Vendor lock-in is one of the biggest risks in government IT. For many agencies, it starts subtly. You deploy a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) procurement system, only to realize that any time you need a change—a new workflow, integration, or feature—you have just one option: pay the vendor to build it or wait for the next product update, which could take years. That’s vendor lock-in.
It can also mean limited flexibility in how you manage and support the system. If the vendor doesn’t offer developer training, open APIs, or a broad partner ecosystem, your only option for implementation and maintenance is the vendor itself. Over time, that dependency drives up costs, slows innovation, and limits your ability to respond to new mission needs.
Traditional procurement systems create this lock-in by:
Using proprietary data models
Restricting integration with external tools
Requiring expensive, vendor-led customization
Imposing high switching costs
The result: agencies become trapped in a single vendor’s roadmap, pricing, and timelines—unable to evolve without starting over or paying more.
Low-code platforms change that dynamic.
Low-code is open
Modern low-code platforms are built on open standards rather than proprietary “black boxes,” giving agencies far more control over their systems and data. Below we discuss some key “openness” aspects of low-code solutions that help avoid vendor lock-in.
Reusable components
Modules, data objects, and workflows can be built once and reused across multiple programs or agencies. This reduces duplicate work, speeds delivery, and avoids being locked into one vendor’s custom code base.
Portability
Applications and data models can be exported, moved, or extended without rewriting them from scratch. As technology evolves—new security frameworks, cloud environments, or analytics tools—the same applications can evolve too, preserving the agency’s previous investment.
Leading low-code platforms use a data fabric to access data wherever it resides. There is no need to migrate data into the applications; you remain in control of your data.
Agility
Because updates and changes are made in the low-code platform’s visual environment, agency teams can quickly update workflows—without paying a vendor, which they’d need to do with high-code or legacy COTS solutions.
Low-code vendors provide regular platform updates designed for backward compatibility, so new features and improvements can be added without disrupting existing applications or requiring rework. This means agencies can modernize continuously without the fear of breaking what already works.
Partner network
The large low-code partner community reduces dependence on a single vendor. Leading low-code platforms are supported by extensive partner ecosystems that include system integrators, implementation specialists, and solution providers. This broad community gives agencies freedom of choice—if they need help building, managing, or extending an application, they aren’t tied to one vendor for support or expertise.
With multiple certified partners available, agencies can easily transition projects, bring work in-house, or engage new experts as needs evolve. This openness strengthens resilience, reduces risk, and prevents the kind of long-term dependency that often develops with proprietary COTS solutions.
Publicly available resources
Leading low-code platforms offer open, community-driven resources—such as documentation, user forums, and webinars with live demos—that empower agencies to learn, build, and troubleshoot independently. Customers also have access to structured training programs and certifications that enable internal teams to manage applications without relying on vendor services.
In addition, transparent product roadmaps and regular release schedules keep agencies informed about upcoming capabilities, fostering trust and predictability. This openness ensures that innovation continues without locking customers into proprietary knowledge or a single support channel.
Taken together, these qualities let government buyers retain ownership of their applications and avoid classic vendor lock-in while still benefiting from rapid development.
Low-code doesn’t just accelerate development—it gives agencies control. By avoiding lock-in, agencies can adapt procurement systems on their own terms, ensuring freedom to innovate and evolve.
Learn more about the benefits of selecting a low-code COTS platform for government acquisition.
