Digital Transformation Tools in the Medical Equipment Field

In the company, I am primarily responsible for product design, project management, and establishing software development infrastructure. Besides, I am a full-stack developer involved in the research and development of all company products—from front-end to back-end, databases to servers.

Founded in 2016, Aidea is an international, innovative modern service company and a recognized high-tech enterprise in China and Beijing’s Zhongguancun. The company focuses on innovation in the medical device maintenance and management services (MMS) sector, offering advanced solutions and digital services to clients.

MX: What tools did you and your team primarily use before adopting the Mendix low-code platform?

Yangliang Shang: Before discovering Mendix, we primarily used tools like uni-app for Android and iOS development and VScode along with IntelliJ IDEA for web development.

MX: How did you learn about Mendix low-code?

Yangliang Shang: Our company’s CEO and Chairman, Mr. Bingjun Zhang, who has 18 years of experience at Siemens, always kept a close eye on Siemens’ progress in China even after leaving the company. Upon learning about Siemens’ addition of the Mendix low-code platform, he encouraged us to dive deep into understanding its potential.

MX: How long have you been using the Mendix low-code platform for application development?

Yangliang Shang: We started exploring Siemens Mendix in 2021, dedicating that year to learning. By 2022, we began developing internal products using Mendix. It’s safe to say we’ve been utilizing Mendix for over four years now.

MX: What prompted you to switch to Mendix as your primary application development platform?

Yangliang Shang: During our journey of software application development and digital transformation, we encountered several challenges:

• Communication gaps between the software and business teams during the design and development phases. Developers struggled to understand business requirements, while business teams lacked technical knowledge, leading to reduced efficiency and quality.
• Traditional software development involved numerous roles and participants, including product management, project management, design, development, and testing for front-end, back-end, web, and mobile platforms. This increased team size, costs, and communication challenges.
• Ensuring the quality of software design and functional modules was difficult, with issues like inconsistent code quality, poor user experience, lack of seamless interactions, and inadequate data security and access control.

After research, we found Siemens’ Mendix platform, which uses a drag-and-drop visual interface to develop applications quickly. It perfectly addressed our challenges. Our CEO’s trust in Siemens’ technological reliability and innovation further solidified our decision to adopt Mendix.

MX: What applications have you developed with Mendix, and who uses them?

Yangliang Shang: So far, we’ve built two key applications: a Device Maintenance Assistant and a Service Procurement Management System. These systems are primarily designed for hospitals, providing comprehensive solutions for equipment maintenance and service management.

MX: What Mendix components/modules did you use in these applications? Any feedback?

Yangliang Shang: We used modules like the Log module, Email module, Timer component, Chart component, Tree component, ExcelImport, ExcelExport, and WorkflowCommons. These components are ready-to-use and require minimal configuration. For instance, while developing the Service Procurement Management System, we used WorkflowCommons to set up an approval process within a day.

Tree Component

Approval Workflow

MX: Where do you go for help when facing challenges in Mendix development?

Yangliang Shang: I usually refer to official documentation. Most problems can be solved this way. For unresolved issues, I turn to the official community for help.

MX: Which application are you most proud of? Can you elaborate?

Yangliang Shang: I’m most proud of the Service Procurement Management System. It standardizes, digitizes, and automates procurement processes, enhancing hospital operational management. The system saves time for users, reduces errors, and significantly improves efficiency and quality.

MX: What benefits have these applications brought to users?

Yangliang Shang: Our software reduces manual data entry, saving labor costs while enhancing equipment usage efficiency and reducing operational costs. Agile development with Mendix improves collaboration with clients, reducing misunderstandings and enabling continuous iteration to meet user needs.

MX: Compared to traditional development, what are Mendix’s main advantages?

Yangliang Shang:

• Easier collaboration and mutual understanding between business and development teams.
• Visual, intuitive, and efficient communication between developers and business stakeholders.
• Shorter development time with fewer developers needed.

MX: What sets Mendix apart from other low-code platforms?

Yangliang Shang: Mendix’s support for microflows and custom logic stands out. While many platforms rely on basic predefined logic, Mendix allows developers to create complex business logic with custom extensions, outperforming other tools significantly.

MX: How was your experience using Mendix Pro IDE?

Yangliang Shang: Mendix Pro IDE is incredibly user-friendly and efficient. Its intuitive interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and customizable themes enhance the development experience. Advanced features like MxAssist Logic Bot simplify configurations, saving time and effort.

MX: Do you plan to use Mendix for future projects?

Yangliang Shang: We plan to develop a supplier management system and upgrade our Service Procurement Management System with more automation features.

MX: Would you recommend Mendix to other developers? Why?

Yangliang Shang: Low-code is an intelligent choice for companies without strong IT capabilities. Mendix, with its speed, professionalism, and cost-effectiveness, is the best choice, especially for industrial and international enterprises.