Whitepapers

Platforms, Tools, Assistants, and Agents: Choosing the best solution for your company

Accelerating Innovation and Empowering Teams with Intelligent Solutions

Technology is advancing at a dizzying pace, and companies face the constant challenge of improving their efficiency and productivity. Not to mention the challenge posed by technical debt, or worse, the demand for innovation. Business cultures, customs, processes, and ways of working must transform to overcome these challenges.
 
With the arrival of a new wave of automation, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), software development is no exception. On the contrary, this last bastion of the "supreme craftsman," the programmer, is being redefined, leading us into a new era where we have access to an almost infinite variety of technological solutions, ranging from complete platforms to specialized tools, including intelligent assistants and autonomous agentspowered by AI”.
 
However, with so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide which of these technologies is best for your company. This whitepaper aims to break down the key differences between platforms, tools, assistants, and agents, and offer a clear guide on how to integrate them based on your organization's needs and technological maturity.
 

 

1. Key Differences: Platforms, Tools, Assistants, and Agents

Platforms

 
Platforms are comprehensive, cohesive systems that address complex problems or complete development cycles. A platform like GeneXus Next or GeneXus Enterprise AI not only simplifies the development and maintenance of applications but also integrates modules to automate various phases of the development cycle, such as testing, code generation, and user interface creation (in the case of GeneXus Next), or modules for building agents connected to real-time business data, usage control, access, and data flow management.
 
The main advantage of platforms is their ability to cover an entire process, providing an end-to-end solution.

Platforms are ideal for companies looking to transform their processes comprehensively, as they allow for the integration of multiple technologies, assistants, and agents within a single cohesive environment.
 
Context example:

A large company looking to incorporate AI into its complete software development cycle could greatly benefit from a platform like GeneXus Enterprise AI. This platform, which can be implemented in systems regardless of the technology they were developed with, allows for the management of an Agent Foundation, facilitating the creation and optimization of autonomous agents and assistants that improve process efficiency. Moreover, GeneXus Enterprise AI provides advanced tools for user control, cost management, and access, enabling detailed and efficient supervision of the resources involved in AI implementation.
 

Tools

At the other end of the spectrum are tools, which are more specialized, fragmented solutions focused on specific tasks within a broader process. Unlike platforms, tools focus on solving specific tasks within a larger process. This makes them more flexible and easier to implement, as they do not require a complete transformation of existing systems. While these tools may be part of a platform, they can also be accessed independently.
 
Tools are especially useful when a company already has well-established processes but needs to optimize or improve certain areas or functions without making large investments.
 
For example, a tool like GeneXus BPM Modeler (also part of the GeneXus BPM Suite)allows for the independent modeling and automation of business processes. It can be easily integrated into any company's workflow without requiring significant changes to the general system, providing companies with a concrete solution to a specific need.
 
Context example:

A company that has already defined its business processes but wants to optimize and automate key areas could benefit from a tool like GeneXus BPM Modeler. This would allow them to model workflows and automate specific tasks without the need to change their entire management system or restructure their infrastructure. Ideal for companies looking to improve operational efficiency in critical areas like project management or task allocation, without making a significant initial investment or affecting other parts of their workflow.

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Assistants

AI assistants are tools that support users in decision-making or task execution within the development cycle. Unlike agents, assistants require human intervention, although they facilitate and optimize many decisions that need to be made.
  
A good example of an assistant in the GeneXus ecosystem is the GeneXus Design Assistant, a Figma plugin that uses generative artificial intelligence to integrate application design with GeneXus capabilities. This assistant allows designers to accelerate and optimize the design process, facilitates rapid prototyping, improves real-time collaboration, and transforms GeneXus data models into ready-to-import designs, ensuring a smooth integration between design and software development.
 
Context example:
A design team looking to quickly turn ideas into functional applications could benefit from the GeneXus Design Assistant. This allows them to create prototypes and validate concepts quickly, reducing delivery times and improving cross-discipline collaboration.
 

Agents

AI agents are more automated systems that, in theory, could reach total autonomy. Unlike assistants, these agents can make decisions and perform tasks with minimal human intervention and control, acting independently to solve complex problems automatically.

In the GeneXus and Globant, ecosystem, although they are more autonomous than assistants, agents always involve a level of human participation and control. A good example is CodeFixer, a tool that semi-automatically identifies and corrects code errors. CodeFixer acts as an AI agent by analyzing the code, detecting errors, and applying corrections with human control and confirmation, optimizing the debugging process and reducing the necessary human effort.
 
The main advantage of agents is their ability to reduce the operational load on teams while improving process accuracy and efficiency. This is particularly useful in repetitive or error-prone tasks, such as software testing.
 
Context example:

A company managing large software projects and looking to reduce time spent on error correction could benefit from CodeFixer. This AI agent identifies and corrects errors with minimal or moderate human intervention, improving the development team's efficiency by freeing up programmers to focus on more critical tasks. In projects where speed and accuracy are essential, CodeFixer helps maintain high-quality standards while minimizing production errors.
 

2. Contexts and benefits of each solution

- Platforms: Complete Transformation and Scalability

Platforms are the best option for companies looking for a comprehensive transformation of their processes and a solution that covers all aspects of software development. They are ideal for organizations that need scalability, flexibility, and automation throughout the development cycle.
 
Example:
Companies looking to integrate and generate multiple technologies and simplify their complex workflows can benefit from a platform like GeneXus Next, which spans from sophisticated software modeling to code generation and the creation of personalized experiences for multiple channels or platforms.

- Tools: Quick and Targeted Solutions

Tools are perfect for companies looking to improve specific areas without completely altering their processes. As more specialized solutions, they provide quick results and can be easily integrated into already established workflows, without requiring the use of Artificial Intelligence.
 
Example:
A company with well-defined processes that needs to optimize workflow management could benefit fro GeneXus BPM Modeler, a tool that allows for independent business process modeling and automation without the need to change the entire system. This tool integrates quickly into existing operations, facilitating specific improvements in operational efficiency. 

- Assistants: Human-Driven Optimization for Specific Problems

Assistants are useful in contexts where human intervention remains essential, but repetitive tasks can be optimized. They are perfect for teams needing to make quick decisions or reduce time spent on routine tasks without losing control.
 
Example:
A design team looking to improve the speed and accuracy of design decisions can benefit from an assistant like the GeneXus Design Assistant, which uses generative artificial intelligence to provide data-based suggestions, optimizing the creative process without replacing human creativity or intervention.

- Agents: Automation and Error Reduction

Agents are the best option for companies that need advanced automation or reduced human intervention in certain processes. They are ideal for organizations looking to minimize human control in repetitive or error-prone tasks, such as software testing or code correction. Although the market talks about agents as entities that may achieve full autonomy, we at GeneXus by Globant subscribe to a human-centered vision, so there is always at least a minimum level of supervision and control.
 
Example:
Companies managing large volumes of software testing, especially those developing large-scale applications, can benefit from an agent like MagnifAI, which automates and optimizes the testing process with AI, reducing the need for constant intervention while ensuring the necessary supervision to guarantee quality.

 

3. Scenarios for the Integration of These Technologies

Scenario 1: Small or Medium Enterprises with Manual Processes

If your company is small or medium-sized and still has manual or inefficient processes, the best path is to start by incorporating specific tools that solve targeted problems. This will allow you to optimize critical areas without making large investments or transformations. Over time, as your company grows, you could consider scaling up to a full platform.

Scenario 2: Companies with Established Processes Seeking Optimization

For companies that already have well-established processes, the ideal approach is to begin integrating assistants that optimize team decisions without the need for drastic changes. Once assistants have optimized specific areas, you can move towards a platform like GeneXus Enterprise AI to manage and create new assistants and eventually begin incorporating agents to automate more complex tasks gradually.

Scenario 3: Small or Medium Enterprises Looking to Create Products or Offer IT Services

Small or medium-sized businesses looking to create digital products or offer services to third parties can find an ideal solution in a platform like GeneXus, which automates and accelerates their development process. GeneXus allows you to develop and maintain applications in a wide variety of languages and databases, and deploy them in any environment, be it cloud providers, on-premise servers, or hybrid environments. All of this is possible without large development teams or advanced programming knowledge, thanks to its Low-Code approach and the integration of AI tools, assistants, and agents

Scenario 4: Large Companies on the Path to Digital Transformation

Larger companies, or those undergoing a digital transformation, changing their ways of working and adopting new technologies, should opt for complete platforms from the start. This will allow them to integrate and optimize all their processes and workflows into a cohesive system. By implementing a platform like GeneXus Enterprise AI, for example, companies can manage assistants and agents in a unified environment, facilitating scalability, automation, and maintaining centralized controlover the technological operations and business processes they define.

 

4. Understanding the Tangible Benefits for Businesses


To understand the impact of adopting platforms, tools, assistants, and agents, it's important to go beyond the technical aspects. These solutions not only transform internal development processes but also have a direct impact on business results and the competitive capacity of companies. Below, we explore some key business benefits of implementing these technologies:
 

A) Increased Productivity

 
Integrated platforms like GeneXus Next or GeneXus Enterprise AI allow you to manage the entire software development cycle from one place. This reduces duplicated efforts and accelerates development times, thus improving team productivity. The result is a greater ability to launch products quickly which is crucial in highly competitive markets.
 

B) Work Optimization and Capacity Enhancement

 
The adoption of agents and specific tools empowers work teams.By automating repetitive tasks, such as testing or code correction, companies not only reduce errors and increase efficiency but also free up employees from monotonous activities, allowing them to focus on more strategic and creative projects. This results in betterquality and cost outcomes, and also improves the satisfaction and professional growth of those who work with these technologies, as they can focus on adding more value in less time.
 

C) Improved Product Quality

 
By using agents that automate key processes and tools that eliminate errors, companies can ensure greater consistency and accuracy in the products they develop. This not only improves the customer experience but also reduces the number of errors that reach the final stages of development, thereby decreasing the cost of fixing issues in production.
 

D) Scalability

 
Platforms like GeneXus are designed to scale with your business needs. Whether you’re working in a small startup or a multinational company, these solutions allow you to grow and evolve efficiently over time. As your requirements increase, you can integrate more assistants, agents, or modules without disrupting your operations.
 

E) Continuous Innovation

 
Assistants and agents allow teams to focus on creativity and innovation by freeing them from monotonous tasks. This agility in decision-making and execution enables faster experimentation with new ideas, improving the company’s ability to adapt to changing market demands.
 

F) Better Design Decision-Making

 
Assistants like the GeneXus Design Assistant enable design teams to optimize and accelerate interface creation, reducing the need for programming. By providing tools that facilitate the quick visualization of prototypes and the automatic generation of interfaces based on data models, companies can shorten design cycles and quickly validate ideas. This not only improves the efficiency of the development process but also fosters better collaboration between designers and developers, resulting in products that are more aligned with user needs.
 

G) Risk Reduction

 
Automation through agents and tools reduces the risk of human errors and speeds up the detection of potential failures in the early stages of development. This decreases the risks associated with costly production errors, such as downtime or quality issues that could affect the company’s reputation.
 
 

5. Empower Your Company's People with AI

 
Adopting platforms, tools, assistants, and agents is not just a technical matter, but a key strategy to boost productivity, innovation, and business competitiveness. In a world where speed and precision make all the difference, companies that implement these solutions not only optimize their processes but also unlock the potential of their teams to focus on what really matters: creating innovative products and services that add value to the market.
 
At GeneXus, we firmly believe that technology should empower people, allowing them to focus on strategic projects while repetitive and error-prone tasks are automated efficiently. The solutions we offer, from platforms to AI agents, are designed to accompany companies on this journey, helping them grow and adapt in a changing environment.

 

Would you like to empower your company?
 

Whether you're looking to create innovative products, optimize processes, or digitally transform your business, GeneXus has the solutions you need. With a Low-Code approach, the integration of AI assistants and agents, and the ability to adapt to any technological environment, GeneXus gives you the tools to accelerate development and improve your outcomes.
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