Appian Reviews

Name: Appian
Brand: Appian
Rating: 4.2 (60 reviews)

Vendor: Appian

4.2 out of 5

60 reviews
95% willing to recommend

3,100 followers

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What is Appian?

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:

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Appian is the #4 ranked solution in top Process Automation solutions, #4 ranked solution in top Low-Code Development Platforms, #5 ranked solution in BPM Software, #5 ranked solution in top Rapid Application Development Software, and #6 ranked solution in top Process Mining solutions. PeerSpot users give Appian an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Appian is most commonly compared to Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC): Appian vs Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC). Appian is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 49% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 30% of all views.

Helped 838,533 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Srimanta Pandit

Senior Consultant at Protiviti consulting

The solution’s turnaround time for development is better compared to other tools. The solution enables fast development. The traceability of the processor is good. There is much more governance and regulations on the processers. The tool reduces the time of the processes by 30% to 40%. The solution’s low-code aspect has greatly impacted the development and deployment speed. One of the major reasons we are using the product is that we can reuse the modules. The developers can reuse all the modules. It enables us to make subsequent developments in less time. The prebuilt modules can be deployed within two to three weeks. The tool is very flexible. Compared to other platforms, the Appian product team was agile in quickly customizing things for us.

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RAVIRANJAN

Project Manager at Telus Digital

We have a partnership with Appian. We have worked with Appian to deal with issues. They have already incorporated many things into their platform. One of the things we have discussed, which I can highlight, is related to Excel manipulations. They have incorporated their Excel manipulations so it's far better than the earlier version. Earlier, we had to go with a plugin for even a simple Excel or spreadsheet calculation. Now, they have included all those things in their own out-of-the-box functionality. It's definitely a tool and does not require high code language. There could be a scope of enhancement for capturing the variety of use cases. One thing, for example, is Excel manipulation, which they now provide in their out of box functionality, however, that can still be improved.

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Nitin-Agarwal

Delivery Manager (Intelligent Business Automation) - Pega at Persistent Systems

I am working with all of these products: Pega, Appian, and OutSystems. I use Appian as a process orchestrator for workflow and rule-based routing, and it is preferred when I am developing an enterprise-wide application. The application is mobile-friendly, allowing me to use it across any device…

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Appian mindshare

Product category:

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Appian in the Business Process Management (BPM) category stands at 6.2%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Management (BPM)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Business Process Management (BPM)	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Appian vs Camunda	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Appian vs Apache Airflow	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Appian vs Pega Platform	Feb 20, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC)	3.9	1.3%	93%	182 interviews Add to research
Camunda	4.1	21.6%	89%	77 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Appian's most valuable features include its low-code development, enabling rapid application deployment. The robust process design and user-friendly interface enhance usability. It offers seamless integrations, extensive automation capabilities, and frequent updates. The cohesive architecture supports ease of use for various applications. Its workflow management and case management excel, and its flexibility allows for reusability and scalability. Emphasizing agile development, Appian provides efficient analytics, data management, and a straightforward setup process.

"The application is mobile-friendly, allowing me to use it across any device, whether mobile, laptop, or desktop."
"It is easy for me to define the process and create configurable workflows."
"The valuable features include process automation, Appian Portal, and Appian RPA."

Room for Improvement

Appian's user interface requires greater customization options and flexibility for both web and mobile applications. The need for improved integration with enterprise tools and systems is noted, alongside scalability challenges in architecture. Appian's support for complex models is seen as inadequate, and the training materials need enhancement. Developers find the debugging support lacking, while offline features require advancement. Cost concerns are prevalent, and improvements to memory optimization, case management, and automation capabilities are desired.

"If there is a very complex process that includes a lot of data transitioning and memory-centric processes, it consumes a lot of memory."
"From a reseller's point of view, subscription licensing could be improved to be more cost-effective, especially for new prospects and smaller investments."
"It is difficult to set up the on-premise version."

ROI

Companies often struggle to accurately assess ROI due to overlooked costs of manual or in-house processes. Appian offers noticeable ROI in digital transformation. Some achieve break-even within the first year, while others report up to 85% reduction in process time. Many remain satisfied, integrating Appian across various organizational levels and seeing increased profitability, though ROI may take time depending on licensing. Overall, organizations report success with Appian.

Pricing

Appian's pricing, licensing, and setup costs reflect varied user experiences. Users see Appian as a flexible and robust enterprise-level solution with reasonable initial pricing compared to competitors like Pega. The costs can increase with user count and workloads, and options include cloud and on-premises solutions. Licensing is often based on workload rather than users, with flexible models across regions. Despite some finding it costly, others appreciate its business value and competitive pricing.

"The tool is quite costly."
"The license is not very cheap. It's on the expensive side."
"The cost is calculated on a per-user basis. It might be expensive for small and mid-sized enterprises."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Appian for business process automation, focusing on workflows, integration, and low-code application development. It serves various sectors, like HR onboarding, banking approvals, retail logistics, and telecom workflows. Appian excels in handling complex business processes, enabling rapid deployment and scalability. Clients benefit from its automation capabilities, which enhance internal and external operations, including enterprise integration, API management, and document digitization. The platform supports diverse industries, providing robust and flexible features.

Service and Support

Appian's customer service is often described as responsive and prompt, with mixed experiences due to rapid growth. Technical support is generally praised for being knowledgeable and efficient, though occasionally slow with complex issues. Many users find the support team good, citing high availability and fast resolution times, especially for significant problems. The Appian community is also a valuable resource for assistance. Users see room for improvement but appreciate quick access to experts for major issues.

Deployment

Users found Appian's initial setup to be generally straightforward and fast, especially the cloud-based version, with minimal issues. Some noted complexities around configurations and prerequisites, particularly with on-premise installations or using tools like JBoss. While initial deployment may vary based on environment, those with relevant expertise or Appian’s support found it manageable. Maintenance is often minimal, but adaptation to new features requires attention. The setup can be challenging if migrating from older systems.

Scalability

Appian demonstrates solid scalability when implemented with best practices and experienced developers. Many users experience effective scaling capabilities with cloud deployment, adapting to varying demands without significant issues. While some face challenges with complex processes and high-memory requirements, the majority manage to scale efficiently. Appian integrates well with other systems and supports large user bases. Performance issues, often due to hardware limitations or lack of architectural expertise, can be resolved with configuration adjustments or additional resources.

Stability

Appian is largely perceived as stable with minimal issues when architecture is correctly followed. Users report stable performance, with over 99.99% uptime, and note improvements in new versions. Occasional minor problems arise from improper development, database instability, or specific architectural choices. Appian is reliable in various environments, with good response times and effective updates, though some users desire improved latency and scalability with increased workloads. Users rate its stability between eight and ten out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Appian Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

30%

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

University

Retailer

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Construction Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Consumer Goods Company

Logistics Company

Performing Arts

Compare Appian with alternative products

Learn more about Appian

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.

Appian was previously known as Appian BPM, Appian AnyWhere, Appian Enterprise BPMS.

Appian customers

Hansard Global plc, Punch Taverns, Pirelli, Crawford & Company, EDP Renewables, Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (, Bank of Tennessee