Appian vs. Fortra's Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer (EFT)

Appian works great for automating manual processes and integrating multiple systems through its toolset. It gives great flexibility for establishing rules for approvals, routings, escalations, and the like. Because of the low code toolset, it's very easy to deploy and make changes as needed as processes evolve and as the organization learns to utilize the system better. Minimal maintenance is required to support the applications build on the platform. Some of the automated testing integration with tools like Jenkins is limited so that may be an issue for some.

Incentivized

Globalscape EFT is well suited for file transmissions. It is very intuitive and easy to create file transmission rules. We transmit many files back and forth between vendors and software applications. File transmissions are fast and reliable. Globalscape allows us to specify certain file naming conventions, contain only certain data, format the data to be a specific way, etc.

Incentivized

• Allows at a glance workflow documentation which assists in the need we have for information readiation.
• Drag and drop interface for workflow development greatly speeds our apps time to market.
• Using the advanced features of Appian, we are able to create working sites in a fraction of the time it would take to do so using "traditional" development.

Incentivized

• PGP & SSH Key Ring Retainer
• Reporting
• Event Rule Create - No Code development
• Easy account set up for SFTP site directory creation

• Search issues when type ahead and database search are used in the same field.
• Buttons implementation where user is require[d] to click on the button description - if clicks on the button outside that text - button will not work.
• Problems with using certain off-the-shelf performance tools like WebLoad or Neoload. That is because of different dynamic variables being used internally in Appian - which these tools are unable to correlate. We are still investigating using other tools like Jmeter to overcome dynamic correlation problem for performance testing.

Incentivized

• Would like to see the ability for a rule in EFT to link the the Advanced Workflow that it is called (rather than having to manually locate the Advanced Workflow)
• Would like the ability to disable just a part of an Event Rule
• Would like to see more template creation functionality

Incentivized

We recently renewed our license with Appian. We are convinced that its flexibility, relative ease of use, the support they provide, there mobile advancements and their general willingness and desire to see us succeed all contributed to our reason to renew our agreement with Appian

Appian is a low code environment, because of this, a very good visual interface is required. Appian is providing a feature-rich dashboard [that] we can use for building the dashboards and other interfaces. Appian also provides patches and releases to enhance these features. A developer can start off development just by going through a basic course from the Appian learning community.

Incentivized

Appian is one of the leading low code business automation platforms that support RPA, decision rules, case management, workflow automation, and machine learning all in a single bundle. But it is also harder to implement and replace the traditional business process.

Incentivized

As analyst I participated in a developer boot camp. At times it was hard to keep up but most of the time it made sense. Trainer took the time to explain and slowed pace down to answer questions etc.

Incentivized

Very boring; hard to get through quickly, but rather effective in demonstrating the use of the platform.

Incentivized

It was really seamless. SaaS in the true definition of the word. We logged on and started using the product. Very easy.

Incentivized

Appian has enormously transformed and keeps on updating the product every quarter to meet the latest needs of the world with new innovations & technologies being integrated within the platform. What gives more pleasure than a product that keeps on continuous[ly] improv[ing]?

Incentivized

Globalscape and Automate are similar. However, with Automate, you do not have PGP or SSH keyring functionality within the application. You would need to purchase and install them separately. So as far as organization I like Globalscape for key retainment. Globalscape's transmission reporting is a lot better as well. Although it could be enhanced a little more, I use it to report any transmission issues with the Vendors. But the Event Rule functionality that Globalscape has in building simple action logic is where you save a lot of time instead of coding transmissions. Automate does not have active-active replication within their application. Meaning they do not have the ability to have two servers active for off loading transmission in case of bottlenecks. However, if one server goes down, the secondary server will be active. We have both products and don't mind working in either one of them, but Globalscape seems to be the more comprehensive and scalable application

• I believe it has negatively impacted our release dates. There may have been a misunderstanding as to the learning curve, even though it is "low code."
• The look and feel of the applications created using Appian have uniformity and it's easier to have "reuse" between applications.
• There is less developer control when it comes to features. I think this mainly has to do with the amount of plugins available. I would think there should be many more available plugins. But again, our use case is probably different than most others.

Incentivized

• Globalscape EFT is very reliable
• Allows us to easily transmit files with customers
• Allows us to easily meet file requirements of vendors/other software applications

Incentivized