Key Points:

• Continental, a global automotive technology leader with over 241,000 employees, generates €44.5 billion in annual sales through various products, including tires, electronics, engine components, and software.
• Confronted with outdated applications, the Finance IT team aimed to modernize their platform, empowering business units to develop their own applications.
• Among Continental’s critical applications is the Electronic Capital Request (eCR), a project of 300 stories completed in just 12 weeks, serving 10,000 global users for budget requests and approvals.

Continental’s innovation journey began long before the Model T revolutionized the automobile industry. Just 12 years after Benz patented the first modern car, Continental was pioneering air-filled tires and became the first to produce grooved vehicle tires. This legacy of innovation has persisted, evolving into a comprehensive portfolio that now includes telematics, electronic motors, and automated driving technology, all supported by advanced and adaptable software.

A Software-Driven Enterprise

Angela Werner, Head of Digital Applications Platforms, leads a team dedicated to advancing Continental’s software strategy using business intelligence tools and a low-code platform. These technologies support internal teams working on data-driven initiatives like automated driving and infotainment. “We are all looking for digitalization to bring the company one step forward,” Angela asserts.

Angela, alongside Sven Fleischer, Global Team Lead of Digital Application Platforms, drives the company’s digital transformation by developing applications that streamline internal processes in Finance, Purchasing, and HR. Sven explains, “We support this from a central function, as Group IT, by providing IT tools to make life at work more efficient.”

The Need for Modernization

For years, Continental relied on a suite of software platforms for everything from managing emails to building custom applications for internal processes. However, as support for these platforms dwindled, Continental faced the challenge of modernizing hundreds of critical applications.

Initially, the move to Microsoft Office 365 marked the beginning of their modernization journey. The next step involved finding a modern application development platform to replace the remaining legacy systems. The new platform needed to leverage modern technology, such as cloud computing for reduced latency and mobile capabilities for improved efficiency and user experience.

Beyond technological advancements, the IT team sought to adopt Agile methodologies. This approach would enhance collaboration with business users and ensure rapid validation and iteration of applications. Sven’s team envisioned a platform that would foster creativity, enabling them to ideate, build, and deploy robust applications swiftly.

Enter Mendix Low-Code Platform

Continental discovered that the Mendix low-code platform was the ideal solution for modernizing legacy systems. Sven’s team used this platform to develop various applications that have streamlined processes across Finance, HR, and Purchasing. The speed of development and ease of updates provided by Mendix were game-changers.

The team highlighted the transformative impact of Agile development, which was made possible by the low-code platform. “We sat very close together, me and the product owner, on one PC, and across from us sat my IT counterpart. It was fairly easy, and we could just share what we are working on,” recalls Inga Wenzel, Purchasing Business Analyst.

Agile in Action: Electronic Capital Request (eCR)

The development of the Electronic Capital Request (eCR) system exemplifies the success of Continental’s new approach. Project Manager Sebastian Thom and Platform Engineer Francis Limgenco collaborated to create an application that manages Capital Expenditure requests. Previously, users faced long wait times due to latency issues, especially in remote locations like Brazil and China.

With Mendix, the new eCR system significantly reduced request times from hours to minutes. The application’s modern technology stack and mobile capabilities improved user experience and efficiency. The project, completed in record time using Agile methodologies, demonstrated the platform’s potential for rapid, user-centric development.

Empowering Citizen Developers

The Mendix platform also enabled non-programmers, known as citizen developers, to contribute to application development. Francis Limgenco and Inga Wenzel, despite having limited coding experience, played pivotal roles in developing applications like the eCR and the Material Number Application (MNA) Replacement tool. These tools enhanced data integration with Continental’s SAP ERP system and improved search functionality for users.

Inga’s ability to create user interfaces and logic without coding, combined with collaboration with IT counterparts, resulted in rapid application development. “It’s like a motor or engine for the project,” Inga says, highlighting the boost in project speed and business involvement.

Transformative Results and Future Vision

Continental’s Digital Applications Platforms team is revolutionizing how the company operates by building impactful applications and fostering a new way of working. Angela Werner notes, “We are fast, and we are closer to the real requirements.” The Agile approach ensures that business needs are met efficiently, with business users deeply involved throughout the development process.

The Mendix platform has not only facilitated enterprise-wide collaboration but also empowered employees from various departments to become application creators. Angela envisions a future where citizen developers across the organization leverage low-code tools to innovate and solve business challenges.

As Continental continues to build a body of proof with successful applications, Angela emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration. The low-code movement at Continental is just beginning, promising a future of enhanced digital innovation and efficiency.

Photo by Olav Tvedt (unsplash.com)