OutSystems

Low-code is a development approach that leverages intuitive visual interfaces, drag-and-drop components and drastically reduces hand-coding to rapidly build and deploy applications, reducing complexity and allowing broader collaboration between technical and non-technical teams.

A Low-Code Application Platform (LCAP) is a development environment where applications are built primarily through visual interfaces and reusable components. They enable faster innovation, simplified maintenance, and easier scalability for both IT teams and citizen developers. OutSystems is one of the leading LCAPs.

OutSystems is both. As SaaS, it provides ready-to-use development tools and environments through a subscription model, handling updates, maintenance, and infrastructure. As PaaS, OutSystems delivers the underlying platform for custom application development and hosting, managing runtime environments, databases, and scalability while ensuring streamlined operations and rapid delivery.

Not entirely – but it can replace a lot of it.

Low-code platforms like OutSystems are ideal for building complex, scalable software faster and with fewer resources. In many enterprise and government scenarios, low-code now outperforms traditional development in speed, cost-efficiency, and maintainability. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Low-code excels when used for internal tools, public-facing portals, CRM or ERP extensions, legacy system modernisation, mobile apps, dashboards, and integration platforms. These use cases benefit from the rapid delivery and flexibility that low-code enables.

That said, traditional development still has its place, particularly for highly bespoke systems with niche performance demands, applications that require full control over the tech stack, or projects where no low-code platform meets specific regulatory or technical requirements.

At Kiandra, we take a hybrid approach – leveraging low-code where it makes sense, and traditional development where it's essential. This gives our clients the speed and efficiency of low-code, without compromising on control or quality.

When deciding between OutSystems and Power Apps, the choice depends on your needs.

OutSystems is the better fit when you're building mission-critical or customer-facing applications, require high performance, custom user experiences, or complex logic, need platform independence and greater control over architecture, or are working in regulated or high-security environments.
‍
Power Apps is a strong choice if you're already a Microsoft 365 organisation, need to quickly develop internal tools or workflows, your data primarily lives in SharePoint, Teams, Excel or Dataverse, and your apps are low in complexity and don’t require extensive custom code.

For many of our enterprise and government clients, OutSystems provides greater power and flexibility, especially when they move beyond basic workflows and need a more robust solution.

OutSystems meets high security standards including ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA and GDPR compliance. At Kiandra, we extend this with secure SDLC practices and governance frameworks to align with your internal policies and compliance obligations.

Both OutSystems and Mendix are leading low-code platforms, but which one is best depends on your priorities. OutSystems is better suited to complex enterprise applications, giving experienced developers more flexibility and control. Mendix is often preferred for faster development of simpler apps, especially when non-technical users (or citizen developers) are involved.

At Kiandra, we recommend OutSystems for clients in enterprise, government, health, financial services and other regulated sectors because it combines the speed of low-code with the rigour of traditional enterprise development.

Want help making the right decision for your use case? We offer a no-cost prototype so you can test the platform before you commit.

You can sign up for a free OutSystems Developer Cloud environment directly at outsystems.com. This option includes access to the OutSystems platform, Service Studio (the development IDE), and one personal environment where you can build and test applications. While it's a great way to explore the platform, it’s not intended for production use or integration with enterprise systems. Instead, it's designed for learning, prototyping, and early experimentation.

For enterprise clients, we recommend a more structured trial through a delivery partner like Kiandra. This approach is ideal for organisations looking to evaluate OutSystems in real-world conditions – using actual data, meeting integration requirements, and navigating compliance constraints. A partner-led trial typically includes a no-cost working prototype tailored to your business needs, assistance with licensing options, secure hosting and integration setup (such as Azure or GovCloud), and strategic guidance on how low-code fits into your broader IT landscape.

If you're considering OutSystems for a critical or regulated project, working with a partner helps reduce risk and build confidence across your organisation.

Yes. OutSystems is widely used in government, health, and finance sectors. Its compliance with Essential Eight, ISO standards, and secure hosting options makes it a strong fit. Kiandra has specific experience delivering in highly regulated environments.

No, low-code won't replace developers.

Low-code platforms like OutSystems are tools that help developers build software faster and with fewer errors. They take care of repetitive tasks such as boilerplate code, UI scaffolding, and data integration, allowing developers to focus on logic, architecture, and delivering business value.

In complex, high-stakes projects, experienced developers remain essential. They design scalable system architecture, integrate with legacy systems and APIs, ensure compliance, performance and security, write custom code where necessary, and lead governance and change management efforts.

In fact, many of Kiandra’s senior developers use low-code tools alongside traditional stacks like .NET and Azure to accelerate delivery without compromising on quality.

Low-code doesn’t replace developers, it makes great ones even more effective.