Mendix is a leading enterprise low-code application development platform. And with Mendix you can convert a spreadsheet into an app, create an organization-wide app portfolio, modernize an entire core system. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Mendix’s Senior Director of Vertical Marketing Erika Arena to learn more about the company.
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Arena said:
“Mendix, a Siemens business, is the only low-code platform designed to address the full complexity of enterprise software development challenges. I often refer to Mendix as a digital transformation enabler, rather than a developer tool. Our core mission is to build better software faster. We achieve this by enhancing collaboration between IT and business, using visual development methods accessible to employees of all skill levels, and offering a marketplace of connectors and widgets that boost component reusability for customers. In turn, organizations can embark on more complex, transformational initiatives by engaging everyone to capture requirements, form ideas, and embed value assessment throughout the lifecycle of the software portfolio. This collaborative approach has aided more than 4,000 organizations in 46 countries to move the needle sustainably, strategically and securely.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Arena noted:
Since 2005, we have helped enterprises bridge the gaps in communication and collaboration between business and IT, turning ideas into outcomes through sophisticated applications. The first Mendix platform established a common visual development language and helped novice and professional developers validate requirements before the practice of coding began. Our founders believed that incorporating visual tools into the design phases would help non-technical folks better communicate their ideas throughout the entire development process. As we continued enhancing the platform, Mendix evolved to include model-driven development, AI and ML tools, cloud-native capabilities, unlimited extensibility, and other features that support the entire software development life cycle (SDLC).
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Arena cited:
“We are incredibly proud of Mendix’s growth over the past 19 years. A major milestone came in 2018, when Mendix joined the Siemens family, empowering us to innovate and scale faster. Since then, we’ve grown to serve over 4,000 customers and 50 million end users with the support of our 1,400+ global employees.”
“Our alliances and integrations with other leading technology companies have also been pivotal to our success and are central to our business model. For instance, our recent partnership with Snowflake, announced in June, enables organizations to harness Snowflake’s extensive data library within Mendix’s low-code application platform. This collaboration allows developers to integrate data seamlessly and make informed recommendations on its optimal use in applications.”
“In terms of product advancements, we launched Mendix 10.12 in June 2024, featuring next-generation AI-assisted development tools such as chatbots, new assistance services, translation capabilities, and enhanced governance. These updates help organizations manage access and ensure only authorized users interact with Mendix-developed applications and platform services, addressing a common security challenge for internal applications. In fact, 71% of enterprises agree that low-code platforms like Mendix reduce risk and help with compliance to evolving regulations.”
“While our technology continues to advance, our commitment to democratizing digital transformation remains strong. This dedication was recognized once again by Gartner, who named Mendix a leader in enterprise low-code applications for the eighth consecutive year in 2024.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Arena about customer success stories, she highlighted:
“The payroll industry continues to face structural challenges, such as scaling functionality. Global payroll provider datascalehr set out to address these issues by developing new AI-powered software to streamline multi-country payroll operations and enhance customer satisfaction. They partnered with Mendix to build their core product using low-code, creating a new offering in just 8 months with outstanding success.”
“Managing compliance across international borders is complex; we’ve experienced this firsthand with our 5 international Mendix offices. Multi-country payroll is especially intricate, given the differing regulations, deductions, social insurances, and tax requirements in each country. As providers grow, they often struggle to protect their operating margins amidst this increasing complexity. What datascalehr offers its clients is what Mendix provides to datascalehr: the ability to focus less on technical execution and more on solving customer problems.”
“datascalehr selected Mendix for our flexibility in prototyping and responsiveness to customer needs as a startup, reliability for scaling without performance issues, and essential compliance and security certifications—such as SOC2 and ISO—that are critical in the payroll industry. These tools have become invaluable for datascalehr’s customers, enabling them to implement multi-country payroll solutions an estimated 10x faster.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Arena affirmed:
“Mendix stands out because we go beyond quick-fix solutions, addressing enterprise-wide challenges with a strategic, transformative approach to low-code. Unlike many platforms limited to tactical tasks, Mendix empowers organizations to reimagine entire business processes. Our platform integrates technologies like AI and cloud computing, enabling end-to-end optimization and fostering a collaborative, efficient work environment.”
“True transformation isn’t just about deploying new tools; it’s about empowering people and aligning processes. Mendix provides not only robust technology but also strategic support, including business consulting and change management, to ensure that new solutions are fully embraced by teams. Our recent survey shows that 84% of IT leaders agree on the need to upskill teams to leverage low-code’s full potential.”
“Mendix serves as a long-term partner, helping organizations adapt to emerging technologies and drive sustainable innovation across the enterprise. We’re not just a tech provider—we’re a catalyst for lasting digital transformation.”
“The customer is a starting point for us – we work backwards based on the customer’s specific needs. As a first step, we clearly defined the customer experience and interaction points needed across the organization, mapping out the customer journey, and identifying the necessary units and their points of interaction to ensure a seamless experience. By maintaining a balance between teams’ autonomy and integration, we can nurture speed and innovation while ensuring essential interlocks, prevent silos and enhance collaboration.”
“We also emphasize purposeful and focused collaboration. Teams come together with clear objectives, ensuring that interactions are meaningful and people work together towards the customer’s goals. Open communication, transparency, and the use of collaborative tools further facilitate coordination, enabling real-time information sharing and project management. This integrated approach ensures that while teams operate independently to maintain speed, they remain aligned towards a common goal of delivering a superior, cohesive customer experience.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Arena emphasized:
“Mendix envisions a future where organizations can confidently build and deploy software critical to their business, from core systems to legacy integrations and targeted departmental solutions, all through our platform.”
“Our overarching goal is to make every application built on Mendix future-ready. The platform is designed to adapt and evolve, with continuous integration of emerging technologies through our ecosystem. This ensures that our customers are always equipped with the latest advancements. For example, our collaboration with AWS provides seamless access to generative AI capabilities, empowering users to tap into cutting-edge tech with ease.”
Erika Arena’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Arena shared:
“I am the Sr. Director of Vertical Marketing at Mendix, a Siemens business, where I focus on the value of solving industry-specific challenges with our leading low-code platform. I am an experienced product leader with a background in product management, marketing, communications, and knowledge management. My career spans roles at companies such as Qurate Retail Group, Comcast Business, and OMNICOM Media Group, where I’ve consistently delivered customer-centric results. I graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina and strive to blend creativity and analytics in every aspect of my work.”
“I am responsible for Mendix’s marketing strategy for Industrial industries, influenced by our parent company Siemens, and Mendix’s target verticals. This approach emphasizes the benefits of Mendix’s low-code platform in addressing industry-specific problems and highlights partners in our network with deep industry experience and successful customer outcomes.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Arena concluded:
“One of my favorite memories at Mendix is the launch of Mendix10 in July 2023. I was about to start a new role within the company and was quickly tasked with messaging responsibilities for a new product feature that supports adaptability and maintainability of low-code software solutions. This was a major product release, packed with exciting enhancements and addressed a challenge I faced daily at my previous company. It is inspiring to work for a company that values innovative solutions and releases features that deliver unique results compared to traditional coding and other low-code platforms.”
