Cooperation between the municipality of Rotterdam and Qualogy: A Deep dive into Mendix

The collaboration between the Municipality of Rotterdam and Qualogy is a fascinating example of how modern technology can transform local governments. In this blog, we look at the collaboration from the perspective of three Qualogy Mendix consultants: Joost Ahrens, Sharvano Mangalie and Arween Ganeshie.

Mendix as a choice
The Municipality of Rotterdam is determined to continue to modernize their services and provide the community with more efficient and innovative solutions. They are aware of the potential of digital technologies to transform the city and its services.

Rotterdam Municipality’s strategic choice of Mendix as a development platform is supported by the efficiency and speed of its low-code platform. This platform makes it possible to develop complex applications quickly and visually, which is a great advantage for a large and diverse organization like the Municipality of Rotterdam. Combined with the right Mendix knowledge and expertise, great strides are being made. In that need for the right knowledge and expertise, the collaboration between the municipality and Qualogy was born.

Leveraging expertise to create technological solutions that have real impact.

The role of the developers
Within the industrious environment of the Municipality of Rotterdam, Mendix developers Joost Ahrens, Sharvano Mangalie and Arween Ganeshie effectively deployed their expertise. Joost, with his in-depth experience as a senior Mendix consultant, is good at translating complex business requirements into functional user stories, while also keeping an overview in a rapidly changing project environment.

Sharvano has grown from junior to a versatile, independent force within the cluster team Stadsontwikkeling of the Municipality of Rotterdam. Here he is responsible for the management and further development of multiple applications. His role includes both developing new functionalities and troubleshooting problems in existing applications.

Arween, who like Sharvano started as a junior developer through the Qualogy Mendix traineeship, is growing more and more in his developer role within the projects at the municipality, partly through the guidance of senior Joost. Their combined expertise and adaptability while working on various projects at the municipality of Rotterdam, show their in-depth knowledge of the Mendix platform. And they enjoy using that expertise to create technology solutions that have real impact.

Each project underscores the municipality’s goal to improve and innovate services.

Applications that make a difference
The trio has already contributed to an impressive array of applications. These projects range from providing insight into policy making to ensuring quality standards in new projects. Each project underscores the municipality’s goal of improving and innovating services. With Mendix as a platform and the expertise of Mendix professionals, including our Qualogy developers, applications are developed that make a difference.

From the Urban Development cluster team, Sharvano Mangalie works on several projects. One of the most notable projects is the “Policy Atlas,” an internal search engine for Rotterdam’s environmental policy. This application makes policy within the City of Rotterdam insightful and accessible to policy staff of the City of Rotterdam. The Policy Atlas contributes to transparency, and ensures that there is coherence and coordination between policies.

In addition, Sharvano has contributed to the ‘Rotterdam Standard for Project-based Working’. This tool implements a standardized quality check for new municipal projects. Sharvano says this tool is essential for ensuring the quality of these projects, a crucial step in improving service delivery.

“It’s very satisfying to build something that is used to really help someone,” he says.

He also had an important role in the development of the ‘Monument Register’. This application registers all Rotterdam monuments and aims to give users insight into protected Rotterdam heritage.

Finally, there is the ‘Thomas Project’, aimed at sustainable outflow and participation, an initiative in which both Joost Ahrens and Arween Ganeshie are involved. This project aims to help citizens who are struggling, especially those on welfare, by guiding them and providing appropriate assistance. The system creates profiles of citizens to help them find work more effectively. This shows how the municipality actively contributes to improving the lives of its residents. Arween indicates: “It sounds very cliché of course, but it’s fun to build something that is really used to help someone. It’s satisfying.”

These challenges require not only technical prowess, but also flexibility and strong communication skills.

Personal development and challenges
All three developers stress the importance of continuous personal development, overcoming challenges and finding fulfillment in their work. The developments of Mendix as a platform and the integration of new technologies play an important role in their work. Joost, Sharvano and Arween emphasize the importance of continuous self-development by actively participating in mentoring meetings and attending specialized trainings, focusing on both technical aspects and soft skills. They keep their knowledge up-to-date by participating in Mendix community meetups, attending presentations on the latest developments and sharing insights within Qualogy’s internal knowledge sessions. By being proactive in self-development, they get the best out of themselves in their current projects at the Municipality of Rotterdam and are prepared for future challenges.

Working in the various teams at the Municipality of Rotterdam also involves challenging situations, such as balancing between the requirements of various stakeholders, navigating complex project structures and constantly adapting to changing requirements. These challenges require not only technical prowess, but also flexibility and strong communication skills. All three experience great satisfaction in their work. Seeing that their applications are actually used by municipal officials and citizens, making a positive impact on the community, gives an extra boost.

The experiences of these three consultants are an example of the practical applications of Mendix within a complex organization, such as the municipality of Rotterdam. It shows how technological innovation can contribute to more effective and efficient city administration and service delivery.

Want to know more about what Mendix and Qualogy can do for your organization or project? Contact Leon de Werker for more information.