The low-code dilemma: Power Platform, OutSystems – or the power of combining?
Low-code creates space for innovation, provided you use it wisely. But which platform suits you best: OutSystems or the Microsoft Power Platform? Or do you not have to choose and combine the best of both worlds?
How quickly can you translate a new customer idea into a working app? With low-code, you can launch software in record time and always stay one step ahead of your market. However, many organizations are stuck in their ERP customization. The system does its job but blocks innovation. Low-code creates space for this, provided you use it wisely. But which platform suits you best: OutSystems or the Microsoft Power Platform? Or do you not have to choose and combine the best of both worlds?
Traditional ERP systems like Dynamics 365 F&O, SAP, and Oracle are designed for stability, not speed. As a result, even small adjustments quickly become costly and complex, leading to high implementation costs, long projects, and a high dependency on consultants. The total cost of ownership increases, while the monolithic architecture hinders flexibility. Many organizations are therefore looking for ways to innovate without losing the power of their ERP. Low-code offers that space. By developing functionality outside the ERP core – with platforms like OutSystems and Microsoft Power Platform – you maintain standards at the heart of your system, reduce costs, accelerate innovation, and respond more quickly to new technologies such as AI, mobile apps, or IoT. But which low-code platform suits you best?
Power Platform: Empower everyone to build solutions
Power Platform is ideal for organizations already working with Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 F&O and CE, and Azure and want to innovate quickly within that ecosystem. The platform makes it possible to build business-critical apps that are scalable, process real-time data, and also function offline. You benefit from shared security, identity, and license management. Power Platform also aligns with Microsoft's One Version strategy: you keep your ERP standard and build additional processes separately. Whether it's simple forms, dashboards, approval flows, or mobile apps – you develop quickly and without a heavy development team. The Power Platform offers a powerful solution for customers to do more with the resources they have, as even citizen developers can get started with the Platform. Thanks to integration with tools like Teams, Outlook, and Power BI, you not only increase your development speed but also collaboration and data-driven decision-making within your organization.
OutSystems: innovate with no limits
OutSystems is suitable for organizations looking for extensive customization options, both at the front end (UX/UI) and the back end (business logic, integrations). The platform is often used for enterprise-grade applications, such as portals, mobile apps, and integrations with ERP and legacy systems. OutSystems also supports multi-experience applications, such as interfaces for chat, voice, and – through integrations – even AR/VR. Thanks to enterprise-grade scalability, OutSystems effortlessly processes millions of transactions and thousands of concurrent users, even in offline scenarios. Where standard low-code platforms set limits, OutSystems offers the flexibility for deep customization without compromising user experience, performance, or integration capabilities.
Why choose when you can combine?
You don't have to choose. The power lies in the combination. By minimizing ERP customization, your core system remains more maintainable and upgrade-friendly. At the same time, you choose the platform that best fits each situation – speed and simplicity where possible, robustness and customization where necessary. With good governance – one security model, one approach to development and management – you maintain control over the whole. This way, you build a digital environment where your ERP remains stable, and the innovation around it moves flexibly. It's not about choosing between two platforms, but about smartly using the right technology in the right place. What requires speed? What requires scalability? Where can the business build itself, and where is professional support needed? Those who ask these questions sharply get more out of low-code.
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