The ZDev Revolution: Why You Don’t Need a Developer to Build Your Next RTSM

In 2026, the clinical trial industry is moving away from manual engineering toward Zero-Developer implementation (ZDev). By utilizing a 100% configurable "Studio" environment and automated testing, sponsors can now deploy validated RTSM systems in days, not months, without the traditional resource bottlenecks of legacy IRT providers.

The Resourcing Bottleneck vs. Zero-Developer Implementation

For decades, the speed of a clinical trial was dictated by the availability of a software provider’s engineering team. If you needed a complex randomization scheme or a mid-study amendment, you had to wait for a developer to write code, test it, and push it to production.

This "developer-dependent" model is the primary cause of trial delays and high implementation costs. At Atreo, we’ve solved this through an internal initiative we call ZDev (Zero Developers).

What is ZDev?

ZDev means that throughout the entire implementation process—from kickoff to go-live—zero product developers are required to build your system.

By leveraging our Studio Configuration Tool, an RTSM expert can build an entire, complex system independently. This approach offers three distinct advantages for sponsors:

• No Resource Competition: Your trial doesn't get pushed back because a provider’s engineering team is "over capacity."
• Expert-Led Design: The person building your system is the one who understands your protocol, not a coder who is three steps removed from the clinical requirements.
• 100% Configuration: Because we don't write new code for every trial, we use a single, pre-validated codebase that eliminates the "bugs" common in custom-built legacy systems.

Automated Testing: Faster, More Accurate, Fully Validated

Efficiency isn't just about building the system; it’s about proving it works. Traditional UAT (User Acceptance Testing) is a manual, grueling process prone to human error.

As part of our ZDev effort, we automate the majority of our test cases.

• Accuracy: Automated scripts don't get tired or skip steps; they execute the same way every time.
• Speed: We can run thousands of scenarios in a fraction of the time it takes a manual tester.
• Efficiency, Not Haste: To be clear, this process isn't "rushed"—it’s streamlined. We use technology to do the heavy lifting, allowing our team to focus on the nuances of your protocol.

Think of our Studio tool as the Squarespace of clinical trials. Just as you no longer need a web developer to build a high-performing website, you no longer need a software engineer to build a validated IRT system.

We show up to your kickoff meeting with a system already built. You see it, you touch it, and you refine it in real-time. We are no longer bogged down by 200-page specification documents and weeks of "trading emails." We work directly within the tool you will use for your live trial.

Experience the Sea Change in IRT

The outdated process of setting up IRT systems is a struggle biotechs no longer have to endure. By moving to a multi-tenant platform driven by Zero-Developer implementation, you gain a robust system that works as expected from day one.

Stop waiting on developer timelines. See how Atreo’s ZDev approach can accelerate your next trial.