Siemens Dayu Platform Enables Business Department Digital Transformation

The Dayu team, established in 2019, is part of Siemens‘ IT Data Analytics department. Its mission is to provide Siemens users with end-to-end data analytics services, enabling business insights to unlock data value and provide critical and reliable support for decision-making.

Business departments within Siemens historically had scattered data sources, lacked systematic and scientific data analysis tools, and relied heavily on manual operations for data cleaning and processing, which were time-consuming and yielded suboptimal results.

The Dayu team used Mendix to develop the Dayu platform which integrates data from multiple systems for real-time analysis and business reporting, and utilizes AI to assist with efficient and agile decision-making. With the Dayu platform, users can access data assets, app stores, training, and events through a single login, improving overall efficiency by over 20%.

IT Empowers Business Transformation

The main services of the Dayu team include:

• Core Data Analysis Services: Using big data, machine learning, cloud technology, and low-code development, the team builds a data analysis ecosystem rooted in Siemens’ business practices and industry expertise. This ecosystem breaks down information silos, explores cutting-edge technologies, and co-develops solutions tailored to Siemens’ operational needs.
• Smart Series Standard Products and Services: Smart Finance, Smart Compliance, Smart Campus, Smart Factory, Smart Workflow, Smart Logistics, Smart Data Analysis, Smart AI.

Since its inception, the Dayu team has successfully delivered over 100 digital projects, serving more than 10,000 Siemens users. The team members are primarily based in Beijing, Dalian, Chongqing, and Nanjing.

While providing products and services to Siemens’ internal users, the Head of IT BI for Siemens China, Li Chaoming, frequently encountered challenges:

• Data Silos and Scattered Sources: Data came from various transactions, external websites, manual entries, and diverse database systems, with significant differences in formats, metrics, dimensions, and categories.
• High Costs in Data Preprocessing: About 80% of the workload was spent on data cleaning and processing, consuming substantial resources and slowing responses to market demands and business changes.
• Lack of User-Friendly Analysis Tools: As data volumes grew rapidly, traditional tools like Excel required long load times and were cumbersome for updates or logic modifications, falling short of user needs.
• Unsystematic Data Analysis: A centralized data governance team was needed to define common business metrics, standardize data, and establish protocols.
• Absence of a Unified Training Platform: Many Siemens users were unaware of available digital platforms and services or lacked knowledge about data lakes, low-code, and data analytics, with minimal training and cross-departmental solution visibility.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Data Management

In 2018, Siemens acquired Mendix, a global leader in low-code development platforms, which was introduced to China in 2019. Recognizing this opportunity, Li Chaoming and his team leveraged the platform to address most of their challenges.

Using Mendix, they developed the Dayu platform and other applications, including:

• Dayu Platform: A unified Siemens digital platform enabling single-login access to data assets, app stores, training, and events, saving users time and effort while achieving integrated data management.
• Project Management Tool: Streamlines project and modification management, covering demand submission, quotation, confirmation, development, user acceptance, and invoicing, involving multiple roles to improve project efficiency.
• IAM Platform: A user permission application and approval platform, replacing paper and email-based processes with streamlined workflows and email notifications for faster, more accurate approvals.

The Dayu platform significantly improved efficiency for business departments. For example, Jessica, a business manager, previously needed 1-3 weeks to prepare reports on monthly business data, efficiency, profitability, and results, which involved:

1. Logging into various systems like ERP and SAP to download data into Excel.
2. Writing numerous formulas in 20+ Excel files to calculate and analyze data.
3. Consolidating findings from multiple reports to create a final presentation for leadership.

With the Dayu platform, over 40 data sources—including SAP, CRM, PTM, SPR, and manual sources—are integrated into a central data lake, standardized, and processed automatically. Reports are generated daily, weekly, or in real-time with greater accuracy and detail, significantly reducing effort and improving data quality.

In the past three years, Li Chaoming’s team has completed several projects within Siemens, creating a comprehensive data and metric system. This system allows management across business units to view consistent metrics and has boosted productivity by 20%.

Better Tools, Better Governance

Reflecting on their journey with Mendix and the Dayu platform, Li Chaoming’s team highlighted key improvements. Before Dayu:

• Data assets were disorganized and accessible only to developers. Analysts and managers relied on exported Excel files for collaboration, which was inefficient.
• Internally developed applications lacked visibility and promotion, with limited opportunities for cross-departmental awareness through presentations or casual discussions.
• Training resources were shared via emails, with low efficiency and no unified platform for dissemination.
• Advanced digital technologies lacked centralized learning platforms for sharing and promotion, now efficiently managed through Dayu.
• IT services were complex and required extensive communication with users, which Dayu has streamlined, saving time and effort.

The value Mendix brings to IT lies in four main areas:

1. Scalability: Reusable components for rapid deployment of new business applications.
2. Rich Modules and Easy Integration: Quickly add or improve system functionality based on user needs while collaborating with existing systems and data.
3. Diverse Development Options: Supports low-code and high-code approaches for efficient development.
4. Cloud-Native: Built for modern, scalable deployments.

Mendix has immense potential, with over 100 applications currently in use, covering material management, intelligent scheduling, import/export customs clearance, risk control, and more.

The Dayu platform has established an ecosystem for end-to-end intelligent data analysis and AI. It empowers IT to support business departments more effectively, driving digital transformation and product implementation.