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The 2026 CIO agenda: What IT trends are CIOs really focused on? Part 7 of 8

  • 13 hours ago
  • 2 min read

Below are the eight IT trends that are top of mind for CIOs in 2026. While they are not necessarily new, remember that trends evolve continuously, which means their relevance increases or decreases over time. In this series, we will look at the trends one by one in greater detail. For each trend, you’ll read what it is, what it means for IT, and what the strategic implications are for the CIO role. We’ll also see what this requires in terms of leadership and organizational maturity. 


The eight IT trends for 2026 

  1. AI is no longer an innovation topic; it is a governance issue 

  2. Autonomous teams without orchestration architecture create organized chaos 

  3. Platform-first strategies: complexity is IT’s largest invisible cost 

  4. Confidential computing is no longer a legal discussion; it is an architectural choice 

  5. Citizen development is inevitable; chaos is optional 

  6. Ecosystems: IT value increasingly exists outside the organization 

  7. The convergence of low-code and high-code 

  8. You cannot build a digital strategy on analog foundations 


The impact of these trends varies by organization. Factors such as regulation, industry, company size, board-level digital ambition, and the current state of the core IT landscape all play a role. Let’s unpack trend number seven.


7. The convergence of low-code and high-code


Low-code and high-code development are increasingly converging. Previously, low-code was seen as a fast solution for simple applications, while high-code was reserved for professional development teams. Today, both coexist in an integrated development model.


Low-code platforms are used for orchestration, user interfaces and rapid process automation. High-code provides scalable business logic and integrations. A common example is customer onboarding, where user interfaces and workflows are built in low-code, while core logic and integrations are delivered as high-code services.


Challenge

This convergence requires seamless pipelines in which low-code and high-code artifacts are developed, tested, secured and deployed in the same way. Without shared continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery/deployment (CD), quality gaps and governance issues emerge. Reusable services and shared component libraries become essential in reducing duplication and maintenance effort.


Action

In the short term, organizations must define architectural principles that clarify where low-code and high-code are applied. Core low-code platforms should be selected early. Over time, shared component libraries and end-to-end pipelines must be established.


For CIOs, this represents a shift from tool selection to architectural discipline. Treating low-code and high-code separately creates new silos. Integrating them enables a scalable development platform that combines speed, quality and reuse.


Want to find the right middle ground between low-code and high-code? Get in touch



Niels van Lieshout

Principal Director Technology

T: +31 650657444

 
 
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