Rewriting code, rethinking roles

AI copilots, low code platforms, and self testing systems are fusing into a new enterprise blueprint where developers stop typing and start orchestrating, embedding security, ethics, and intelligence into every layer of the stack

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In the world of enterprise tech, the buzz around AI copilots and low-code/no-code (LCNC) tools has moved beyond the hype cycle.

At Phenom, a company deep in the HR tech trenches, the transformation is not theoretical - it's operational. In a conversation with Krish Nimmagadda, VP of Product Engineering, the future of software development emerges as one driven by agentic systems, intelligent automation, and a radical shift in how developers, testers, and architects work.

Phenom didn't just adopt LCNC tools off the shelf. The team quickly realized that scaling to serve over 700 clients and aiming for 1,000+ required more than plug-and-play solutions. Custom-built platforms were developed in-house, allowing the company to tailor its tools to deeply specialized HR use cases. Now, those platforms are evolving again, embracing AI agents and agentic testing to increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency.

Beyond speed: A new developer mindset

There's no doomsday scenario here about developers losing their jobs. Instead, what's unfolding is a redefinition of their roles. Boilerplate code? That's increasingly generated by AI. Testing? It's no longer just a separate phase handled by a QA team. At Phenom, developers are encouraged to test their own code using AI-supported frameworks like Playwright, while end-to-end validation is handled by independent testing teams. AI agents are reducing the manual grunt work, freeing up humans to focus on strategic, value-driven tasks.

But the change isn't limited to testing. Developer workflows are shifting to agentic models where AI tools assist not just in writing code, but in reviewing, explaining, and optimizing legacy codebases. With agentic testing and coding becoming the norm, the development lifecycle is moving from task execution to intelligent orchestration.

Architectural shift: Not just an add-on