The cooperation between Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot and Solteq Utilities Consulting started when Vantaan Energia was looking for a partner for the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project at the time. The choice of partner was successful and since then there have been many other joint projects. The AMR 2.0 project related to the replacement of the next generation electricity meters and measurement systems is currently underway. At the same time, we are already looking towards the future and thinking about e.g., opportunities offered by datahub and future success factors in the industry.
Sufficient resources and competent partners help to achieve the set goals - on time
"Information system projects are complex and challenging. They are a full-time job with several partners and with variable workload. It would require its own project organization with its own project manager, and establishing a position for such a need is not reasonable or meaningful," says Customer and Metering Service Manager Janne Hartikainen from Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot about the company's policy of involving a partner in projects. "The investment in a partner is worth it, because a sufficient number of experts can be reserved to focus full-time on piloting the project past the pitfalls and achieving the agreed goals according to the schedule. It is important to us that the tasks that have been agreed are completed in the agreed schedule. With the experts of Utilities Consulting, things usually go that way, and we really appreciate that," states Hartikainen.
Project management skills and expertise of the energy industry
The cooperation has been functional on both sides: "The cooperation is easy and succeeds even in difficult matters. Both parties have benefited from the cooperation and supported each other. It's easy to continue," says Hartikainen. The good project experiences have led to the fact that Solteq Utilities Consulting's experts have become a suitable partner who can be contacted when needed for Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot. "Solteq Utilities Consulting have provided us with professional project management skills and know-how. They have experts in this field and they also know our customs and ways of working very well. This makes it easier to collaborate and manage projects. They can jump straight into work and projects, and that has a great value", praises Hartikainen. Everyday cooperation also extends to things that have not necessarily been agreed upon: "We ask for news and do more than just the agreed jobs: we make sure that there is enough time and that there are enough tools and resources to do these things."
Long-term cooperation to develop operating methods
The successful cooperation consists of many different information system projects from an ERP to a customer information and a metering data system. During the cooperation, it has been possible to develop operating models in the long term, an example of which is the systematics of outlining changes that utilizes process descriptions, which is also used in the latest project. The AMR 2.0 project is currently underway, the goal of which is the transition to new generation measurement systems and meters. "The project has progressed on schedule. Of course, there have been enough surprises - as there should always be in a good project", says Hartikainen. Especially when there are many different entities in the project, everything doesn't always go as planned: "Sometimes you have to have plans B and C. Then it's good to have such resourceful and versatile experts available, who then find those alternative paths forward."
Despite the successful cooperation, it is not a given that the same partner will also be in the next project, says Hartikainen: "However, every project is individual and for each project a decision is made again, with whom the project will be implemented." It is in the interest of both the client and Utilities Consulting that the collaboration focuses on matters where external help is most useful.
"Solteq Utilities Consulting have provided us with professional project management skills and know-how. They have experts in this field and they also know our customs and ways of working very well. The cooperation is easy and succeeds even in difficult matters. Both parties have benefited from the cooperation and supported each other. It is easy to continue."
Janne Hartikainen, Customer and Metering Service Manager, Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot
Towards future changes and opportunities in the energy industry
"Let's continue in the same way and look closely at the future together - what changes and opportunities will come up and start solving them together. It would be essential to be able to predict which different means will be successful in the electricity market of the future and what would be the market-winning solution that should be pursued", says Hartikainen about future plans with Utilities Consulting.
Solteq Utilities Consulting
In the future, Solteq Utilities Consulting's experts strive to bring added value, for example, by finding out in advance the issues found on the road map of changes in the energy industry, and by promoting the systematics required by the points of change. "Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot has a very good trust in the experts of Utilities Consulting. So things go smoothly according to the practices that are constantly being developed, regardless of which company's experts is involved in the project. Together, we openly discuss solutions to challenges sometimes beyond the project's scope of delivery", praises Antti Nuutinen of Utilities Consulting, who leads the AMR 2.0 project in Vantaa.
Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot
Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot is responsible for electricity distribution to homes, properties and companies in Vantaa 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and offers services related to electricity use. We take care of the construction, operation and maintenance of Vantaa's electricity network. We enable our customers to have a smooth everyday life with uninterrupted electricity distribution: we keep Vantaa moving and the electricity on every day.
Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot is part of the Vantaan Energia Group. Read more on Vantaan Energia Sähköverkot's website >
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