Choosing between record producers and catalog items

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 1 minute to read

    • Both the record producer and standard catalog item in App Engine Studio (AES) create experiences where users can submit requests through a service portal. However, record producers are more extensible, and enable users to create a record in any table.

    Consider the level of customization

    Record producers allow for more customization, making the most of the App Engine tools to build experiences from scratch.

    Catalog items represent services or items a user can request. The catalog of all items is called the Service Catalog, and is part of Service Catalog Management.

    Comparison of record producers and standard catalog items

    Functional area Record producer Catalog item
    Purpose Create custom fulfillment experiences using App Engine automation tools. Support simple request management applications for which a predefined approval and qualification process exists, such as requesting IT hardware and software.
    Extensibility Customizable. Pre-defined.
    Example Password reset form that creates a password reset request. Form to request a parking permit.
    Development model Process is as follows:
    1. Set up a business-focused data model.
    2. Define the kind of experience your users will leverage.
    3. Define the automation or business logic.
    4. Define the user roles that will use the app.
    		 Catalog items heavily rely on the request fulfillment process for fulfilling items defined in Service Catalog, a central, accurate, and consistent source of data.
    Reporting Easier to create dashboards with a purpose-built data model. Requires creating database views and scripting to gather variables into other tables to configure specific reports.
    Scalability Business-focused app makes it easier to find resources and make app changes in a low-code environment. Typically part of a Service Catalog Management operation with a dedicated team managing each catalog.
    Security Scoped apps allow flexibility to manage permissions without being an administrator. Catalog items are typically built in a specific scope, and less flexible.

    Help topics on record producers and standard catalog items

    For more information, see the following topics: