Recent Social Media Releases from RealWire
OutSystems Low-Code Platform Accelerates Customer Adoption of AI and IoT with New Components
London – 19th September, 2017 – Today, OutSystems announced that customers are taking advantage of advanced integrations to add machine learning, artificial intelligence, and IoT capabilities to their enterprise applications built with the OutSystems low-code platform. These integrations are available as connectors in the Forge, the repository where developers from the OutSystems Community upload and share open-source solutions that speed application delivery.
Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are changing how the world does business. Companies are applying cognitive learning and analytics capabilities to the data gathered from devices and sensors and discovering insights and information they aren’t necessarily aware that they have. This is increasing the power of IT in the digital transformation process.
Professional services firm Deloitte LLP used the OutSystems platform to build an innovative AI and machine-learning app. The app helps customers streamline the process of screening for “conduct risk.” Called BEAT (Behavioural and Emotional Analytics Tool), the app uses technology to spot potentially risky sales interactions rather than requiring customers to manually review hundreds of thousands of transactions. Deloitte used OutSystems to create a proof of concept in under a week and deliver a fully functioning app in five months.
ISB Global is disrupting the waste collection industry by using IoT and AI to optimise the schedule and route planning for residential and commercial waste bin collection. Most waste companies still operate using a traditional collection process, where bins are lifted on fixed days and static routes. This is highly inefficient, as trucks drive a considerable distance to collect bins that aren’t full, while ignoring others that are overfilled. As a result, logistics costs are too high, customer service is poor, and carbon emissions are through the roof.
Using OutSystems, ISB Global developed an advanced app to read IoT-enabled bin fill levels on a set interval, process the data, and forecast the future fill rates. This enables the determination of when the bin will reach the maximum fill level and to define the optimal collection time. This produces order proposals including a can-go and must-go functionality. These provide maximum flexibility for the routing engine to generate routes that meet agreed customer service levels, minimise logistics cost, and maximise truck load capacity utilisation. The app runs automatically in the background and gives waste companies the visibility they need to achieve dramatic cost savings. It provides full visibility of demand and collection requirements including volume and weight, and is the first big step towards a full ‘Uberization’ of the Waste Industry.
The key to success for OutSystems customers is the ease and speed with which they can quickly build new applications and leverage new technologies. New components available in the open-source OutSystems Forge library provide customers with a great starting point to integrate machine learning, AI, and IoT technologies into applications built with OutSystems. These connectors work with the leading machine learning and IoT platforms from IBM Watson, Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services and Amazon Web Services Machine Learning and IoT. Check out these connectors and many more at www.outsystems.com/forge.
“We’re really in the dawn of a new age that will transform how we gather, analyse, interact with, and learn from the massive amounts of data all around us, thanks to recent advances in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. This will impact everything from how businesses improve their bottom line to how we shop and get to work,” João Tedim, Cloud & Enterprise BG Lead with Microsoft Portugal.
“Leveraging the power of AI in our BEAT application has massively reduced both the time and cost of reviewing call records. This is a game-changer,” said Rui Vaz, partner with Deloitte.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are changing how the world does business. Companies are applying cognitive learning and analytics capabilities to the data gathered from devices and sensors and discovering insights and information they aren’t necessarily aware that they have. This is increasing the power of IT in the digital transformation process.
Professional services firm Deloitte LLP used the OutSystems platform to build an innovative AI and machine-learning app. The app helps customers streamline the process of screening for “conduct risk.” Called BEAT (Behavioural and Emotional Analytics Tool), the app uses technology to spot potentially risky sales interactions rather than requiring customers to manually review hundreds of thousands of transactions. Deloitte used OutSystems to create a proof of concept in under a week and deliver a fully functioning app in five months.
ISB Global is disrupting the waste collection industry by using IoT and AI to optimise the schedule and route planning for residential and commercial waste bin collection. Most waste companies still operate using a traditional collection process, where bins are lifted on fixed days and static routes. This is highly inefficient, as trucks drive a considerable distance to collect bins that aren’t full, while ignoring others that are overfilled. As a result, logistics costs are too high, customer service is poor, and carbon emissions are through the roof.
Using OutSystems, ISB Global developed an advanced app to read IoT-enabled bin fill levels on a set interval, process the data, and forecast the future fill rates. This enables the determination of when the bin will reach the maximum fill level and to define the optimal collection time. This produces order proposals including a can-go and must-go functionality. These provide maximum flexibility for the routing engine to generate routes that meet agreed customer service levels, minimise logistics cost, and maximise truck load capacity utilisation. The app runs automatically in the background and gives waste companies the visibility they need to achieve dramatic cost savings. It provides full visibility of demand and collection requirements including volume and weight, and is the first big step towards a full ‘Uberization’ of the Waste Industry.
The key to success for OutSystems customers is the ease and speed with which they can quickly build new applications and leverage new technologies. New components available in the open-source OutSystems Forge library provide customers with a great starting point to integrate machine learning, AI, and IoT technologies into applications built with OutSystems. These connectors work with the leading machine learning and IoT platforms from IBM Watson, Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services and Amazon Web Services Machine Learning and IoT. Check out these connectors and many more at www.outsystems.com/forge.
“We’re really in the dawn of a new age that will transform how we gather, analyse, interact with, and learn from the massive amounts of data all around us, thanks to recent advances in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. This will impact everything from how businesses improve their bottom line to how we shop and get to work,” João Tedim, Cloud & Enterprise BG Lead with Microsoft Portugal.
“Leveraging the power of AI in our BEAT application has massively reduced both the time and cost of reviewing call records. This is a game-changer,” said Rui Vaz, partner with Deloitte.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
OutSystems Raises the Bar for Low-Code Platform Security with Multiple ISO and SOC Certifications
London – 19th September, 2017 – OutSystems today announced that it has bolstered its security credentials with three of the most recognised security certifications - ISO 27001, ISO 22301, and SOC 2. In addition, OutSystems has become a member of the Cloud Security Alliance as part of its commitment to security best practices in cloud computing.
“Software security is one of the most critical issues that IT leaders face, and it is often one of the most challenging,” said José Casinha, chief information security officer at OutSystems. “These new certifications help OutSystems provide an end-to-end security strategy for organisations building applications with our low-code platform.”
OutSystems has completed the following certifications:
“CISO and IT leaders know that their infosec depends on each programmer’s adoption of security best practices in coding,” said Casinha. “Given that every chain is only as strong as its weakest link, it is important to have automated security standards that are automatically included and always enforced.”
“We currently have over 896 unique security features in our platform covering everything from device security to cloud operations,” said Paulo Rosado, OutSystems CEO. “These advanced features, the systematic enforcement of code security, and the most recognised security certifications in the world provide IT leaders with peace of mind that their software development is secure.”
OutSystems enforces security requirements, including application security checks, identity management, access control, single sign-on, encryption, auditing, and more.
To complete these certifications, OutSystems underwent a series of formal independent audits of its technologies, security policies and procedures, as well as its internal risk and operations controls. The successful completion of these respected certification processes reinforces the company’s commitment to providing customers with the most secure, user-friendly development environment in the industry.
“The SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Principles and Criteria. OutSystems has selected the security, principle for the basis of their audit,” said Joseph Kirkpatrick, Managing Partner with KirkpatrickPrice. “OutSystems delivers trust based services to their clients, and by communicating the results of this audit, their clients can be assured of their reliance on OutSystems controls.”
“Because of its cloud approach to application development, OutSystems is at the helm of offering secure application development as a service,” said Jim Reavis, co-founder and chief executive officer of CSA. “CSA looks forward to having OutSystems share insights with our member organisations to help develop and execute on secure cloud computing best practices.”
By joining CSA, OutSystems will add its subject matter expertise to that of other industry practitioners, associations, governments, and corporate and individual members who offer cloud security-specific research, education, certification, events and products to the entire community impacted by cloud. The mission of the CSA is to promote the use of best practices for security assurance in cloud computing and to educate organisations on how cloud computing can help secure all other forms of computing.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Media Contacts:
Paula Elliott (UK)
paula@c8consulting.co.uk
Direct: +44 (0) 1189 497736
###
“Software security is one of the most critical issues that IT leaders face, and it is often one of the most challenging,” said José Casinha, chief information security officer at OutSystems. “These new certifications help OutSystems provide an end-to-end security strategy for organisations building applications with our low-code platform.”
OutSystems has completed the following certifications:
- ISO 27001: This certification, from auditor BSI, approves the OutSystems systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so it remains secure.
- ISO 22301: This certification, also from BSI, approves the management system the company has put in place for business continuity arrangements.
- SOC (Service Organisation Controls) 2 Type II: This attestation, from KirkpatrickPrice, demonstrates that OutSystems has selected and implemented a specific and well-defined set of security controls. The framework validates that the service provider’s data management systems are secure, available and setup to maintain the confidentiality of data.
“CISO and IT leaders know that their infosec depends on each programmer’s adoption of security best practices in coding,” said Casinha. “Given that every chain is only as strong as its weakest link, it is important to have automated security standards that are automatically included and always enforced.”
“We currently have over 896 unique security features in our platform covering everything from device security to cloud operations,” said Paulo Rosado, OutSystems CEO. “These advanced features, the systematic enforcement of code security, and the most recognised security certifications in the world provide IT leaders with peace of mind that their software development is secure.”
OutSystems enforces security requirements, including application security checks, identity management, access control, single sign-on, encryption, auditing, and more.
To complete these certifications, OutSystems underwent a series of formal independent audits of its technologies, security policies and procedures, as well as its internal risk and operations controls. The successful completion of these respected certification processes reinforces the company’s commitment to providing customers with the most secure, user-friendly development environment in the industry.
“The SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Principles and Criteria. OutSystems has selected the security, principle for the basis of their audit,” said Joseph Kirkpatrick, Managing Partner with KirkpatrickPrice. “OutSystems delivers trust based services to their clients, and by communicating the results of this audit, their clients can be assured of their reliance on OutSystems controls.”
“Because of its cloud approach to application development, OutSystems is at the helm of offering secure application development as a service,” said Jim Reavis, co-founder and chief executive officer of CSA. “CSA looks forward to having OutSystems share insights with our member organisations to help develop and execute on secure cloud computing best practices.”
By joining CSA, OutSystems will add its subject matter expertise to that of other industry practitioners, associations, governments, and corporate and individual members who offer cloud security-specific research, education, certification, events and products to the entire community impacted by cloud. The mission of the CSA is to promote the use of best practices for security assurance in cloud computing and to educate organisations on how cloud computing can help secure all other forms of computing.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. With OutSystems, you visually develop your entire application, easily integrate with existing systems, and add your own custom code when you need it. Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Media Contacts:
Paula Elliott (UK)
paula@c8consulting.co.uk
Direct: +44 (0) 1189 497736
###
Championship Race Car Driver, Industry Analyst, and OutSystems CEO Head Speaker List at NextStep, a Global Conference for Low-Code and Digital Transformation
London, UK – September 13, 2017 – OutSystems has announced the keynote speaker list for NextStep Lisbon, the first event in the company’s annual global conference series showcasing the best in digital transformation and low-code technology. The NextStep Lisbon conference is being held on 18-19th September in Lisbon, Portugal, at the Centro Cultural de Belém. OutSystems is also hosting events in The Netherlands and the United States later this year.
Heading the list of speakers is auto racing driver Antonio Felix da Costa. da Costa is best known for winning the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 race in 2012 and 2016 and the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup in 2009. His 2012 Macau Grand Prix win was the first by a Portuguese driver in 58 years. da Costa will kick off the Sept. 19 program as the guest keynote, drawing on his experiences on the competitive racing circuit.
Analyst Michael Facemire of Forrester Research will deliver an industry keynote. Facemire, Forrester’s vice president and principal analyst serving application development and delivery professionals, will discuss the dynamics behind the explosive growth of the low-code application development market. He’ll discuss the market’s future and offer advice about how organisations can take advantage of the ground-breaking technology model.
Rounding out the NextStep keynotes will be a session featuring OutSystems CEO and founder Paulo Rosado, a pioneer in the world of low-code development. Rosado will present a framework for the digital transformation journey, rooted in real-world customer experiences.
In addition, numerous digital innovation leaders, CIOs and IT leaders will share stories of their digital transformation using low-code technology from OutSystems. NHS PHP, S.L. Benfica, Transnational Diversified Group, SONAE, Liberty Seguros, Prudential, Fidelidade and others will be featured.
Sponsors of NextStep Lisbon include global sponsor Deloitte and platinum sponsors Truewind and Noesis. Gold sponsors include Infosistema and Glintt. Additional sponsors, who will have development teams and consulting practices on site, include B-Synergy, ROFF, Reditus, OutFit, Capgemini, darwinLabs, AskBlue, Do IT Lean, P&P, IT Up, Everis, Hi Interactive, Randstad, and BAYPM.
Following the Lisbon conference, OutSystems will host two other global events: NextStep Benelux in Utrecht; The Netherlands, on Oct. 10; and NextStep Americas in Chicago, on Nov. 1 and 2.
Sign Up
NextStep Global 2017 is being held on Sept. 18-19 at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon. For more information, and to register for any of the three NextStep events, visit: https://www.outsystems.com/nextstep/.
“NextStep stands out, year after year, as the premier information-sharing event in the low-code sector, and this fall’s conference series is shaping up as the best ever,” Rosado said. “IT professionals hungry for knowledge and best practices will be treated to entertaining talks from the keynote stage, and educational sessions delivered by experts from OutSystems, partners and customers about ways to rapidly create amazing enterprise-grade mobile applications.”
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire application portfolios that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at http://www.outsystems.com/, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. Explore careers at OutSystems.
Heading the list of speakers is auto racing driver Antonio Felix da Costa. da Costa is best known for winning the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 race in 2012 and 2016 and the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup in 2009. His 2012 Macau Grand Prix win was the first by a Portuguese driver in 58 years. da Costa will kick off the Sept. 19 program as the guest keynote, drawing on his experiences on the competitive racing circuit.
Analyst Michael Facemire of Forrester Research will deliver an industry keynote. Facemire, Forrester’s vice president and principal analyst serving application development and delivery professionals, will discuss the dynamics behind the explosive growth of the low-code application development market. He’ll discuss the market’s future and offer advice about how organisations can take advantage of the ground-breaking technology model.
Rounding out the NextStep keynotes will be a session featuring OutSystems CEO and founder Paulo Rosado, a pioneer in the world of low-code development. Rosado will present a framework for the digital transformation journey, rooted in real-world customer experiences.
In addition, numerous digital innovation leaders, CIOs and IT leaders will share stories of their digital transformation using low-code technology from OutSystems. NHS PHP, S.L. Benfica, Transnational Diversified Group, SONAE, Liberty Seguros, Prudential, Fidelidade and others will be featured.
Sponsors of NextStep Lisbon include global sponsor Deloitte and platinum sponsors Truewind and Noesis. Gold sponsors include Infosistema and Glintt. Additional sponsors, who will have development teams and consulting practices on site, include B-Synergy, ROFF, Reditus, OutFit, Capgemini, darwinLabs, AskBlue, Do IT Lean, P&P, IT Up, Everis, Hi Interactive, Randstad, and BAYPM.
Following the Lisbon conference, OutSystems will host two other global events: NextStep Benelux in Utrecht; The Netherlands, on Oct. 10; and NextStep Americas in Chicago, on Nov. 1 and 2.
Sign Up
NextStep Global 2017 is being held on Sept. 18-19 at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon. For more information, and to register for any of the three NextStep events, visit: https://www.outsystems.com/nextstep/.
“NextStep stands out, year after year, as the premier information-sharing event in the low-code sector, and this fall’s conference series is shaping up as the best ever,” Rosado said. “IT professionals hungry for knowledge and best practices will be treated to entertaining talks from the keynote stage, and educational sessions delivered by experts from OutSystems, partners and customers about ways to rapidly create amazing enterprise-grade mobile applications.”
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire application portfolios that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at http://www.outsystems.com/, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. Explore careers at OutSystems.
SimCentric launches Global User Community Forum
On the 28th August 2017 SimCentric Technologies is launching a Global User Community Forum providing a range of supporting tools and resources, an exchange forum to enable file upload and download, and a portal to contact technical support staff directly to ensure that your simulation capability is delivering what you need from it in an agile and responsive manner. To successfully deliver a solution, rather than merely a product, the military and defence industry community must be supported with persistent, agile and tailored resources to enable their investment in simulation technologies.
Fostering a closer working relationship and direct communications with customers, the user community will now be able to utilise multiple valuable resources across the entire SimCentric product range including Fusion, FiresFST, Ambience, TrainingMate and GUIMate:
Access to the User Community Forum is available for all users with a valid SimCentric Product Licence and current support.
Click here to request activation of your login to SimCentric’s User Community Forum https://www.simct.com/contact_us.
Fostering a closer working relationship and direct communications with customers, the user community will now be able to utilise multiple valuable resources across the entire SimCentric product range including Fusion, FiresFST, Ambience, TrainingMate and GUIMate:
- Direct access to the latest product installers including legacy version download links.
- Comprehensive downloadable Product User Manuals.
- A reporting portal for feedback and technical issues – going direct to our support team.
- Discussion space enabling setup, deployment and configuration optimization.
- Reference to a range of frequently updated FAQ, “hot tips” and short “how to” videos on capabilities and features you may not know are available. Post new questions as required.
- Updates on forthcoming feature releases.
- Content Sharing Portal – A hub for SimCentric and the User Community to share product related user content, files, missions, scenarios, Fusion plugins, and user-generated GUIs.
- “Turnkey” JFO/JTAC Mission Packages including Mission Orders, Instructor Notes, Full Scenario Scripts and supporting Targeting, Fireplan and Reference Point files.
- A “Build your Network” feature enabling you to reach out to other users worldwide (with their permission). Let us get you connected with other relevant User Community members globally.
- Discussion space enabling requests for new features and concepts for products.
- General discussion space for the User Community to engage Peer to Peer as desired.
Access to the User Community Forum is available for all users with a valid SimCentric Product Licence and current support.
Click here to request activation of your login to SimCentric’s User Community Forum https://www.simct.com/contact_us.
Personal Group uses OutSystems to Develop Hapi, a Powerful Employee Engagement Solution
LONDON, UK – 16th August, 2017 – Personal Group PLC, a provider of employee benefits and insurance products, has enlisted the help of the OutSystems low-code development platform to create an innovative employee benefits platform named Hapi.
Hapi makes staff happier and more engaged at work through a suite of HR services and employee benefits. As shown in research from the University of Warwick, happier staff are 12 percent more productive[i]. So, Personal Group’s solution benefits the employee and their entire organisation. It provides employees with a single point of access to a range of different services and third-party solutions. Currently, Personal Group works with more than 2 million UK employees across 550 organisations providing a range of services to improve happiness and productivity in the workplace.
In the past, Personal Group had depended on third parties to provide a white label platform that it could resell. However, Personal Group wanted to have the power in its hands and was determined to build its own platform to provide a more agile solution to support its growing client base. Personal Group’s IT team typically worked in a Microsoft development environment and coded in C# ASP.Net or Delphi, but opted this time to upgrade its development environment using a modern low-code approach. Personal Group chose OutSystems because company leaders were impressed by its large and successful user base that displayed a wide variety of use cases including creating enhanced digital experiences.
“From the outset, we had a clear vision in mind and we wanted to work with a technology partner who could help us realise Hapi’s full potential,” Ashley Doody, CIO of Personal Group, said. “We wanted to accelerate the development of the platform while leveraging the skills and capabilities we had in-house and minimising the amount of additional technology recruits needed to get the platform to market quickly. We also needed to ensure the platform could service a high and growing number of customers and users. OutSystems and a low-code development environment was the perfect answer.”
Next on Personal Group’s agenda is to expand on its success with public sector organisations, especially within the NHS and local government, where the new platform has proven invaluable to HR departments.
Richard Tilbury, Director of Development at Personal Group, added, “With OutSystems we have a development platform that produces a solution that scales across multiple servers without the need to specifically code for this. Low-code, while initially scary for some developers, is a win for us. The tool is visual, the developer works with flowcharts, and this makes the usual troubleshooting of issues much quicker, as the developer is not having to read through pages of code. OutSystems allows us to turn around new developments quickly.”
In terms of future development plans, Personal Group is currently scoping a new mobile app. It plans to use the OutSystems platform to simultaneously develop a solution for iPhone, iPad and Android, targeting a launch for Q3 2017.
[i] https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/new_study_shows/
About Personal Group Plc
Personal Group Holdings Plc (AIM: PGH) is a technology enabled employee services business, working with employers to drive productivity though better employee engagement and a more motivated workforce. With over 30 years’ experience, the Company provides employee benefits, serving 550 businesses, reaching over 2 million employees across the UK.
Personal Group's offer comprises 8,000 in-house and third-party products and services, from c.60 supply lines. In-house services include employee insurance products (hospital, convalescence plans and death benefit) and the provision of home technology via salary sacrifice (iPads, computers, laptops, smart phones and smart TVs). Third party services include retail discounts, e-payslips, employee assistance, wellbeing programmes and salary sacrifice cars and bikes. The offer is provided via the Company’s proprietary technology platform, Hapi. The platform is intuitive and accessible via web, tablet and mobile app, driving better engagement, communication and value recognition. Hapi is flexible and can quickly integrate additional services, such as existing employee services and partner platforms. Hapi is a SaaS product.
Through technology and select acquisitions, the Company has grown its addressable market from 6m to 27m UK employees; including 15.6m SME employees targeted via its partnership with Sage, the UK’s largest software company. Personal Group’s innovative approach to using technology to deliver its programmes, combined with its face-to-face method of communicating with employees, makes its offer compelling to blue chip clients across the UK as a way of attracting, retaining and motivating employees. Personal Group has a strong client base across a range of sectors including passenger transport, healthcare, logistics and food manufacturing. Clients include: Stagecoach, Four Seasons Health Care, Priory Group, Spire Healthcare, Bibby, 2 Sisters Food Group and Young's Seafood.
For further information, please see www.personalgroup.com
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire application portfolios that easily integrate with existing systems.
Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Hapi makes staff happier and more engaged at work through a suite of HR services and employee benefits. As shown in research from the University of Warwick, happier staff are 12 percent more productive[i]. So, Personal Group’s solution benefits the employee and their entire organisation. It provides employees with a single point of access to a range of different services and third-party solutions. Currently, Personal Group works with more than 2 million UK employees across 550 organisations providing a range of services to improve happiness and productivity in the workplace.
In the past, Personal Group had depended on third parties to provide a white label platform that it could resell. However, Personal Group wanted to have the power in its hands and was determined to build its own platform to provide a more agile solution to support its growing client base. Personal Group’s IT team typically worked in a Microsoft development environment and coded in C# ASP.Net or Delphi, but opted this time to upgrade its development environment using a modern low-code approach. Personal Group chose OutSystems because company leaders were impressed by its large and successful user base that displayed a wide variety of use cases including creating enhanced digital experiences.
“From the outset, we had a clear vision in mind and we wanted to work with a technology partner who could help us realise Hapi’s full potential,” Ashley Doody, CIO of Personal Group, said. “We wanted to accelerate the development of the platform while leveraging the skills and capabilities we had in-house and minimising the amount of additional technology recruits needed to get the platform to market quickly. We also needed to ensure the platform could service a high and growing number of customers and users. OutSystems and a low-code development environment was the perfect answer.”
Next on Personal Group’s agenda is to expand on its success with public sector organisations, especially within the NHS and local government, where the new platform has proven invaluable to HR departments.
Richard Tilbury, Director of Development at Personal Group, added, “With OutSystems we have a development platform that produces a solution that scales across multiple servers without the need to specifically code for this. Low-code, while initially scary for some developers, is a win for us. The tool is visual, the developer works with flowcharts, and this makes the usual troubleshooting of issues much quicker, as the developer is not having to read through pages of code. OutSystems allows us to turn around new developments quickly.”
In terms of future development plans, Personal Group is currently scoping a new mobile app. It plans to use the OutSystems platform to simultaneously develop a solution for iPhone, iPad and Android, targeting a launch for Q3 2017.
[i] https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/new_study_shows/
About Personal Group Plc
Personal Group Holdings Plc (AIM: PGH) is a technology enabled employee services business, working with employers to drive productivity though better employee engagement and a more motivated workforce. With over 30 years’ experience, the Company provides employee benefits, serving 550 businesses, reaching over 2 million employees across the UK.
Personal Group's offer comprises 8,000 in-house and third-party products and services, from c.60 supply lines. In-house services include employee insurance products (hospital, convalescence plans and death benefit) and the provision of home technology via salary sacrifice (iPads, computers, laptops, smart phones and smart TVs). Third party services include retail discounts, e-payslips, employee assistance, wellbeing programmes and salary sacrifice cars and bikes. The offer is provided via the Company’s proprietary technology platform, Hapi. The platform is intuitive and accessible via web, tablet and mobile app, driving better engagement, communication and value recognition. Hapi is flexible and can quickly integrate additional services, such as existing employee services and partner platforms. Hapi is a SaaS product.
Through technology and select acquisitions, the Company has grown its addressable market from 6m to 27m UK employees; including 15.6m SME employees targeted via its partnership with Sage, the UK’s largest software company. Personal Group’s innovative approach to using technology to deliver its programmes, combined with its face-to-face method of communicating with employees, makes its offer compelling to blue chip clients across the UK as a way of attracting, retaining and motivating employees. Personal Group has a strong client base across a range of sectors including passenger transport, healthcare, logistics and food manufacturing. Clients include: Stagecoach, Four Seasons Health Care, Priory Group, Spire Healthcare, Bibby, 2 Sisters Food Group and Young's Seafood.
For further information, please see www.personalgroup.com
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire application portfolios that easily integrate with existing systems.
Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.