State of Internal Tools 2023

In 2023, companies are increasingly investing in internal tools to streamline operations and reduce manual processes, spending approximately 4.5 trillion dollars annually on IT, with a significant focus on admin panels, dashboards, and custom tools. A survey of over 2,200 engineers and operators revealed that JavaScript and SQL are the most commonly used languages for building these tools, with React being a favored frontend framework. Despite the popularity of custom-built tools, many organizations also rely on platforms like Retool, Zapier, and Google Sheets for prototyping and managing internal processes. Business intelligence tools such as Tableau remain prevalent, although there is some dissatisfaction with their integration and automation capabilities. As companies aim to consolidate SaaS tools and enhance productivity, there is a growing trend towards using scalable platforms and reducing context-switching between disparate systems. Moreover, the development of AI technologies is anticipated to play a significant role in advancing internal tooling experiences, as organizations continue to measure success through improved productivity, employee adoption, and internal user satisfaction.