Siemens Improves Data Collection and Collaboration with Mendix
The Controlling Department of Siemens Digital Industries (DI) plays a pivotal role in providing accurate and timely data for informed management decision-making. However, the team often faced the challenge of being overwhelmed by repetitive manual tasks.
As part of its digital transformation initiative, DI’s Controlling Department set out to explore new tools and methods to address these inefficiencies.
Since 2018, the department has been using Qlik Sense for data visualization and analysis. While it has been effective in presenting data, Qlik Sense was unable to support critical workflows such as data collection, calculations, and approvals—tasks that remained heavily dependent on manual processes. Key inefficiencies included:
- Independent audits: Collecting order details from sales and business colleagues across various regions required significant manual effort, including archiving related documents.
- Factory production and logistics management: Keeping management updated on real-time factory conditions was nearly impossible with manual workflows.
Recognizing the limitations of traditional methods, the department sought a solution that could transform fragmented workflows into a cohesive, customizable digital application. This would minimize reliance on IT resources, reduce development timelines, and empower business users.
Siemens turned to the Mendix platform, enabling non-IT users to develop solutions that improved data collection and streamlined key processes.
An Accessible Development Tool
During an internal IT knowledge-sharing session, the Controlling Department was introduced to Mendix, consistently ranked a leader in Gartner reports. Recognizing its potential, department head Zhimin Xie encouraged the team to explore its capabilities.
“Our goal is to free employees from repetitive manual tasks, improve work efficiency, and reduce labor costs,” Xie shared.
With leadership support, the team’s creativity was unleashed. Led by digital project manager Wanyi Jia, the team developed and launched six applications within six months. For instance, Jia quickly implemented a conference room booking system, replacing manual scheduling with a real-time digital solution.
Transforming Data Collection, Analysis, and Display
The following systems, developed using Mendix, have successfully automated previously manual processes within the Controlling Department:
- Sales Forecast Collection: The department created a system where sales colleagues upload forecasts directly into the platform. Automated quality checks and data integration replaced the manual email-based process, saving two workdays per month and streamlining analysis with Qlik Sense.
- Bonus Allocation Ratio Collection: A system was developed to automate email triggers, set deadlines, and aggregate uploaded bonus allocation ratios, eliminating manual email exchanges and Excel processing.
- Independent Audits: By leveraging low-code, the department automated sampling and feedback collection for twice-yearly audits, significantly reducing the workload and accelerating the process.
- Customer Price Change Reporting: A platform was built to standardize the recording and approval of abnormal price changes, integrating this data into quarterly management reports for real-time visibility.
- Sales Bonus Tracking: Sales employees now access an app to view their performance data in real-time, eliminating delays in bonus updates that previously occurred only annually.
- Factory Production and Logistics Data Collection: A simple yet practical application was launched within one week, automating data collection and reporting, ensuring management stayed updated on factory conditions while saving significant time spent on daily communications.
Maximizing Efficiency with Low-Code
By the end of FY2022, every member of the Controlling Department had earned Mendix developer certification, with Jia achieving intermediate certification. Their expertise was recognized in external low-code competitions, underscoring the department’s commitment to digital transformation.
With low-code development, the team noted parallels to building with Lego blocks:
- Trial-Friendly: The platform allows users to test it before committing, ensuring accessibility for new users.
- Component Variety: Pre-built components enable basic functionality with simple drag-and-drop actions.
- Adaptable Complexity: Suitable for both beginners and experienced developers to create tailored applications.
Shaping Future Development
Moving forward, the Controlling Department will adopt a dual approach to IT development:
- Empower non-IT staff to independently create solutions for collaborative, interaction-heavy projects using low-code or no-code platforms.
- Partner with IT on more complex applications to ensure robust logic and faster iteration cycles.
By leveraging Mendix, the Controlling Department has set a new standard for digital transformation, driving innovation, efficiency, and collaboration in application development.