Profitability
Developing ALI applications happens very fast, changes to them become productive within days.* They require an ALI developer, whose training, depending on previous experience, takes one to three months. This is cost-effective for specific and complex workflows of small teams. ALI applications can handle the entire exchange of messages (E-mail) and commercial correspondence (invoices, receipts). Or well established workflows, where customization of standard software products comes along with inappropriate costs. Domains are project management (vs. MS-Project), resource planning (vs. Tenron, Saviom), inventory management and many others.
For comparison:
ALI applications are meant and used as prototyping device for enterprise workflow solutions.
* As long as no extensions of the system itself are required.
Lotus Notes (IBM), Sharepoint (Microsoft)
A prospective ALI developer will need from one to three months to become proficient in modeling, generating and operating ALI applications. They will not require training beyond manuals that come along with the product. Even far reaching changes of an ALI application they will then be able to launch at a days notice.