Romano Roth advocates the importance of companies focusing on the developer experience and enabling developers to concentrate on creating business value.
By Romano Roth (*)
The speed of innovation is a key factor for business success. However, despite its advantages, we see many organizations unintentionally slowing down their progress by neglecting a critical component: the developer experience (DevEx). Today, developers spend a worrying amount of time on non-coding tasks—managing infrastructure, configuring pipelines, and ensuring security—which hinders speed, productivity, and innovation.
Faced with this challenge, organizations that invest in the developer experience unlock powerful benefits. A DevEx strategy enables faster time to market, higher software quality, and increased developer satisfaction. Moreover, in a market where top technical talent is scarce, offering an environment that removes unnecessary friction is no longer optional—it’s a decisive factor for business success.
Why should CIOs and CTOs prioritize DevEx?
In the past, the focus of leadership was on DevOps, which eliminated silos between development and operations to accelerate software delivery. However, as companies evolve, developers are burdened by increasingly complex infrastructure, compliance requirements, and security demands. This is where DevEx becomes critical.
With DevEx, the productivity boost enables developers to focus on creating business value instead of being bogged down with infrastructure and operational tasks. It creates a frictionless workflow that accelerates innovation, allowing teams to deliver features and solutions more quickly. This helps retain top talent and ensures that developers stay motivated, reducing turnover. At the same time, according to DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment), organizations with strong internal platforms see tangible improvements—an 8% increase in individual productivity, a 10% improvement in team performance, and a 6% boost in software delivery and operations. For leaders, these numbers translate directly into a competitive advantage.
Platform Engineering: The Foundation of Developer Experience
Improving developer experience requires intentional investment in platform engineering. A well-designed Internal Developer Platform (IDP) offers self-service capabilities, enabling teams to work independently without being overwhelmed by operational complexities. This way, developers can focus on writing code instead of managing infrastructure, reducing inefficiencies and risks. By prioritizing platform engineering, companies create an ecosystem where developers can move faster, test more confidently, and deliver value more efficiently.
AI in DevEx: The Next Big Leap
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how software is developed. Given this reality, organizations that embrace Cyber-Development—that is, enhancing DevEx through AI—will gain a significant advantage. AI-assisted coding tools, such as GitHub Copilot, accelerate development while reducing errors, predicting failures, and fixing issues. In fact, AI does not replace developers; it empowers them.
How Can Leaders Drive DevEx Transformation?
For leaders, investing in DevEx is no longer optional—it is a critical business strategy. Organizations should build a dedicated team to maintain a self-service internal platform, minimizing wait times and giving teams the autonomy to build and deploy software. By automating infrastructure, they can reduce operational friction, while the use of AI-powered tools optimizes workflows and speeds up problem-solving.
The Future of Software Development Depends on DevEx
The organizations that will lead the next era of digital transformation won’t just be those deploying software faster—they’ll be the ones providing an environment where developers, empowered by AI, can innovate without friction. Indeed, developer experience is not a technical luxury but a strategic necessity. That’s why companies that invest in DevEx and platform engineering will accelerate innovation, productivity, and talent acquisition and retention—gaining a lasting competitive advantage.
(*) Global Chief of DevOps & Partner at Zühlke
Original article in portuguese: https://tek.sapo.pt/opiniao/artigos/devex-um-imperativo-estrategico-para-o-sucesso-empresarial
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