The 2022 State of Internal Tools

Technical teams dedicate a significant portion of their time to developing internal tools, with an average of 33% of their working hours focused on these projects. This trend is particularly pronounced in larger companies, where more time and code are dedicated to internal use cases. As businesses expand, the reliance on both custom code and no-code solutions like Zapier and Airtable becomes more prevalent, alongside popular frameworks such as React. Databases are the primary data sources for these tools, with PostgreSQL being the most favored option. Operations teams are the predominant users of internal tools, signaling a shift in focus towards operational efficiency. Despite the critical role these tools play, many lack robust access controls, posing security risks. Companies often employ full-time positions to manage these tools, primarily within engineering and operations departments, with productivity improvements being the primary metric for assessing their ROI. The survey insights underscore a persistent trend in how internal tools are valued for their role in enhancing productivity while highlighting opportunities for increased security measures.