Seiichi Shinagawa: “We are increasingly using OutSystems to replace legacy systems, including those built with the old .NET Framework and others built using COBOL,” says Shinagawa. “The new apps have increased operational efficiency, thanks to the improved user experience and mobile device support, and we’re getting high-praise from users on the front line.”
OutSystems Development ramped up rapidly in late 2019. By 2020, Mazda had taken the strategic decision to drive broad adoption of OutSystems as the standard modern application platform for future development.
Increasing Mazda’s Developer Pool
As part of its strategy to avoid the “2025 digital cliff,” Mazda is increasing the proportion of software developed in-house by widening its developer pool. “The goal is to regain skills that we lost due to widespread IT outsourcing, and the OutSystems visual approach to development makes this easier as well,” explains Shinagawa.
“OutSystems is now our standard application development approach,” says Shinagawa. “And ultimately, we want every member of the IT department to learn at least some development techniques with OutSystems.”
The team has been pleasantly surprised at the rapid learning curve for new OutSystems Developers. “We use the free two-week self-study learning paths provided by OutSystems, followed by several days of Mazda specific training to embed our in-house rules and methods. We’ve found that even IT staff that have never programmed before can easily learn to develop a basic application in a week. So, the cost of training is low,” says Shinagawa.
Development with No Limits
Mazda has been impressed by the versatility of the OutSystems platform. “Compared to conventional programming, we’ve found we can build almost everything we need using OutSystems,” says Shinagawa.
Mazda is now rapidly working to end its reliance on legacy systems, retiring those that are no longer needed and extending the lives of others with the help of OutSystems. The company is using OutSystems both to replace legacy systems and create new, innovative applications. The company expects to significantly reduce its legacy migration costs.
Looking Ahead
Shinagawa says that the company wants “to continue rolling-out OutSystems, using it to replace the enormous number of legacy systems and reduce development costs across the board. We also want to use it to improve the efficiency of business operations, especially by providing mobile support for a wide range of applications.”
He continues, “At Mazda, we see visual development as an important pillar of system development, alongside conventional programming. We look forward to seeing OutSystems continue to evolve as a platform that dramatically improves the productivity and speed of software development.”
