When one of MRS’s production managers opens their Wheel Warehouse App to monitor equipment data, the sense of relief is palpable.

“If a wheelset has an issue, they can immediately review its maintenance history,” shared Mariana Mourão, the leader of MRS’s Digital Tools Center of Excellence (CoE). “This allows us to respond faster and smarter,” she said, a stark contrast to the challenges they once faced.

MRS Logística, a powerhouse in Brazil’s logistics, manages 20% of the country’s exports. With a fleet of over 20,000 wagons and over 700 locomotives covering three states and connecting 107 municipalities, MRS faces the demanding task of keeping everything running smoothly.

In an increasingly digitalized world, MRS’s Casa de Rodas, or Wheel Warehouse, realized it needed to evolve to generate more value for the company.

In 2024, they took a bold step by adopting Mendix. Now, MRS isn’t just digitizing processes, they’re transforming the way they work. Pain points like outdated manual systems, limited data access, and the need for real-time insights in remote locations are now issues of the past.

With three major applications already live, MRS has built a digital backbone that empowers teams to make smarter, faster decisions with Mendix.

Aligning IT and Business Goals

MRS’s digital transformation wasn’t just about bringing in new technology. It was a shift in how IT and business teams worked together. MRS needed to pivot from manual processes to a more modern platform. Traditional coding process was too slow and costly, so low code became the faster, more agile solution.

“Our focus is on speeding up development and to avoid reinventing the wheel,” said Gabriel Munhoz, Digital Solutions Manager at MRS.

At the same time, the company needed a robust platform, secure, and flexible enough to foster collaboration between business and IT.

Mendix wasn’t just another tool; it was the right long-term partner. After thorough research, MRS chose Mendix for its:

• Continuous innovation, supporting AI and IoT
• Strong integration capabilities
• Comprehensive platform security

Mendix also simplified cloud deployment and enabled faster delivery of everything from minimum viable products to enterprise-grade applications, a key benefit for operations in connectivity-limited environments.

With a clear platform strategy and a strong collaboration model in place, MRS began rapidly turning its digital ambitions into reality.

Keeping Operational Wheels on Track

At the heart of MRS’s operations are the wheelsets. The “Rodeiro” – wheelset – support and propel the wagons. When a wheelset no longer meets standards, MRS doesn’t discard it. Instead, it’s refurbished through an in-house industrial process designed to extend its lifespan and keep operations running smoothly.

But the outdated, 30-year-old process was far from efficient. Operators faced:

• 128 fields to fill out on paper
• Over 65 decision points and authorization steps
• 13 different forms to manage

That’s where the Casa de Rodas–or Wheel Warehouse App–came in. Developed in just four months, it completely transformed the process. Now, operators can track wheelsets in real time, even when offline.

“Operators need to keep working without interruption. The app had to record data continuously and sync automatically when connectivity was restored,” explained Leonardo da Silva Costa, Delivery Manager at TrueChange.

Designed with the operator in mind, the app boasts an intuitive interface, optimized for tablet use in the rugged, industrial environment of the warehouse. Large buttons make navigation simple, even with gloves on.

Other key enhancements include:

• Automated decision-making through 32 guidance rules and 33 tolerance tables.
• Rules-based actions that automatically trigger tasks based on measurements like wheel thickness.
• Quality control and process consistency, improving overall reliability.

Now, operators have access to real-time production data and historical maintenance records with just a few taps.

The app also offers an administrative interface that allows teams to manage settings and permissions, giving them flexibility and control while maintaining strong governance. Gabrielle Souza, Product Designer at TrueChange, played a key role in ensuring this balance.

The impact was immediate:

• 47,000 sheets of paper eliminated annually
• 15 manual processes digitized
• 70 users now rely on the app daily

For team members like Costa, even small changes, like auto-populating personal information at login, have saved valuable time and reduced errors.

“We’re now focused on optimizing operations, boosting productivity, and becoming more strategic,” said Mourão.

Driving Digital Adoption and Change Management

For MRS, technology is only part of the equation. The other key piece is ensuring that people and processes align with the new digital tools.

From the start, change management has been a priority. “We engaged employees early, involving them in testing and even gamifying training to build digital skills. This inclusion ensures a smooth adoption and makes sure no one is caught off guard when an app launches,” Mourão explained.

This unified framework has allowed business and IT teams to work together seamlessly.

On the governance side, MRS has struck a careful balance between autonomy and structure. Munhoz’s decision matrix helps business units evaluate whether they can develop solutions internally or need external support.

Today, MRS’s approach to digital transformation includes three core pillars:

• Internal development: Leveraging Mendix to create reusable assets and best practices.
• Consulting support: Ensuring architecture and integration are successful with external firms creating more complex projects.
• Democratization: Empowering business analysts to build solutions and accelerate project delivery through low-code tools.

The Digital Tools CoE has played a crucial role in supporting this approach. With four experts on the team, the CoE doesn’t just drive projects but also helps other departments manage their own digital initiatives, making sure everything stays on track.

Collaboration with TrueChange has been another cornerstone of MRS’s strategy. Their ongoing partnership ensures expert support on high-impact builds, while agile methodologies keep both teams learning and iterating together to deliver the best results.

“By delivering real value and helping find the best solutions for the business, we aim to build a lasting partnership,” Farias said.

Full Speed Ahead for Future Growth

MRS is now poised for the next phase of its growth–a phase driven by agility and continuous improvement.

For Mourão, the key to using Mendix effectively is clear: “First and foremost, clarity is key. You need to fully understand the business demand and the value you’re aiming to deliver. Also, invest time in really getting to know Mendix. It’s a powerful low-code platform designed for building complete solutions.”

Mourão also stressed the importance of shifting perceptions. “It’s common for low-code tools to be seen only as prototyping platforms, but Mendix is much more than that, especially here in Brazil where it’s still gaining traction. Its robustness gives me confidence in what we can achieve.”

That confidence is already driving new initiatives. One of the upcoming projects, “IUS,” will revolutionize contract management by improving visibility, streamlining access to contract data, and boosting workflow efficiency. It’s another step toward creating a fully integrated digital ecosystem that reduces friction across departments.

Looking ahead, MRS sees Mendix as an integral part of its ongoing modernization journey. With plans to leverage predictive analytics and further digitize operations, the company is ready for whatever comes next.