps tooling to support performance and cost optimization. In this report, we analyze Google’s 2025 announcements in the context of prevailing enterprise application development priorities, including AI augmentation, platform cohesion, cost controls, and integration flexibility. We evaluate Google’s strengths in technical innovation and end-to-end AI integration, while also addressing ongoing challenges around ecosystem maturity, enterprise mindshare, and platform extensibility. Scope All industries and geographies This assessment is based on Everest Group’s review of announcements made at Google Cloud Next 2025 Contents In this report, we: The key themes influencing enterprise demand for next-generation application development Google’s positioning and product strategy The announcements from Google Cloud Next 2025 Strengths, differentiators, and potential enterprise friction points

In 2024, Amazon made its AI assistant, Amazon Q, generally available to all businesses using Amazon Web Services (AWS). This launch followed a series of major product announcements, including updates to Amazon Q Developer at AWS re:Invent 2024. These advances strengthen AWS’s position in the AI code assistant space and are poised to significantly reshape how companies build and manage applications. This report examines the core features, strengths, and limitations of Amazon Q for enterprise AWS users. We assess how effectively the assistant aligns with enterprise development goals and operational needs, highlighting standout capabilities and opportunities for improvement. Our analysis offers insights into Amazon Q’s potential to shape the future of AI-powered development tools and drive the next wave of modern application development. Scope All industries and geographies The report is based on our assessment of the information that AWS released about Amazon Q Developer Contents In this report, we: Outline key objectives and requirements for enterprises developing modern applications Examine the themes that drive and limit demand in the market Detail Amazon Q Developer’s current positioning and its product offerings for modern application development Analyze Amazon Q’s strengths and areas for improvement

As small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those with annual revenues below US$5 billion, accelerate their digital transformation journeys, custom application development is becoming increasingly essential in helping them remain agile, competitive, and responsive to evolving market demands. Unlike off-the-shelf or low-code solutions, custom application development enables mid-market enterprises to build scalable, secure, and tailored applications that address specific operational needs, industry challenges, and growth objectives. With leaner IT teams and tighter budgets than large enterprises, mid-market firms must ensure that every technology investment delivers tangible business value. Custom-built solutions help modernize legacy systems, streamline processes, and enhance customer and employee experiences—while offering control over feature prioritization, integration, and long-term scalability. As AI-powered tools and cloud-native platforms become more accessible, custom development is also becoming more efficient and accessible, empowering mid-sized firms to unlock intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and innovation at scale. In this report, Everest Group assesses 16 leading mid-market providers’ capabilities and market impact in the custom application development space, as part of its Custom Application Development Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment – Focused on Mid-market. The evaluation is based on a holistic review of each provider’s vision, delivery capabilities, proprietary assets, market success, and client feedback. This research aims to help mid-market enterprises identify the right-fit partners for their custom application initiatives, and equip providers with actionable insights to benchmark and refine their strategies in an increasingly competitive and dynamic market. Scope All industries and geographies Buyer size: small and medium-sized enterprises Service: custom application development services Contents This report features detailed assessments, including strengths and limitations, of 16 providers focusing on delivering custom application development services to small and medium-sized organizations.

As enterprises accelerate digital transformation, custom application development remains essential for them to address unique business needs, modernize legacy systems, and build differentiated digital experiences. Unlike off-the-shelf or low-code solutions, custom development empowers businesses to create scalable, flexible, and secure applications tailored to their specific requirements. The growing demand for personalized digital solutions, coupled with the emergence of AI-driven capabilities, is reshaping how enterprises approach application development – making it faster, smarter, and more aligned with business goals. In response, providers are enhancing their custom application development portfolios by building proprietary frameworks and accelerators, investing in AI-enablement, expanding global delivery capabilities, and nurturing deep domain expertise. Strategic partnerships and a strong focus on specialized talent are also key to delivering high-impact, enterprise-grade applications that drive real business outcomes. In this report, we assess 31 leading application development providers featured in the Custom Application Development Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment. Our comprehensive evaluation will help enterprises identify the right-fit partner for their development initiatives, while offering providers actionable insights to benchmark and improve their capabilities in a dynamic and competitive market. Scope All industries and geographies Service: custom application development services Contents This report features detailed assessments, including strengths and limitations, of 31 providers focusing on delivering custom application development services.

Businesses are turning to low-code application development to streamline software development processes and improve their ability to respond to market changes. Low-code application development platforms have evolved to offer advanced capabilities, such as generative AI integration, advanced automation, and improved collaboration tools. Pure play low-code platforms, such as Appian, Microsoft PowerApps, and OutSystems, are emerging as vital elements in enterprise technology stacks. These platforms excel in building enterprise-grade applications. As the demand for these platforms grows, there is a parallel surge in the need for low-code application development services. In this report, we provide comprehensive and fact-based snapshots of 20 low-code service providers for Appian, 19 providers for Microsoft PowerApps, and 18 for OutSystems. Each profile offers an overview of the provider’s products, client portfolio across geographies, industries, buyer sizes, key investments, and case studies. This compendium will enable providers to benchmark themselves against their competitors and empower low-code platform buyers to assess providers’ capabilities. Scope All industries and geographies Market segment: application services Sources leveraged: analyst inputs, Everest Group research (spanning recruiters, industry experts, and industry associations), ongoing interactions with enterprises and providers, and publicly available secondary data sources Contents In this report, we feature 20 low-code service providers for Appian, 19 providers for Microsoft PowerApps, and 18 for OutSystems and include: An overview of each provider and their revenue range Adoption by buyer group, industry, and geography Key investments Case studies Proprietary solutions Membership(s) Application Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

As enterprises accelerate digital transformation, low-code platforms’ adoption has surged, offering a faster, more agile approach to application development. Low-code application development platforms such as Appian, OutSystems, and Power Apps are leading this shift, enabling businesses to rapidly develop, deploy, and scale applications with minimal coding effort. This trend has become even more pronounced as organizations strive to enhance operational efficiency, respond quickly to market changes, and drive innovation amid growing competitive pressures. To meet this rising demand, providers are expanding their capabilities, forming strategic alliances with low-code platform providers, and developing proprietary IPs to offer differentiated services. Additionally, investments in delivery centers and specialized talent are ensuring that these providers can deliver tailored, high-impact solutions that align with enterprises’ unique needs. In this report, we assess the performance of 19 leading low-code service providers focused on Microsoft Power Apps featured across the low-code application development services PEAK Matrix® assessment. Our comprehensive evaluation will assist enterprises in selecting the best-fit partner for their low-code application development needs while offering providers insights to benchmark and enhance their offerings in this dynamic landscape. Scope All industries and geographies Service: low-code application development services Contents This report features detailed assessments, including strengths and limitations, of 19 providers focusing on delivering low-code application development services in Microsoft Power Apps. Membership(s) Application Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

As enterprises accelerate digital transformation, low-code platform adoption has surged, which offers a faster, more agile approach to application development. Low-code application development platforms such as Appian, OutSystems, and Power Apps are leading this shift, enabling businesses to rapidly develop, deploy, and scale applications with minimal coding effort. This trend has become even more pronounced as organizations strive to enhance operational efficiency, respond quickly to market changes, and drive innovation amid growing competitive pressures. Providers are expanding their capabilities to meet this rising demand, forming strategic alliances with low-code platform providers, and developing proprietary IPs to offer differentiated services. Additionally, investments in delivery centers and specialized talent are ensuring that these providers can deliver tailored, high-impact solutions that align with enterprises' unique needs. In this report, we assess the performance of 18 leading low-code service providers focused on OutSystems [AD1] featured across the low-code application development services PEAK Matrix® assessment. Our comprehensive evaluation will assist enterprises in selecting the best-fit partner for their low-code application development needs, while offering providers with insights to benchmark and enhance their offerings in this dynamic landscape. Scope All industries and geographies Service: low-code application development services Contents This report features detailed assessments, including strengths and limitations, of 18 providers focusing on delivering low-code application development services in OutSystems. Membership(s) Application Services Modern Application Development (MAD) Sourcing and Vendor Management

As enterprises accelerate digital transformation, low-code platform adoption has surged, which offers a faster, more agile approach to application development. Low-code application development platforms such as Appian, OutSystems, and Power Apps are leading this shift, enabling businesses to rapidly develop, deploy, and scale applications with minimal coding effort. This trend has become even more pronounced as organizations strive to enhance operational efficiency, respond quickly to market changes, and drive innovation amid growing competitive pressures. Providers are expanding their capabilities, forming strategic alliances with low-code platform providers and developing proprietary IPs to offer differentiated services. Additionally, investments in delivery centers and specialized talent are ensuring that these providers can deliver tailored, high-impact solutions that align with enterprises’ unique needs. In this report, we assess the performance of 20 leading low-code service providers focused on Appian featured across the low-code application development services PEAK Matrix® assessment. Our comprehensive evaluation will assist enterprises in selecting the best-fit partner for their low-code application development needs while offering providers insights to benchmark and enhance their offerings in this dynamic landscape. Scope All industries and geographies Service: low-code application development services Contents This report features detailed assessments, including strengths and limitations, of 20 providers focusing on delivering low-code application development services in Appian. Membership(s) Application Services Modern Application Development (MAD) Sourcing and Vendor Management