How an OutSystems Agent helps public-sector employees refocus on what matters
What I witnessed when AI Agents suddenly became more than just a concept
I was there when our CTO, Jeroen, presented an AI Agent built with OutSystems during one of our Ask & Inspire sessions for a public‑sector client. And honestly: this wasn’t one of those polite demos where people nod, thank you, and move on with their day. What I saw was something different.
I saw understanding.
I saw realisation.
And most of all, I saw participants recognising what this could mean for them.
But first – some context
Jeroen didn’t start with technology. He started with explanation. With context. He walked the attendees through the bigger picture:
- What do we actually mean when we talk about AI?
- What is an AI Agent — and what isn’t it?
- How do OutSystems Agent Workbench and Azure AI Foundry fit into this?
- And perhaps the most important question: what does this mean for your work?
I could tell this helped. AI became less abstract — something they could actually influence.
The moment everything clicked
Then came the demo. Not a theoretical story, but a working AI Agent, built with OutSystems and applied to one of their own business processes. You know the type: a process that takes a lot of time, isn’t particularly loved, but still needs to be done. The first reactions were curious. Then practical: “Oh, so it can already do this?” And then personal: “This is going to save us so much time.”
The agent gathers information, summarises it, and produces a concrete recommendation. A staff member can then review, accept, or reject that advice. This agent can do in 5 seconds what would normally take an employee 20–30 minutes. I saw the realisation land:
This doesn’t take away the work I care about.
It takes away the hassle that keeps me from doing that work.
It wasn’t about cost savings. It was about enabling people to spend time on what truly matters.
What stayed with me most
The solution wasn’t about reducing costs — and everyone felt that. The goal was something else entirely: creating space. Space so employees can return to why they chose the public sector in the first place:
- Truly helping people, and helping them faster
- Paying attention to complex situations
- Working from a sense of societal purpose
This is why we do it
I heard participants say out loud that this would help them regain satisfaction in their work. And honestly, that might be the biggest win of all. What I saw that day reaffirmed what CoolProfs stands for: Technology is not a goal in itself. It’s a means to make people stronger in their roles. With OutSystems and AI Agents, we don’t build solutions for people — we build them with people in mind.
And when you see what that unlocks in a room full of public‑sector professionals, you know: this is exactly how Agents should be used.
Want to explore this more deeply? You can – no strings attached. Feel free to contact me!
