Appian vs Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) comparison

Appian is a unified low-code platform and solution used by businesses to build enterprise applications and workflows. This product adapts to the needs of clients and the technologies they are already using to combine their data in a single workflow and maximize resources. The platform has four main components through which it transforms the work process for companies of various sizes. They are:

• Complete automation: Through complete automation, companies are able to coordinate and manage employees, existing systems, bots, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) in a single workflow. The solution offers a way to centrally manage all third-party automation vendors as well.
  
  
• Low-code applications: Appian offers the ability to build applications faster with visual development and low-code tools. All applications are ready-made to be suitable for mobile.
  
  
• Low-code data: Appian lets companies source data from multiple types of sources, eliminating the need for data migration. Through no-code and low-code solutions and industry-standard connectors, the platform also eliminates the need for data silos.
  
  
• Enterprise ready: The platform offers options for companies to scale their businesses to an enterprise level without complications.

Appian is utilized across a diverse set of industries, including automotive and manufacturing, energy and utilities, education, financial services, telecom and media, transportation, retail, insurance, healthcare, and life sciences. The most frequent use cases of Appian are customer journey, governance, risk and compliance, operational efficiency, supply chain, distributed order management, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management.

Appian Features

Appian has various features that allow users to create solutions for their businesses. These features can be separated into a few groups according to function, including automation, low-code application development, and integrations and data. Some of the most frequently used features of Appian include:

• Robotic process automation (RPA): Users of Appian can assign software bots to perform rules-based tasks that need to be repeated over a set course of time. This can improve efficiency and performance within an organization while saving human resources.
  
  
• Intelligent document processing: The tool offers a feature for quick and accurate extraction and structuring of data. This can reduce time and costs for organizations because it eliminates the need for outsourcing such services.
  
  
• AI: Appian utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance applications, workflows, and automation. AI is also used to address complex processes and unique situations.
  
  
• Business rules: Organizations can automate and simplify work processes while adhering to their operating procedures.
  
  
• Application development: Appian provides a low-code development feature that allows users to deploy applications over ten times faster than through conventional approaches. This feature not only allows for quick application building, but also applications that run on multiple types of platforms, seamless data integration, and business scalability.
  
  
• Integrations and data: Appian allows for data integration from a wide array of sources without the need for migration. This contributes to easy access to data across systems, real-time data insights, improved user experience, and accelerated development.

Appian Benefits

The benefits of using Appian include:

• The solution ensures seamless organization growth, as it supports various UX patterns, common data schemes, and upgrades, used to facilitate application development on a bigger scale.
  
  
• Appian can increase process speed and deliver applications considerably faster compared to conventional development.
  
  
• The platform is easy to use and suitable for complete beginners to build applications and workflows.
  
  
• Appian offers a variety of design tools that facilitate development and deployment.
  
  
• Appian offers detailed real-time data insight which allows organizations to access relevant information about their processes as they are developing.
  
  
• The solution offers clients the ability to move data between the cloud, on-premise, and hybrid configurations.
  
  
• The platform is easy to optimize, which allows businesses to utilize it according to their personal needs.
  
  
• Appian offers connectivity across web, mobile, email, voice, and chat, providing a multi-channel experience for companies and their clients.

Reviews from Real Users

A practice leader - digital process automation at a computer software company values Appian highly because the product is easy to develop, low-code, and has a good user interface.

Alan G., an advisory board member at Codecon VR, Appian offers a clear application life cycle, easy to learn documentation, and comes with a fundamentals course.

Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) integrates data quality, governance, and integration with flexible architecture. It supports multiple domains and a data models repository, delivering AI-enhanced data management across cloud-native platforms.

IDMC provides seamless integration and governance capabilities that support diverse data environments. Its comprehensive suite includes customizable workflows, data profiling, and metadata management. AI features, a data marketplace, and performance scalability enhance data management. While its interface poses challenges, its robust matching and cloud-native integration facilities are essential for complex data ecosystems. Users employ IDMC for connecting systems, ensuring data quality, and supporting data compliance but seek better pre-built rules, services, and improved connectivity, especially with platforms like Salesforce. Licensing, cost, and added AI functionalities are areas for potential refinement.

• Data Quality and Integration: Seamless integration ensures data accuracy across platforms.
• Metadata Management: Comprehensive metadata management supports data governance.
• AI Capabilities: AI features enhance automation and decision-making processes.
• Data Marketplace: Facilitates easy access to data across the organization.
• Performance Scalability: Scales performance efficiently to meet growing data demands.

• Enhanced Data Management: Offers robust tools for data governance and quality.
• Improved Integration: Connects disparate systems seamlessly, reducing data silos.
• Cost Efficiency: Streamlines data processes, potentially reducing operational costs.
• Data Compliance: Supports compliance with data privacy regulations.
• Agility and Scalability: Adapts quickly to changing data environments.

IDMC is implemented across industries for data integration, metadata management, and governance. Organizations use it to connect systems, migrate data to cloud environments, and maintain data quality. They manage master data and automate business processes, facilitating data lineage and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.