Vision App Maker is a no-code business process management (BPM) platform developed by Vision Technology Development. Configurators build applications, workflows and services in a visual interface, without writing or compiling code. They publish them to portals, a mobile app and info kiosks.
What App Maker is used for
App Maker is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) platform for building business applications through configuration. It has been used in more than 100 implementations in banking, insurance, automotive, pharma, services, government, distribution, travel and field services.
Typical uses:
- building new applications from scratch;
- integrating existing platforms and legacy systems into one application;
- digitalizing business workflows as part of process re-engineering;
- simulating working software early in a project, for iterative prototyping and agile delivery.
How an application is built
All configuration is done in App Factory Studio, the visual configuration interface. A standard implementation follows these steps:
- Create a module, which organizes a feature of the application.
- Define the data types: custom types, parameters and lists of values.
- Define the user interfaces (views).
- Define the business rules.
- Assemble interfaces, data and rules in a workflow to obtain a working application.
The configuration is then published. Workflows, interfaces, business rules and configured services can be published to any of the front-end components.
Main components
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| App Factory Studio | Visual interface for configuring data models, rules, interfaces, workflows, plugins and document templates. It is usually reachable only from the internal network. |
| App Maker Engine | Runs the configured business processes and applications. |
| App Maker Gateway | API Gateway and central entry point. It routes requests to the backend services and handles authentication, authorization, logging and response aggregation. |
| Internal portal | All configured features, plus the standard administration, security, configuration and content management features. Used by employees and administrators. |
| External portal | Configured features for customers, citizens and partners. Administration features are not available here. |
| Mobile app and info kiosk | Present any feature configured in the platform. The kiosk application can use local peripherals such as cameras, scanners and printers. |
| Vision Desktop Experience | Desktop companion application for local resources: signature certificates on tokens, locally connected scanners, signature pads and kiosk peripherals. |
| AppMaker Assistant | AI assistant inside App Factory Studio. It works on the selected domain, starting from the configuration that already exists. |
Capabilities
- Omnichannel: the same features across the internal portal, external portal, mobile app, info kiosk and public API.
- Data modeling: simple and complex data types, cardinalities, lists, parameters and entities.
- Business rules: written as formulas, in a way familiar to users of Excel formulas. Rules drive scoring, escalation, notifications and how data is shown and processed.
- Workflows: states, activities and transitions, from simple approvals to complex back-office processes.
- Interfaces: responsive single-page interfaces available in any web browser or on mobile devices.
- Integration: a plugin mechanism for ERP, CRM, DMS, GIS, RPA, AI and legacy systems, plus APIs exposed to other systems.
- Documents: document templates, PDF generation, document management, electronic signature and long-term archiving.
- Reporting and alerts: e-mail notifications and reports exported in predefined formats.
- Maps and IoT: map display of any entity with geospatial coordinates and live display of connected IoT devices.
Standard and preconfigured features
The internal portal includes standard features for user profiles, visual themes, content management, security and access, and configuration of work tools. The platform also ships with preconfigured features, which can be used as delivered or adapted. They include a personal workspace for documents, an external user profile and a set of automations.
Technology
The back end is built on .NET Core. The portals use React, the mobile app uses React Native and App Factory Studio uses Angular and .NET Core. The database is Microsoft SQL Server.
Users work in a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera or Safari. The components can run in Docker containers orchestrated by Kubernetes, OpenShift or Docker Swarm.
Solutions built on App Maker
Vision delivers predefined solutions built on the platform:
- Vision 365 and Vision Smart Digital City;
- Vision Automotive, Vision Retail Distribution and Vision Wholesale Distribution;
- Vision Fintech and Vision Insurtech;
- Vision Field Services, Vision Travel for Airlines and Agencies, and Vision Process Automation.
Predefined features include ticketing, contract management, case management, calendars and activity management.
