The meeting introduced Appian's Data Fabric and its core features, emphasizing unified data access, security, and the use of low-code and AI tools.
A demonstration using the Acme Automobile app illustrated practical applications for business users and developers, including record types, relationships, event tracking, and security settings.
The session concluded with a recap of benefits, including simplified app development, secure data management, and enhanced analytics capabilities for business users.
Action Items
Overview of Appian Data Fabric
Data Fabric enables discovery of existing data sources, creation of new data models, and unification of enterprise data.
Security features determine user access, empowering business users to analyze relevant data.
Combines low-code development with AI Copilot to accelerate app creation and streamline workflows.
Record Types and Data Unification
Record types connect to diverse data sources (databases, process models, web services) and unify them in Appian apps.
Example: The Acme Automobile app uses record types to combine vehicle and maintenance data from separate legacy systems.
Record types can be created from existing data or modeled from scratch (e.g., rentals data).
Relationships between record types (such as one-to-many using vehicle ID) allow for comprehensive reporting and dashboards.
Event Tracking and Collaboration
Record events can be captured to show who acted on each record and when, facilitating collaboration and audit trails.
Event tracking is enabled through configuration in record types and process models, with visual event histories for business users.
AI Copilot for Accelerated Development
AI Copilot tools assist developers in tasks such as generating realistic test data, testing expressions, and demo creation.
Developers can interact with AI Copilot for fine-tuning use cases within the app development process.
Data Security and Access Control
Security is layered; permissions can be set at record, view, and action levels using low-code tools in record types.
Example: Permissions allow all users to view customer records, but only regional mechanics can view specific customer details.
Record-level security determines comprehensive data access across the platform.
Business User Empowerment & Process HQ
With unified and secured data, business users can explore and analyze data within Process HQ.
Developers can grant reporting and dashboarding permissions to business users by configuring workspaces and access groups.
Insights generated by business users can feed back into continuous app improvement.