Ostendo Partner Update Letter Dec-2025
Firstly, thank you all for working with us while we did what was needed to develop this new release of Ostendo. You'll have seen that we've launched the new Ostendo website (Ostendo Site), and I thought this was a good time to explain how we got here, the new pricing option, what's being released with Ostendo Continuum, and how we see the future.
How We Got HereAs you've all been aware for some time (longer than we would have liked, and I'm sure much longer than you would have preferred), we've been redeveloping the framework that Ostendo sits on. This enables the ability to run the database natively in the cloud. In simple terms, the entire layer between the Ostendo screens and the Firebird database was rebuilt to work natively with HTTPS, while still supporting TCP/IP for standalone and internal networks that don't require external access.
The truth is, before this change we were working on a new application called 'Curo' being developed in HTML/JavaScript/CSS to run natively as a web-based application. While that would have been easier from a pure development perspective, it would have meant reimplementation for Ostendo clients—resulting in the loss of years of customisations and knowledge, not to mention the implications for Ostendo partners and their tailored offerings.
As a result, we pivoted to changing the Ostendo framework to preserve all of the knowledge and customisations since we first released Ostendo, coming up to 20 years ago, while including the foundation work carried out for the Curo application.
Now, during that framework redevelopment phase something bigger was happening: the global roll-out of Artificial Intelligence. This started to change not only our thinking, but the direction we began taking as a company.
This has all led to where we are today:- A newly engineered framework for Ostendo that natively runs in a hosted cloud environment as well as supporting the on-premise architecture.
- A UI/UX layer (HTML/JavaScript/AI) sitting on top of Ostendo, which we have named Ostendo Continuum (meaning: a continuous sequence where things gradually change – continuous improvement).
- Once Ostendo has been updated to Ostendo Continuum (currently using Ostendo 243 as the internal name until the public release in Jan 2026), we'll be rolling out continuous updates and improvements. As you may have noticed with the pre-release version of 243, once the upgrade was applied from 242, the application and any database changes are made available as soon as we release them – no more major updates.
The key change with Development-X, as you may have noticed on the new website, is our complete adoption of AI—both for new development and low-level integration within the Ostendo framework. It's not about adding a few enhancements so we can label the application 'AI enabled'; it's about changing the DNA of the application and of our company. In all the years we've been involved in and with the software industry, there has never been a technological change as big or as far-reaching.
New Pricing OptionYou'll have also noticed on our new website the addition of the 5-user pack pricing concept, effectively eliminating the upfront licence fee and only charging the traditional maintenance fee. Although Ostendo has never been an expensive application, we predict the whole software application market is changing and repositioning is critical for all software applications—in fact, I'd say most businesses generally.
With the advent of vibe coding (Vibe coding is a modern, AI-driven software development style where developers use natural language prompts to have large language models (LLMs) generate, modify, and debug code), the exponential rise in AI capability, the astronomical effort and funds being applied to LLM (AI) companies, and the massive cloud service providers (Hyperscalers)—software pricing can only go in one direction. We believe traditional pricing models are likely to break over the next few years.
We already know that what has taken us months or weeks in the past to develop might now take us days (and this is likely an underestimate as tools get better, and we further develop our base framework). I think the implications for all software are obvious. Our strategy has been to embrace the change, pricing Ostendo as a commodity application, allowing the real investment to go into training and business process improvement; and this where the Ostendo partners strength lies.
What's Being Released with Ostendo ContinuumThank you to all consulting partners who have been involved with testing the new version of Ostendo—we appreciate the effort required. The simplest approach to outlining what's being released progressively over the next few months is to provide a grouped list covering Platform/Technology, New Functionality, and Upgrades to existing screens.Platform/Technology- Native HTTPS framework for cloud database hosting
- Client and Remote Configuration Utilities for managing database locations (multi-Companies), definition of where files reside (server side), management of Ostendo auto updates, and numerous other administration tools
- The option of a simple point-and-click cloud database hosting option through Cassini Cloud
New Functionality in Version 243 (Current Pre-Release)- Two-bin inventory system – complementing the perpetual offering
- Default field values, validation rules, and action definitions for all Ostendo tables
- Password strength definition for user password security
New Functionality from January 2026 (Continuum Edition using OHJA Platform - Refer to OHJA definition)- Graphical launch screen for running Ostendo options (screens, reports, inquiries, etc.)
- Native Business Intelligence dashboard designer and runtime viewer with optional real-time drilldown capability
- Process Navigator with advanced searching – more information will be coming out on this new approach to driving Ostendo
- Graphical Bill of Material viewer – simple multi-version, multi-level inquiry with customisable information display panels
- Process Models for standard operating procedures – the ability to build these dynamically within Ostendo and use them for training or for standard processes that can take the user through the steps, with the ability to run screens/reports/inquiries from within each process step
- Order Process Traveler – a shop floor execution screen providing step-by-step process adherence and documentation, recording of QA, Health & Safety, and general data collection per step, with step completions and employee-level approvals
- Approval Process Traveler – similar to the Order Process Traveler but linked to approving things like Purchase Orders and Customer credit limits
- Traceability Process Traveler – again similar to the Order Process Traveler, but linked to item batch numbers and/or serial numbers, with a new Bill of Tests (like a BOM) with steps and specific testing required by step
- AI-enabled Supplier Invoice & Delivery Docket importer – using AI to extract data from external documents to feed directly into Ostendo tables. As we develop this further, we'll also provide for catalogues, manual timesheets, etc.
- 'Ask Ostendo' portal – AI natural language queries linked to specific data repositories (information from the Ostendo database, company-specific procedures and knowledge, and the complete global Ostendo knowledge repository for support documentation, help manuals, setup procedures, performance tuning, technical information, etc.)
- Multiple environment Timesheet entry screens (varying styles for internal and external use)
- Online Ticketing/Support app (we'll be replacing our partner portal before rolling it out for general use)
- Multi-Style smart constraint scheduling board (Manufacturing/Service/Jobbing/Deliveries) – provides what-if capability and dynamic optimisation based on different options (due date, material availability, capacity, customer priority, etc.)
- Standardised CAD integrations – we're developing simple imports from applications like SolidWorks and Autodesk AutoCAD to import Bills of Material
- Built-in native QR and GS1 barcode generation and reading, primarily for manufacturing and/or jobbing environments
- Snapshot reporting and data entry developer and deployment model – a simple yet extremely powerful new style of reporting and data entry form creation running in the browser for internal or external deployment
- Online Mobility app using the OHJA framework, complementing Freeway but providing an improved UX
- Full Sales Rep CRM app using the OHJA framework and embedding the 'Ask Ostendo' assistant
Initial Priority Screen Redevelopment (using OHJA Platform)In addition to the configurability of these screens, we'll be building in the ability to incorporate AI to provide users with real-time information and validation as they enter data. For example, in the service industry we may wish to check the weather forecast for a required date, get information on current steel prices or exchange rates, or analyse data from within the Ostendo database. The idea is that based on criteria like order type, we send a prompt to the LLM (AI) and display information within the screen that can influence what's promised.- POS
- Order processing (Jobs, Sales, Purchase and Assembly)
- Master screens (Customer, Suppliers, Items, Descriptors)
- Invoice & Payment processing screens (Batch Invoicing, Customer Payments & Deposits)
- Inventory transactional screens
- Assignment board, job calendar, constraint scheduling board
OHJA Configurable Platform OptionsThe UI for OHJA screens is dynamically created (from the Curo design)—in other words, it's not hardcoded, which gives rise to the following benefits:- Screen flow can be controlled via customisable flow/layout templates
- Field captions/terminology can be swapped out based on user-defined logic (Job Type, User, etc.)
- Multilingual translations based on the above (using AI to build translations if required)
- Field visibility based on user-defined logic (Job Type, User, etc.)
- User-defined defaults, validation rules, and actions enable data-level customisation
- Multiple variants of the same screen can be generated (based on order type, site, user, etc.)
Other Services Available in the first half of 2026- Launch of Ostendo AI Collective (OAC) in March 2026 – see the new website for further explanation (AI Collective page)
- New guided AI implementation process (more information will be released early 2026)
Future DirectionHopefully our development and rollout strategy makes sense. With the best of intentions, we can't even predict exactly how AI will evolve next year—the only sure thing is that it will evolve and we need to be agile enough to pivot when necessary.
As a company, we're immersed (as we should be) in the changes and the opportunities that arise seemingly daily. We'll pass on as much information as we can to partners and clients. Although it can seem overwhelming at times, the opportunities that AI presents all of us are huge—we'll do what's required to work with you on providing the tools needed to make you successful.
Please let me know if you have concerns or questions on strategy.
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Thank you again,
Jeff |
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