OutSystems launches workflow solution to streamline business tasks

OutSystems has announced the release of Workflows, a new business process modelling and workflow automation solution aimed at simplifying the management of complex workflows. The solution is designed to promote collaboration between IT teams and the business units that use the applications, addressing longstanding issues in workflow automation.

Paulo Rosado, Founder and CEO of OutSystems, highlighted the advantages of the new solution. "OutSystems Workflows can evolve indefinitely as it removes the barriers between the IT teams deploying workflow-based applications, and the lines of business that actually use them," he said. "This solution demonstrates the power of the OutSystems platform in transitioning to a modern software architecture and dramatically increasing operational efficiency in organisations by bridging the gap between business and IT."

Businesses previously faced two primary choices when handling complex workflows. They could stick to manual, error-prone methods such as spreadsheet management, or they could adopt specialised business process management (BPM) solutions that required extensive high-code customisations, making them difficult to maintain and scale. OutSystems Workflows aims to offer a middle ground by providing a straightforward and intuitive solution for modelling complex workflows while being integrated with a low-code platform.

The new solution offers a web-based interface that allows business stakeholders to model workflows autonomously, thus reducing the need for multiple iterations and detailed explanations of business rules. This self-service capability is intended to improve collaboration and reduce the workload on IT teams. In addition, the platform provides extensive UX/UI customisation options, simplified system integration, and advanced data management capabilities.

John R. Rymer, an analyst at the research firm Analysis.tech, also commented on the potential impact of OutSystems Workflows. "Workflow and process management are critical to many sophisticated business applications," he said. "With the launch of OutSystems Workflows, the platform is poised to more effectively address more business application development requirements from within a single consolidated solution."

The new workflow automation tool supports common internal processes such as expense or vacation management, invoice approval, and workforce management. It can also streamline consumer-facing services like case management, complaint management, and loan origination. Additionally, customers can incorporate AI agents directly into their workflows using the OutSystems AI Agent Builder capability.

By combining these functionalities, OutSystems aims to offer organisations a way to escape the limitations of legacy BPM solutions and avoid the pitfalls of excessive manual processes. The company positions Workflows as a tool that can help businesses avoid technical debt while tailoring applications to their specific needs.

Users can expect to see a reduction in the time required for collaboration between IT and business units, as well as a decrease in the complexity traditionally associated with business process management. The integration of AI further strengthens the capability of the platform to meet modern business needs.