As custom software developers, design thinking is standard practice when it comes to any project. We put the user first and build the solution around their needs… This is nothing new. What’s new is that design thinking has changed and evolved into “platform thinking.”

Platform thinking is the understanding that modern consumers have evolved from passive observers in the product lifecycle to active contributors in the value creation process. For example: 

• Uber uses platform thinking to connect drivers with people who need rides. The more drivers and riders who use Uber, the more valuable it becomes, because there are more rides available and more people to connect with.

• Instagram connects people who want to share pictures and videos. The more people use Instagram, the more valuable it becomes; there are more photos and videos to see and more people to connect with. 

Simple enough? Hope so, because now we’re really going to change pace.

Artificial Intelligence Tools in Software Development

AI can assist people in creating and enhancing things, no matter how skilled they are. This approach to platform thinking will become something every business grasps. It’ll eventually get to the point where all employees are also materializing their ideas quickly.

Bear in mind that 41% of all code on GitHub is AI-generated, and as AI becomes an important part of making software, the teams and skills needed will change. AI is not a replacement, so much as it is an extension of work, which in software development always comes back to the team around platform engineering.

The Impact of AI on Software Development Roles

Businesses must anticipate AI's role in platform engineering as they look ahead. With the evolving approach to development, the following are some jobs that will change.

Interaction design roles will surpass UI design roles in demand. As visual AI progresses, the need for a manual UI layout and structuring of business processes will diminish. Interaction designers will guide AI in crafting user interfaces and user experiences through JavaScript design systems, visual guidelines, and consistent user testing.

Business analysts will be dramatically more important in shaping business strategies. AI will likely take on tasks like writing user stories, defining requirements, and even setting acceptance criteria. Instead of just documenting these criteria, BAs will evaluate the AI-generated concepts and align them with the platform-oriented mindset. AI will become the key driver of business strategies, with analysts guiding it in the right direction.

The role of test architecture will be a highly sought-after and well-paid position. With autonomously generated software, continuous testing will be crucial. As the development cycle shortens, the demand for testing will skyrocket. Simply automating user tests based on acceptance criteria won't work anymore. 

Test architects will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining intricate test architectures, conducting end-to-end testing of new features, consistently performing exploratory testing, and executing dynamic regression suites that evolve with time.

Software architects will arguably get the most out of AI under this umbrella. Even though we’re still technically in the early stages of AI integration in software development, we are seeing tons of growth in platform engineering. Businesses are shifting away from single-point SaaS solutions and consolidating their efforts on custom-built and SaaS-enabled platforms like ServiceNow, Salesforce, and Workday. 

In addition, software architects are devising governance systems to shape code standards, development processes, and other aspects along those lines. Going forward, they will leverage AI to create, enforce, and evolve these systems autonomously.

Putting It All Together

Custom software development is in an interesting spot because even though the industry itself is changing, it too has the power to influence and change other industries. Every facet of a business's operations spiderwebs with AI integration.

In healthcare, maybe it’s automating diagnosis and treatment recommendations. In finance, there could be new approaches to financial planning. Maybe in manufacturing, it’s personless warehouses. These are the kinds of visions we need to dream up as software developers while the change happens in real-time. Clients are looking for partners in transformation which means as a software development company, AI needs to be a priority internally and externally.

The Takeaway

Integrating AI in your business processes starts by knowing when you’re ready and where it’s needed. With that in mind, we created a free tool to help you determine whether or not your business is ready for AI.

How is your industry changing right now? How do you think it will continue to change in the next 5 years? These are the questions you need to be asking yourself in today’s marketplace because there will be stark differences between the companies who do ask and the ones who don’t.

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.