Case Study: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs achieves rapid, centralized process automation and integration with OutSystems

Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs creates a software factory to accelerate processes automation and integration

The Secretary General of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE), responsible for ICT and administrative support across the Ministry, needed to optimize and automate dispersed, paper- and Excel-based processes—especially for staff working abroad or traveling. The goals were greater efficiency, integration, scalability and rapid, cost-effective delivery, so the SG moved to an agile “software factory” model to eliminate bottlenecks and deliver user-friendly web applications and workflows.

Using the OutSystems Platform with services from PKF and the OutSystems delivery team, the SG deployed a suite of business apps (including Missions Management, Electronic Admission Proposal, Centralized Registry, Schedule Map and Budget Execution Map) and built out 11 applications serving 145 locations. The software-factory approach (adopted May 2009) produced 4-week release cycles, 15 reusable components and continuous alignment of IT with business needs—reducing project backlog, accelerating ROI, centralizing and automating processes, and improving user adoption, productivity and control.

Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Paula Crispim

Planning, Budget and Accounting Director, Secretary General