How Ciphix and Mendix enable smarter collaboration between business and IT

The IT backlog keeps growing, and so does business frustration. Organisations need new digital solutions faster than ever, while IT teams are under pressure to keep systems secure, compliant and stable. At the same time, AI is rapidly changing what software can and should do.

This combination is widening the IT gap. Business teams see opportunities but cannot act fast enough. IT teams see risks but lack the capacity to keep up. Bridging this gap is no longer optional. It is a prerequisite for staying competitive towards 2026 and beyond.

Why the IT gap is widening now

The gap between business demand and IT delivery is not new, but several forces are accelerating it:

• Digital expectations are rising across customers, partners and regulators
• AI is moving from experimentation to operational necessity
• Skilled developers are scarce while system complexity increases
• Compliance, security and data governance requirements are becoming stricter

Business teams need solutions that adapt quickly to changing realities. IT teams need control, security and architectural consistency. Traditional development struggles to deliver both at the speed organisations now require.

Shadow IT is not innovation, it is a warning signal

When IT cannot deliver fast enough, teams find their own ways. Spreadsheets quietly turn into systems. No-code tools are adopted without governance. Critical decisions rely on local data copies and manual workarounds.

This shadow IT creates short-term speed, but long-term risk. Data fragments. AI initiatives stall because the underlying information cannot be trusted. Compliance becomes unclear. And IT loses oversight of processes that matter most.

Shadow IT is not the core problem. It is a symptom of a more profound disconnect between business ambition and IT capacity.

Low code alone is not enough

Low code helps organisations build faster. But speed without intelligence and governance only shifts the problem.

Low-code without governance creates shadow IT at scale.
Low-code without intelligence creates faster technical debt.

The real opportunity lies in combining low code with AI and orchestration. This is where the IT gap can truly be bridged. With Mendix, business and IT collaborate on a single, governed platform. With Ciphix, this collaboration is infused with intelligence.

From building faster to building smarter

At Ciphix, we look beyond application delivery. Our focus is on infusing intelligence into business-critical processes.

That means:

• Processes are not only digitised, but also observed, analysed and continuously improved
• AI agents support users by validating data, predicting outcomes and proposing the following actions
• Decisioning is embedded directly into workflows instead of being handled manually or externally
• Systems do not just execute tasks but collaborate intelligently across the IT landscape

Mendix provides the foundation for rapid, governed development. AI makes applications adaptive. Orchestration ensures intelligence scales across teams, systems and processes.

How Mendix and AI bridge the IT gap together

Mendix enables true co-creation between business and IT through visual modelling, reusable components and built-in governance across the whole application lifecycle. AI elevates this collaboration from faster delivery to smarter execution.

In practice:

• Business teams bring process knowledge and context
• IT teams safeguard architecture, security and integrations
• AI agents handle complexity by analysing patterns and supporting decisions

For example, a Mendix application can embed AI-driven decisioning within an approval workflow. The business defines the process. IT manages integrations with ERP or core systems. AI validates data, predicts outcomes, and routes work intelligently based on context.

The result is not just faster delivery, but smarter solutions that reduce workload and friction on both sides.

Why this matters for manufacturing and beyond

In manufacturing, the IT gap is especially visible. Production, quality, maintenance and planning all depend on fast, reliable information. Yet many AI initiatives fail because insights live outside operational workflows.

By combining Mendix with AI-driven orchestration, manufacturers can:

• Coordinate processes across MES, ERP and shop-floor systems
• Embed AI insights directly into operational Mendix applications
• Reduce dependency on scarce IT skills while maintaining governance
• Create a digital backbone that supports continuous improvement

The same principles apply across sectors where complexity, compliance and speed collide.

The Ciphix approach: build smarter, not just faster

What sets Ciphix apart is not the platform itself, but how we apply it.

Our approach is structured and deliberate:

• We start with business-critical processes where intelligence creates immediate value
• We design composable architectures so applications and AI agents can evolve independently
• We embed governance from day one, ensuring speed never compromises control
• We orchestrate processes across people, systems and AI

This turns low code into a strategic capability rather than a delivery shortcut.

Bridging the gap towards 2026

The question is no longer whether business and IT should collaborate more closely. The real question is how to do this while AI, regulation and complexity continue to accelerate.

Organisations that bridge the IT gap now will be able to build smarter, adapt faster and scale intelligence across their operations. Those that do not will continue to struggle with backlogs, shadow IT and missed opportunities.

Key takeaways

• The IT gap is widening due to AI adoption, skill shortages and rising complexity
• Shadow IT signals unmet demand but creates long-term risk
• Low code becomes truly powerful when combined with AI and orchestration
• Mendix enables collaboration, AI enables intelligence, Ciphix brings structure and vision
• Bridging the IT gap is a strategic move towards 2026 readiness

 Ready to build smarter together?

You no longer have to choose between speed and control. Choose intelligence, collaboration and governance.

Start with one business-critical process and build intelligence from there.
Bridge the IT gap and start building smarter with Mendix and Ciphix.