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 come to the surface. Inefficiency, susceptibility to errors and a lack of scalability can then become a bottleneck. Switching to a custom solution is a logical step, yet organizations often postpone it. The reason is that they fear a custom solution is time-consuming and expensive. Another concern is that the specific processes in Excel cannot be replaced one-to-one.
Still, these concerns are unfounded. For Flax Belgium, an international trading company, for example, we developed a custom order processing system in Mendix. This solution replaces dozens of Excel files, so they now work faster, more efficiently and without errors. In this blog, I tell you more about the benefits of a custom application in Mendix compared to Excel. To explain further, I 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 is hard to find out who made changes to a document when formulas stop working. When you work with complex or multiple Excel files, it can also be difficult to keep an overview. As a result, you become increasingly dependent on the people who built those spreadsheets.
A custom application in Mendix prevents these problems. You regain control over your processes. With low-code you can build solutions quickly and efficiently that fit your wishes perfectly. This makes it relatively easy to make changes or add new functionality to the app. You can build in standard checks or mandatory fields to make sure all required information is recorded.
2. User-friendly data entry and error handling
Working in Excel requires a lot of manual work and is error-prone. For growing companies, Excel therefore quickly becomes an obstacle. 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 far more scalable.
3. Unique features of Mendix
Mendix offers features that Excel cannot, such as custom screens and workflows, automatic document generation in your own corporate style, and integrations with systems like Exact Online for automatic synchronization of your financial data. This way, a custom application helps you digitize, automate and innovate faster.
4. Easy collaboration
A major advantage of the Mendix solution we developed for Flax Belgium is that collaboration with customers and suppliers runs seamlessly. Where manual work used to be required, everything now happens 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 extend | High, easily adapted to growing business needs |
| Error checking | 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 | Cumbersome, especially with shared files | Seamless collaboration on a single platform |
| Integration | Difficult 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-proofing | Outdated, not scalable for growth | Robust, scalable and future-proof |
Conclusion
With Mendix, you move effortlessly 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 require. During this session you will experience the differences between Excel and a custom application in Mendix for yourself. After one day, you will have a fleshed-out use case, a concept roadmap and a clickable prototype of the application, so you know exactly what to expect.
Are you looking for an alternative to an Excel file that has got out of hand? And do you want to optimize your business processes? Then get in touch to discover the possibilities of Mendix.
Want to know more about Mendix?
Are you considering having a web app developed with Mendix? Or do you already have an online web app and want to convert it into a Progressive Web App? We help you with advice and are happy to think along about the possible applications of Mendix for your specific situation. Get in touch with one of our account managers for an introductory conversation.
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