“By 2023, over 50% of the enterprises adopt low code application platforms as one of their strategic application platforms”.
Gartner
“By 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity”.
Gartner
Need for Low Code application Platform
Traditionally business application development is slow and expensive. It takes organizations from a few months to years to build and deliver a business application. The shortage of skilled developers adds additional pressure on IT leaders to deliver rapidly and consistently.
This lead to the development of SaaS (Software As A Service) applications by vendors to meet industry-specific needs. Organizations can subscribe and access these applications on-demand without worrying about building and maintaining complex software and hardware systems. This not only helped organizations to save huge upfront costs but also helped them to rapidly adapt to business needs.
Though these SaaS applications met most of the needs, they allowed little customizations via configurations. Organizations who want to differentiate themselves from the market or have unique business processes were forced to build custom business applications.
Low Code application platforms fill this gap by enabling citizen and professional developers to rapidly build, deploy and manage custom business applications through visual interfaces and configurations instead of traditional hand-coded computer programming. It helps IT leaders to deliver value faster with only a few resources without compromising on quality.
Market Leaders
As per September 2020 report by Gartner, Salesforce, OutSystems, Mendix, Microsoft, ServiceNow, and Appian are the leaders in Low Code application platforms.
Which Low Code Application Platform best for you?
This article compares the top 3 market leaders in the low code application platform space on various criteria.
- What type of applications can be built?
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Front-end App | Mendix Studio (no code) and Mendix Studio Pro (Low code) helps to build front-end applications quickly. | Service Studio is simple and intuitive. Pre-built professional UI templates helps to build rich UI applications quickly. | Salesforce comes with the pre-built application (standard objects and UI) based on the type of license purchased (sales, service, FSC, etc..). You can customize it or build a new application on the salesforce with visual interfaces and/ or coding. |
| Back-end APIs | Cloud-native and microservice architecture ready. APIs can be deployed on containers and scaled up quickly. | You can build back-end services but scaling might be challenging (expensive due to Microsoft technologies, IIS & SQL server license). It doesn’t support containerization. | Salesforce objects or custom logic can be exposed as APIs with fewer efforts. The number of API calls allowed is based on your salesforce org limit. |
| Complete App | Mendix Studio (no code) and Mendix Studio Pro (Low code) helps to build front-end and back-end applications quickly. | Service Studio is used to build full-stack applications quickly. | The full-stack application can be built using Salesforce web console (no code) and Visual Studio (low code). |
2. End-user Experience
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Web | Responsive but not SPA. Doesn’t support PWA. Support offline capability. Default UI templates are not professional grade. | Responsive but not SPA. Doesn’t support PWA. Support offline capability. professional-grade templates. | Salesforce Lighting App is responsive and supports SPA, PWA with offline access. Salesforce classic does not support any of these. |
| Mobile | Supports iOS and Android apps. Currently supports hybrid apps built on Cordova. Support for Native apps using ReactNative is available from Mendix 8 onwards. Default UI templates are not professional grade. Offline mode supported. | Supports iOS and Android apps. Currently supports hybrid apps built on Cordova, not native apps. Default UI templates are professional grade. Offline more supported. | Salesforce mobile app is available on Android and iOS platforms. You can access all the Salesforce data on your mobile. |
3. Who Can Develop?
| b | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Citizen Developers | Citizen Developers can build wireframes using Mendix Studio (No Code) is a web interface. However, it is not that powerful to build a complete application. It syncs up with applications being developed and helps for continuous feedback. | Citizen Developers can build prototypes quickly using Service Studio (Visual Modeling IDE). | Citizen Developers can build applications using web-based app builders or process builders without any coding experience. |
| Professional Developer | Professional developers can build applications using Mendix Studio Pro. The eclipse extension tool has a lot of features but a complex interface and developer friendly. | Professional developers can build applications using Service Studio. It’s intuitive and developer friendly.Required Skill Sets – .Net and Web technologies. | Professional developers can build custom components using Visual Studio. Required Skill Sets – APEX and Web technologies. |
4. Developer Experience
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Project Management | Agile project management is built into the platform. It can be accessed and managed via project portal and available as SaaS without any additional cost. Developers can update the status of the stories assigned right from their IDE. | No project management tool available with the platform. This has to be managed outside. | No project management tool available with the platform. This has to be managed outside. |
| Feedback Management | Customer Feedback is embedded in the platform right from collecting, reviewing, creating a story and scheduling for release. | No feedback mechanism built into the platform. It has to be built as one of the features by the developer. | Salesforce feedback management lets you capture customer experience by automating surveys across the entire customer life cycle. Feedback data can be unified with existing Salesforce data to obtain meaningful insights. |
| AI Assist | Mendix Assist is an artificial intelligence-powered agent that helps you configure microflows in Mendix Studio. It gives recommendations on configuring the next step of the microflow based on activities, parameters, and events that already exist in the microflow. | AI assistant is built into the service Studio allowing the developer to build better applications quickly. | No AI assist available for Salesforce developers. |
| DevOps | Mendix supports 1 click deployment on Mendix Cloud. version control is integrated with the platform. CI & CD pipeline can be built leveraging existing tools (Jenkins) using Mendix SDKs. | Outsystems supports 1 click deployment. The platform enables DevOps by Infra provisioning, application build, Automated testing (unit and regression testing), deployment, application monitoring, and security validation (Static code analysis and penetration testing). | Salesforce supports continuous integration and deployment. Scratch Orgs and salesforce CLI enables source-driven development and automates the CI CD pipeline levering standard tools such as Git, Jenkins, Sonar, etc. |
| Application Documentation | Microflow is application business logic documentation. IDE is not intuitive and the segregation of components is not clear | The IDE is intuitive and lists all the critical pices of information – REST APIs, Database, external integration, etc. | Source code In-line comments can be added to custom components (APEX code). |
5. App Integration Capabilities
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| SOAP Web Services | Easy to integrate with any SOAP services. | Simple to intuitive to integrate with any SOAP services. | Salesforce supports the ability to integrate with SOAP web services |
| REST APIs | Easy to integrate with any REST APIs. | Simple to intuitive to integrate with any REST APIs. | Salesforce supports the ability to integrate with REST APIs |
| Database | Supports Relational (SQL Server, MySQL, Maria DB, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Azure SQL, and DB2) databases. It supports many NoSQL databases via connectors. | Supports SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and DB2 with built-in database integration SDK. | Salesforce internally uses the Oracle database but customers do not have direct access to the database. Alternatively, you can access Salesforce data via Postgres using Heroku connect. External databases can be accessed via OData 2.0 |
| External System integration | Connectors are readily available to all major third-party systems (like SAP, Kafka, Salesforce, Dropbox, AWS S3, etc..) on App Store. New integration can be built using custom connectors. | Connectors are readily available to all major third-party systems (like SAP, Kafka, Salesforce, Dropbox, AWS S3, etc..) available on Forge. New integration can be built using custom connectors. | Connectors are available to all major third-party systems. New integration can be built using custom connectors. |
6. App Security
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Authentication | Supports SSO standards like SAML 2.0 and OpenID | SSO is supported. | Salesforce supports a variety of authentication mechanisms – SSO, MFA, Network-based, etc. External applications can authenticate to Salesforce using standard protocols such as SAML, OAuth, Open ID. |
| Access Control | Role-based access can be granted for each resource (Page or Button etc..) | Role-based access can be granted for each resource (Page or Button etc..) | Role-based access can be granted for each resource (Object, record, field level) |
| Application Security | OWASP’s top 10 vulnerabilities are handled by the platform. The product undergoes monthly external penetration testing. | .Net code generated by Outsystems platform scanned through the static code analyzer and all violations are fixed. You can use your org security scan tool on the generated code. | Salesforce has incorporated several security best practices into the platform itself. Developers to ensure security best practices are followed for custom components. salesforce can also track login and field history and take actions based on events. |
| Encryption | Data at rest and transit are encrypted. Column and uploaded file encryption are supported out of the box using AES encryption. | Data at rest (in Outsystems Cloud) and transit are encrypted. On customer-managed infrastructures, use the database vendor’s technology to activate encryption of data at rest. | Data at transit are encrypted using HTTPS. The Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption solution encrypts data at rest. |
| Audit | Mendix App logs can be used for Auditing. | Access logs can be used for auditing. | Granular auditing capabilities like login history, record/ field creation/ modification help to identify anomalies security breaches. |
7. App Hosting
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| On-Premise | Mendix application can be deployed on any compatible on-premise JVM. No separate installation required. | You have to install the Outsystems platform to run Outsystem applications. ALM tools are available on On-premise deployment. | Not Supported |
| PaaS | Mendix Cloud (PaaS) runs on AWS and has a very basic admin console. | Outsystems Cloud (PaaS) runs on AWS and has advanced application lifecycle management features – Service Center (Administration, Monitoring, Logging, Analytics) and LifeTime (Applications, User management, environments & Analytics). | Salesforce application runs on their cloud and is available only as SaaS. |
| Public Cloud | Mendix supportsIBM Cloud, SAP Cloud Platform, Azure, AWS, Red Hat OpenShift, GCP | All major public clouds are supported (a specific list is not given). However, You have to install the Outsystems platform to run Outsystem applications. Outsystems has a template on Azure to quickly build and set up the platform. | Not Supported |
8. App Scalability
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Vertical Scaling | Mendix supports vertical scaling by adding additional resources/ computing power to each node. On Mendix cloud this can be done on a simple screen. | Outsystems supports vertical scaling by adding additional resources/ computing power to front-end servers and databases. | Salesforce is architected to scale as the demand grows by adding additional web, app, and database servers. No action required by the customer organization. |
| Horizontal Scaling | Mendix applications are cloud-native and stateless applications. Applications can be scaled horizontally by adding additional servers. On Mendix cloud this can be done on a simple screen. | The Outsystems application maintains the session outside and can scale horizontally. It supports horizontal scaling by adding additional servers. | Salesforce is architected to scale as the demand grows by adding additional web, app and database servers. No action required by customer organization. |
| Application Performance | Performance is similar to any well developed java applications. It supports a wide variety of scaling and deployments. | Performance is similar to any standard .Net application. For internet scale, it may have challenges due to platform limitations in scalability. | Salesforce is architected to scale as the demand grows by adding additional web, app and database servers. No action required by customer organization. |
9. Monitoring and Analytics
| Criteria | Mendix | Outsystems | Salesforce |
| Business KPIs | Mendix platform doesn’t provides Business KPIs | Outsystems platform doesn’t provides Business KPIs | Salesforce comes with a built in dashboard for business KPIs (Sales KPIs, Service KPIs, etc). You can create custom Dashboards as well. |
| Application KPIs | AQM (Application Quality Monitor) analyzes and benchmark the maintainability of an application. APM tracks and displays statistics for each microflow (times executed, average runtime, maximum runtime, and more). | Life Time Analytics tool provide detailed application KPIs like APDEX, Response time, errors, Slow responses. It also provides time spent at each layer (client, network and Server). | Trust.salesforce.com provides platform level KPIs. Event Monitoring provides details of the standard events in Salesforce. Preventing Monitoring tracks salesforce org against the application level KPIs and notify if there are any deviations. Splunk App on Salesforce can also be used for application KPIs. |
10. Support and Ecosystem
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Professional Services | Professional services for UX (create UI templates) , Technical architecture (Application, Database, Hosting, Security) are available. | Professional services for UX (create UI templates) , Technical architecture (Application, Database, Hosting, Security) are available. | Professional Services like Customer Success Group and Advisory Services guide help customers at every step of the implementation to realize value quickly. |
| Support | Multiple support plans such as Community Support, Customer Support (Portal, Chat, Phone, email), Expert support, DevOps Support, R&D Support etc are available. | Multiple support plans such as Community Support and Expert support (portal or phone) are available. | Salesforce has Premier Success Plan with features like specialized guidance, expert coaching, and 24×7 support with faster response times. Features depend on the plan – Standard/ Premier/ Signature. |
| Skill Availability | Difficult to find the Mendix skilled resources in the market. | Difficult to find the Outsystems skilled resources in the market. | Certified or experienced Salesforce professionals are high in demand but can be found. |
| Training | Online, classroom trainings and certifications are available | Online, classroom trainings and certifications are available | Free online learning (Salesforce Trailhead) and paid classroom training and certifications are offered. |
| Developer communities | 90,000+ community members | 234,798 community members. | Over 2.3 million members strong Trailblazer Community |
| App Stores | They don’t show how many apps are available on the marketplace but have a good set of reusable apps. | 3658 apps available in Forge | Over over 5000 apps available in Salesforce AppExchange |
| Partners | More than 76 solution providers available for implementation. | 294 solution providers (partners) globally available for implementation. | 515 Certified expert Partners are listed on their AppExchange portal. |
11. Licensing
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| License | Licensing can be based on one of the following. 1. The number of Application Objects being used to build an application 2. Number of applications 3. Number of users of the application | Licensing is based on the number of Application Objects being used to build an application. | Licensing is based on Number of Users of the application. |
12. Company and Exist Strategy
| Criteria | Mendix | OutSystems | Salesforce |
| Exit Strategy | Mendix hands over only the visual modelling. Application can still run but will go to sleep after 2 hours if not used. They don’t share source code. | Outsystems handover the .Net application code generated from the platform. Development team can extend the source code and maintain the application. | Data can be exported from Salesforce. Business logic and user interfaces need to be re-build on the new system. |
| Stability | Backed by Siemens. 1 billion $ invested by Siemens for product development. If Mendix goes out of business, they share the Mendix platform source code. | It is still a small company but funded by Goldman Sachs (200 M $) | World’s #1 CRM platform with over 150,000 customers on Salesforce platform. It is financially strong ($17.1 B in 2020) and stable with 49,000 employees. |
| Website | https://www.mendix.com/ | https://outsystems.com/ | https://www.salesforce.com/ |
Conclusion
Mendix and OutSystems are great for building prototypes or implementing employee portals or custom business applications quickly and cost-effectively. Salesforce is great for building enterprise-grade CRM solutions.
Each vendor is adding new capabilities and features frequently to their platform. Evaluate each product based on their current capabilities and your organization’s business needs and IT strategy.
Once you choose the vendor, you can experiment with internal/ smaller applications to understand the platform, build the skill sets and standardize the process before implementing customer facing or critical applications.
Irrespective of the vendor you choose, you will surely benefit from the agility and speed it brings to your IT organization.
