Agentic AI in Mendix

What if your app doesn't just respond to users, but also performs actions itself? Imagine: you type something in, and the app then opens programs, fills in forms, or processes reports without you having to click anything. That sounds futuristic, but it's already happening. And you can use it within your organization. With the help of agentic AI and Mendix, the low-code platform you use to build apps at lightning speed, you can discover today just how far you can take automation.

In this blog I'll tell you: what agentic AI actually is, how it works together with Mendix, and more importantly… how you can put it to smart use within your organization.

What Is Agentic AI and Why Is It Interesting?

Agentic AI is artificial intelligence that does more than talk or give answers. It thinks along and also performs actions. Think of it as a digital assistant that understands what you're asking, then clicks buttons itself, opens windows, or fills in data.

Below are a few examples of tasks you could have such an AI carry out:

• "Open Excel and put the contents of this report into a new spreadsheet."
• "Download yesterday's report and email it to the Finance team."

The AI agent carries out these actions independently on a virtual computer, as if there were an employee behind it. And all of this via your app.

How Do These AI Agents Work in Practice?

Imagine an app with a chat function. An employee types something in there, for example an instruction to process customer data. That instruction is forwarded to an AI model, such as GPT-5 or Claude.

That AI model understands the intent, translates it into concrete steps (such as: open the program, click here, type this), and sends this as instructions to a virtual computer. Via a local port, you can even watch on that computer's screen exactly what's happening. If needed, the app also sends a screenshot back to the AI to check whether the steps are being carried out correctly.

Concrete Applications of Agentic AI

Curious what agentic AI looks like in practice? Below are concrete examples of what you could already automate today. Some applications you can set up today with the right knowledge and existing Mendix tools. Other examples require a bit more technical depth or coordination and mainly give a glimpse of where we're heading with smart process automation.

• Entering data into legacy systems
  Do you still have an outdated system where employees manually enter data? Let your app take over this work. The AI can log in via the virtual computer, fill in fields, and save data.
• Automatically merging Excel reports
  Imagine: the monthly reports are spread across three files. You ask your app to merge them. The AI opens Excel, retrieves the data, neatly pastes everything underneath each other, and saves the result.
• Taking screenshots of websites
  Do you regularly need to take screenshots of websites? Let the AI automatically navigate to the right pages, take screenshots, and save them in SharePoint or Teams.
• Making customer service smarter
  Companies use agentic AI to speed up customer service processes. The AI automatically assesses incoming tickets, answers frequently asked questions, and kicks off internal workflows.
• Optimizing stock and delivery
  In logistics, agentic AI uses real-time data to adjust routes or reorder stock. The AI analyzes the current situation, compares alternatives, and independently sets follow-up steps in motion.

Best of all: this is easier to achieve in an application than you might think. It all runs on the combination of Mendix + AI.

Why This Is Interesting for Your Organization:

• Save time
  Have repetitive tasks such as data entry, reporting, or ticket handling carried out automatically. This frees up time for more important work.
• Start quickly
  Within Mendix, ready-made modules are available that let you quickly set up a working prototype. No complicated development projects are needed.
• Scalable without risk
  We recommend starting small. For example, with a single internal process, and then expanding step by step once it's working. This way you stay in control of both impact and costs.
• Forward-thinking image
  By deploying AI for real actions instead of just smart answers, you show that you're not just experimenting, but also innovating where it counts.

But What About Costs and Safety?

Yes, AI costs money. Every request to an AI model costs computing power and comes with associated costs. The art is therefore to combine smart use of AI with tangible time savings or error reduction.

We recommend:

• Keep it manageable, make clear agreements about when and for what you deploy AI.
• Keep control over what AI is allowed to do and which systems it may access.
• Experiment and work with AI in a safe, isolated virtual environment

The Next Step?

Agentic AI might sound exciting, but with Mendix you can experiment with a low barrier to entry. Set up a simple virtual computer, use an AI connector, and let your app truly do something for your user for the first time. Chances are you won't want to go back after that.

Want to know more? Feel free to get in touch.

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Written by Andy Berger,
Mendix Developer