--- title: "Introduction to App Platform" slug: "app-platform-overview" updated: 2025-07-22T16:52:35Z published: 2025-07-22T16:52:35Z canonical: "help.gladly.com/app-platform-overview" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.gladly.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Introduction to App Platform ## **Introduction to App Platform** Gladly’s App Platform enables seamless integration with external systems, extending Gladly's functionality through a powerful and flexible bridge. With Apps, you can enhance Sidekick by triggering Actions or retrieving custom data from external sources. In the Hero interface, the App Platform enriches the Customer Profile with external data, powering Customer Cards and the Rules engine. At its core, the platform follows a “write once, use everywhere” principle—enabling you to create integrations that work seamlessly across Gladly, from customer-facing experiences in Sidekick to agent-facing views in the Hero interface. ### Before you start Before you start planning and building your app, we recommend that you start with [Getting Started with Gladly App Platform](https://help.gladly.com/developer-tutorials/docs/getting-started-with-gladly-app-platform) to familiarize yourself with basic concepts. Also, take a look at Gladly’s suite of app [integrations](https://help.gladly.com/docs/list-of-app-integration-partners). We may already have an app you can utilize. ### Benefits **Increased Agent Productivity** Streamline Hero workflows by centralizing access to Customer data.Thanks to having comprehensive Customer information, Heros can deliver fast, seamless and informed support. **Enhanced Self-Service** By providing AI with data from your external systems, the App Platform enables Customers to find answers easily, complete tasks, and resolve issues independently. This leads to higher Customer satisfaction and reduces the need for agent intervention. **Powerful Routing** The App Platform supercharges Gladly's Rules and Routing. It allows you to trigger custom workflows from any external system directly into the routing decision process. This ensures customers are not just routed efficiently, but based on most relevant information from all your business systems. **Write Once, Use Everywhere** The core principle behind App Platform is efficiency and seamlessness. We aim to provide the tools and resources for you to write integration code once and have it surface elegantly across various Gladly experiences. **Leverage the Appcfg CLI** The `appcfg` command-line tool is provided to streamline the development, testing, and building of your Gladly App Platform applications. ### Use Cases **Instant Order Answers (WISMO Solved)** Customers self-serve real-time tracking in Sidekick; agents see full order details instantly. **Self-service Returns & Exchanges** Customers easily check eligibility and initiate returns/replacements via Sidekick, integrated directly with your OMS. **Smart Routing, Powered by Your Data** Prioritize and route customers with precision using real-time data from any external system, getting them to the right Hero, faster. **Boost Loyalty, In Every Interaction** Agents see loyalty status & points, proactively offering rewards. ## Getting Started Thanks to `appcfg`, you can develop apps, even without a Gladly Sandbox environment. When you are ready to test your app, contact Gladly Support or whenever you have questions or need guidance while developing on App Platform. Gladly provides a repository of [example apps](https://github.com/gladly/app-platform-examples). These out-of-the-box apps can be installed directly or adapted to fit your requirements. Developing a custom app platform requires technical resources and experience in API integration and development. If you do not have these resources in-house, Gladly can recommend experienced contractors to assist you with the development process. Users assigned the **Team Manager** or **Administrator** roles can contact [Gladly Support](https://help.gladly.com/product-docs/pages/en/contact-gladly-support-team). Log into Gladly as one of these roles, click![hamburger-menu-icon(1)](https://cdn.us.document360.io/7047b671-c4f2-4df0-bb0a-b9b511fd2452/Images/Documentation/hamburger-menu-icon(1).svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-31T10%3A43%3A30Z&se=2026-10-31T11%3A43%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=4uUVt1wVlYYop%2B5uQhCGK%2FU%2BB6dMnZpgBcGhyxabjjQ%3D)on the top-left corner, then click **Contact Gladly Support**. Gladly Support's primary operating hours are Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time, but you can submit a request anytime. - Please select the correct business impact (P1 to P4). - Most requests should be sent as a P4.