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Oracle APEX: Smart way to build business apps on your existing Oracle Database
Already using Oracle Database? Oracle APEX lets you turn this powerful foundation into an enterprise-grade app—quickly, seamlessly, and securely.
What is Oracle APEX?
Low-code development is no longer a niche approach. It’s growing at 21% annually, expected to reach $30 billion by 2028, and is already used by 87% of enterprise developers for at least part of their work. Oracle APEX, also known as Application Express, is one of the most popular, practical, and secure tools for enterprises, with over 2,000 new apps created daily. Running natively on Oracle Database, this framework enables the development of responsive and scalable apps directly on top of existing data. That means no data movement, no duplication, and no exposure to external systems.
Who benefits most from APEX?
Oracle APEX is best-suited for organizations:
- Already working within the Oracle ecosystem
- Aiming to reduce time to market
- Facing rising development and maintenance costs
- Looking to streamline disconnected, manual workflows
- Needing to share data externally without exposing internal systems
- Prioritizing data security and compliance
Why APEX?
Companies worldwide prefer Oracle APEX to build business-critical apps on Oracle Database. Here’s what makes this platform a strategic choice.
- 01
Rapid delivery
Minimized hand coding and no infrastructure overhead—developers work with intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, prebuilt templates, and visual design tools. Changes are made without extensive recoding. All this lets teams focus on business logic and significantly reduce iteration cycles. - 02
Built-in security
Running inside Oracle Database, APEX inherits its full security stack, including data encryption, access control, and role-based permissions. It also supports enterprise-grade authentication protocols like SSO, LDAP, and OAuth. No external tools or additional setup are required. - 03
Cost-efficiency
APEX is included in the Oracle Database license, so there are no additional per-user or per-app fees, middleware, API gateways, or external hosting environment. This unified tech stack results in faster development, reduced complexity, and lower development costs. - 04
Responsiveness
APEX incorporates universal prebuilt components, enabling developers to create apps that seamlessly adapt to any screen size—desktop, tablet, or mobile—without managing multiple layouts or writing custom CSS. This ensures a consistent user experience with minimal front-end effort. - 05
Flexible deployment
In the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment—APEX apps run wherever your Oracle Database resides. Staying close to the data ensures lower latency and gives enterprises full flexibility to align app deployment with the existing infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and scaling requirements. - 06
Data-centriсity
Support for SQL and PL/SQL allows developers to work directly with data and implement advanced business logic when needed. Declarative components and wizards simplify CRUD operations. Combined with in-database processing, this enables fast, efficient development of data-intensive apps. - 07
Localization
APEX offers multilingual user interface (UI) translation out of the box. There’s no need to duplicate code or maintain separate versions. The system automatically adapts app content to the user’s current location, enabling enterprises to accelerate global expansion with less overhead. - 08
Easy management
APEX apps are easy to manage through the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure console, REST APIs, and Software Development Kits (SDKs). This facilitates governance setup, usage tracking, and billing analysis, helping organizations maintain full control over their resources and scale their apps as demands grow.
Oracle APEX Development
Explore our expertiseAPEX use cases
APEX is used to solve real, high-impact business challenges. Among the most common scenarios are:
- Custom app development. Building lightweight, business-critical cloud or mobile apps that respond quickly while ensuring security and integration with core systems.
- Oracle Forms modernization. Migrating out-of-date Oracle Forms to APEX to improve usability, reduce maintenance costs, and enable access across browsers and devices.
- Spreadsheet replacement. Replacing traditional spreadsheets with a structured, intuitive, and easy-to-maintain web app that provides the whole team with a single source of truth.
- Reporting solution development. Designing intuitive reporting apps that consolidate fragmented data, implement role-based data access, and provide real-time analytics.
- External data access and sharing. Providing external data access and sharing through APEX apps to enable customers and partners to interact with the business without exposing internal systems.
- SaaS and Oracle E-Business Suite extensions. Building SaaS and E-Business Suite extensions to implement interactive reports, streamline multi-step workflows, support industry-specific logic, and connect external data sources.
As technology evolves, software development is becoming more accessible to businesses and individuals. Low-code practices allow developers to build web and mobile applications with minimal coding efforts, saving time and resources. One standout low-code service is Oracle Application Express (APEX), which is gaining traction for its efficiency and ease of use.
We use APEX where it works best
Oracle APEX is most valuable for organizations operating with mission-critical data, strict regulations, and constant change, requiring systems to update quickly. These challenges are common in the following industries:
Fintech
We build internal tools for risk assessment, regulatory reporting, claims processing, and client data collection and validation—all while keeping sensitive financial data secure inside Oracle Database.
Healthcare
From appointment scheduling to lab result tracking and patient portals, we develop apps that digitize manual processes and meet strict data protection regulations like HIPAA, HITECH, and others.
Logistics
We use APEX to build modern and intuitive apps that provide real-time visibility across the supply chain, including shipment tracking, fleet management, route planning, and delivery status reporting.
Manufacturing
Using Oracle APEX, we build robust, centralized, web-based tools that help manufacturers manage inventory, monitor production, and automate shop floor operations.
Government
We develop internal portals, case tracking systems, budget planning and expenditure tracking apps, and other APEX-based solutions that help improve service delivery, transparency, and resource management.
Education
Student portals, academic record systems, scheduling tools, and more—we create APEX solutions that help track student performance, generate transcripts, and support day-to-day academic activities.
See also:
How to modernize a legacy application from multiple legacy systems: approach and key elements
The software development process involves many challenges that developers must solve to deliver valuable products. Transforming multiple legacy platforms into a modern solution is one of them.
How we work
Oracle APEX consulting and requirement gathering
Our Oracle APEX application development services begin when we dive into your business processes, requirements, challenges, and objectives to map out the most effective way to extend your existing data infrastructure with APEX apps.
Solution architecture and UI/UX design
As a part of our APEX web design services, our architects draft the app structure while our UI/UX experts prepare interface concepts to ensure ease of use across devices.
Oracle APEX development
Our Oracle APEX developers build the app directly on top of your Oracle Database, ensuring the solution aligns with your enterprise security and compliance policies.
Testing and security validation
We rigorously test all components and validate performance, role-based access control, encryption, and regulatory compliance. Our team proactively identifies and addresses any issues to ensure the solution is ready to go live.
Deployment
Depending on where your Oracle Database resides—in the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment—we smoothly deploy your APEX app, minimizing downtime and service interruptions.
Support and monitoring
Our Oracle APEX mobile development services don’t stop after the launch. We monitor the system, gather feedback, and release necessary updates. Whether it’s optimizing performance or adding new functionality, we are here to support you.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Services
Explore our expertiseWhy EffectiveSoft?
Oracle-certified experts
With a deep understanding of Oracle infrastructure, our certified APEX developers create systems that are secure by design and maintainable over time.
24/7 availability
Operating in the US, LATAM, UAE, and Eastern Europe, we provide continuous support aligned with your working hours.
Compliance and security
We are ISO/IEC 27001 certified, regularly pass independent security audits, and conform to regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and others.
Cross-domain expertise
We have successfully delivered over 1800 solutions across industries where security and data privacy are nonnegotiable.
Satisfied clients
Our clients stay with us because we treat quality as standard: 60% return for a new project and 79% name us their preferred partner.
On-time delivery
We plan carefully, stay focused, and stick to commitments. As a result, 94% of our projects are delivered on time.
Conclusion
APEX isn’t a default answer to every problem, but if you already use Oracle Database, work in a regulated environment, need to scale fast, and want to cut costs, APEX web development is the way to go. You don’t have to start from scratch, your data remains within systems, and you don’t pay for an extra license. Is APEX right for you? Let’s talk.
F.A.Q about Oracle APEX software development
Low-code is a development approach that uses drag-and-drop components and prebuilt modules and templates instead of manual coding.
Yes, Oracle APEX supports integration with third-party systems through REST and SOAP services.
Maintaining an APEX app typically requires knowledge of SQL and PL/SQL, along with an understanding of Oracle Database architecture, web development practices, RESTful web services, design techniques, performance optimization methods, and more. Although APEX minimizes the use of coding, proficiency in programming languages like JavaScript can greatly enhance app functionality.
APEX relies heavily on predefined themes and templates, which can limit customization without a skilled developer to extend the UI through traditional coding methods.
Additionally, APEX can be hard to manage for large or complex apps. Professional developers can address this challenge through database partitioning, query optimization, and regular performance monitoring.You can start by contacting our Oracle APEX software development company. We’ll review your current IT infrastructure, assess integration and compliance requirements, provide Oracle APEX consulting, and then design a solution tailored to your objectives.
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