Websites using OutSystems

Okay, let s break down OutSystems, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

OutSystems: Overview

• What it is: OutSystems is a low-code application development platform. It allows developers (both professional and citizen developers) to visually create, deploy, and manage enterprise-grade applications faster than traditional coding. It emphasizes a model-driven approach, using visual interfaces and pre-built components to accelerate development.

• Key Features:

  • Visual Development: Drag-and-drop interface, pre-built components, and visual modeling for creating UI, business logic, and data models.
  • Full-Stack Development: Supports front-end (UI), back-end (logic, data), and integrations.
  • One-Click Deployment: Automates deployment to various environments (cloud, on-premises, hybrid).
  • Scalability and Security: Designed for enterprise-level applications, with built-in security features and the ability to scale as needed.
  • Integration Capabilities: Connectors to various databases, APIs, and systems.
  • Mobile Development: Supports native mobile app development (iOS and Android).
  • AI Integration: Increasingly incorporates AI features to assist with development, testing, and application optimization.
  • DevOps Automation: Built-in features for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).
  • Lifecycle Management: Tools for managing the entire application lifecycle, from development to maintenance and updates.

• Target Audience: Enterprises and organizations looking to accelerate digital transformation, build custom applications quickly, and reduce development costs. It s used by IT departments, business units, and citizen developers.

• Use Cases:
  • Customer Portals
  • Internal Tools and Applications
  • Mobile Apps
  • Process Automation
  • Legacy System Modernization
  • eCommerce Applications

Revenue

OutSystems is a privately held company, so its exact revenue figures are not publicly available. However, based on industry reports and estimates, it s considered a significant player in the low-code market and likely generates hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Funding rounds have valued the company in the billions.

Alternatives to OutSystems

The low-code market is competitive. Here are some notable alternatives, categorized by their strengths:

• For Enterprise-Grade Capabilities (Similar to OutSystems):

  • Mendix (Siemens): A strong competitor with a similar focus on enterprise-grade applications, visual development, and scalability. Often compared directly to OutSystems.
  • Microsoft Power Apps: Part of the Microsoft Power Platform, deeply integrated with Microsoft s ecosystem (Office 365, Azure, Dynamics 365). Strong for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies.
  • Appian: Focuses on business process management (BPM) and complex workflow automation. Good for heavily regulated industries.
  • Salesforce Lightning Platform (formerly Force.com): Best for building applications that integrate directly with Salesforce CRM.

• For Simpler Applications & Citizen Developers:

  • Zoho Creator: More user-friendly and affordable, aimed at smaller businesses and citizen developers.
  • Quickbase: Focuses on data management and workflow automation.
  • Retool: Excellent for building internal tools and dashboards quickly, with a focus on connecting to databases and APIs.

• Open Source Alternatives:

  • Budibase: An open-source, low-code platform for building internal tools.
  • Saltcorn: An open-source, no-code platform for building web applications.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Alternative:

• Complexity of Applications: Are you building simple apps or complex, enterprise-grade solutions?
• Integration Requirements: What systems do you need to integrate with?
• Budget: Pricing varies significantly between platforms.
• Skill Level of Developers: Are you primarily using professional developers or citizen developers?
• Scalability Needs: How much do you anticipate your application will need to scale in the future?
• Industry-Specific Requirements: Some platforms are better suited for certain industries (e.g., heavily regulated industries).
• Vendor Lock-in: Consider the potential for vendor lock-in and the ease of migrating applications to another platform if needed.

Pricing

OutSystems pricing is complex and typically based on a combination of factors:

• Number of Users: The number of developers, end-users, and authenticated users accessing the platform and applications.
• Compute Capacity: The amount of processing power and resources used by your applications.
• Storage: The amount of data stored by your applications.
• Support Level: The level of support you require (e.g., basic, premium).
• Deployment Environment: Whether you re deploying to the OutSystems Cloud, a private cloud, or on-premises.

Key Pricing Considerations:

• Free Edition (Personal Environment): OutSystems offers a free Personal Environment for individual developers to learn the platform and build small applications. This is a great way to try it out.
• Contact Sales for Custom Pricing: Because of the complexity, you ll need to contact OutSystems sales to get a tailored quote based on your specific needs.
• Higher Price Point: OutSystems is generally considered to be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum compared to some other low-code platforms, especially for enterprise deployments. The value proposition is that it can reduce long-term development and maintenance costs.
• Hidden Costs: Be aware of potential hidden costs, such as training, support beyond the basic level, and costs associated with integrating with third-party systems.

Customer Care Details

OutSystems provides various channels for customer support:

• Documentation: Extensive online documentation, including guides, tutorials, and reference materials. This is a crucial starting point.
• Community Forums: An active online community where users can ask questions, share knowledge, and get help from other users and OutSystems experts.
• Support Portal: A dedicated support portal where customers can submit support tickets, track their progress, and access knowledge base articles.
• Training: OutSystems offers various training programs (online and in-person) to help developers learn the platform.
• Professional Services: OutSystems provides professional services to help customers with application development, implementation, and consulting.
• Dedicated Support: Higher-tier support plans include dedicated support engineers and faster response times.
• Partner Network: OutSystems has a network of partners who can provide support and services.

How to Access Customer Care:

1. OutSystems Website: Start at the official OutSystems website (https://www.outsystems.com/).
2. Support Section: Look for a Support or Help section on the website. This will typically lead you to the documentation, community forums, and support portal.
3. Contact Sales: To get a quote or discuss your specific needs, use the Contact Us or Request a Demo options.

Tips for Effective Customer Care:

• Check the Documentation First: Many common questions are answered in the online documentation.
• Search the Community Forums: Your question may have already been answered by someone else.
• Provide Detailed Information: When submitting a support ticket, provide as much detail as possible about the issue you re experiencing.
• Consider a Higher Support Plan: If you require faster response times and dedicated support, consider upgrading to a higher support plan.
• Engage with the Community: The OutSystems community is a valuable resource for getting help and sharing knowledge.

In summary, OutSystems is a powerful low-code platform suitable for complex enterprise applications. It offers a robust feature set and comprehensive customer care, but it s important to carefully evaluate its pricing and compare it with alternatives before making a decision.