5 min read
Alternative to Excel: a custom application in Mendix
Many organizations still rely on Excel for important processes. Excel is flexible and easy to use, but it also has its limitations. As companies grow, these limitations increasingly surface. Inefficiency, error-proneness, and a lack of scalability can then become a bottleneck. Switching to a custom solution is then the logical answer. Yet organizations often postpone this. The reason is a fear that a custom solution will be time-consuming and expensive. Another concern organizations have is that the specific processes in Excel can't be replaced one-to-one.
Yet these concerns are unfounded. For example, we developed a custom order processing system in Mendix for Flax Belgium, an international trading company. This solution replaces dozens of Excel files. As a result, they now work faster, more efficiently, and without errors. In this blog I'll tell you more about the benefits of a custom application in Mendix compared to Excel. To explain this in more detail, I'll give 4 reasons why a custom application is a better alternative for your complex processes.
4 reasons to replace Excel with a custom application in Mendix
1. Fully tailored to your organization
Working with Excel often takes a lot of time and is error-prone. For example, it's hard to figure out who made changes to a document when, say, formulas stop working. When you work with complicated or multiple Excel files, it can also be difficult to keep an overview. This makes you increasingly dependent on the people who created these Excel files.
A custom application in Mendix prevents these problems. You get control over your processes back. With low-code you can quickly and efficiently build solutions that perfectly match your needs. This makes it relatively easy to make changes or add new functionality to the app. You can build in standard checks or required fields in the app to make sure all necessary information is captured.
2. User-friendly data entry and error handling
Working in Excel requires a lot of manual work and is error-prone. This means Excel quickly becomes an obstacle for growing companies. Mendix offers automated workflows and real-time error checking, even when multiple users are working at the same time. This lets you make changes quickly and easily, with fewer errors. As a result, a solution in Mendix is much more scalable.
3. Unique Mendix features
Mendix offers features that Excel can't provide, such as custom-built screens and workflows, automatic document generation in your own branding, and connections with systems like Exact Online for automatic synchronization of your financial data. This lets you digitize, automate, and innovate faster with a custom application.
4. Easy collaboration
A major advantage of the Mendix solution we developed for Flax Belgium is that collaboration with customers and suppliers now runs seamlessly. Where manual work used to be required, everything now runs automatically and digitally, from sharing information to placing orders and exchanging documents. The processes have become faster, more efficient, and less error-prone.
A comparison between Excel and Mendix
| Feature | Excel | Mendix |
| Data entry | Manual, error-prone | Automated, with built-in error handling |
| Scalability | Limited, hard to expand | High, easily adapted to growing business needs |
| Error control | No built-in error handling | Real-time validation and automatic error handling |
| User management | No central management, vulnerable with multiple users | User management with roles and permissions |
| Collaboration | Difficult, especially with shared files | Seamless collaboration via a single platform |
| Integration | Hard to integrate with other systems | Seamless integration with (accounting) systems such as Exact Online |
| Efficiency | Slow due to manual processes | Highly efficient thanks to automated workflows |
| Future-readiness | Outdated, not scalable for growth | Robust, scalable, and future-proof |
Conclusion
With Mendix, you effortlessly move from error-prone Excel processes to a fully automated, flexible, and scalable system. This transition is simpler, faster, and more affordable than you might think.
With our ''App in a Day'' session, we make the transition from idea to prototype possible within a few hours. We take the time to map out all your needs, so we know exactly what you need. During this session you'll experience the differences between Excel and a custom application in Mendix yourself. After a day, you'll have a fully worked-out use case, a draft roadmap, and a clickable prototype of the application, so you know exactly what to expect.
Looking for an alternative to a spreadsheet that's gotten out of hand? And want to optimize your business processes? Then get in touch with us to discover the possibilities of Mendix.
Want to know more about Mendix
Considering having a web app developed with Mendix? Or do you already have an online web app and want to turn it into a Progressive Web App? We're happy to help with advice and to think along about the possible applications of Mendix for your specific situation. Get in touch with one of our account managers to schedule an introductory conversation.
Written by Shane Phagoe
Low-Code Consultant