Having joined Kaukokiito in the early 2000s, Heidi Suominen has been involved in several software projects and customer system integrations during her career. Heidi says the most rewarding part of working at Kaukokiito is seeing how the new system goes live and how it facilitates people’s everyday work.
– The projects stem from real, everyday needs. This means that our own operations team or a customer requires a system feature that existing technology doesn’t yet provide. It is our unit’s job to find relevant solutions for these needs.
The technology unit also innovates completely new solutions for the logistics industry and its customers. Kaukokiito offers a very interesting field of work for tech professionals, providing a chance to envision and develop the future of logistics.
The projects are implemented in collaboration with end users and their development will continue throughout the software’s complete lifecycle. According to Heidi, the compensation and benefits are also competitive compared to colleagues working in traditional software houses.
– For me, another factor that makes the job meaningful is that when you work in-house, you also get to see the results of your own work and can continue developing the systems further. Here in the technology department, we are not isolated in our own ‘bunker’ but are an integral part of the Kaukokiito logistics business.
Kaukokiito’s technology unit is serving the business
The Kaukokiito tech unit includes system managers, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, data analysts, and so on. Heidi worked previously as a sales assistant at Kaukokiito, transitioning to the technology unit when a development project needed a sales perspective. Today, her responsibilities include mapping out project requirements, working with the tech team to identify the right technology, and managing projects from implementation through to further development.
– We have a great team and a diverse set of skills. My role is to act as an interpreter between the tech specialists, the end users, and the clients. In my job, I have the huge benefit of having in-house work experience, both in the sales team and at the terminal, as this helps me understand the business and practical operations. The technology unit’s impact is visible in the implementations of the ERP system Repsikka utilised in transport planning, the Kaukoputki online service, and numerous customer integration projects.
Transporting information is key
Kaukokiito’s approach to in-house system development serves both the company and its customers. Today, the transport of information is almost as vital for a logistics operator as the physical delivery of goods. That’s why there are heavy investments in technology development with a firm gaze on the future. – In the future, data will play a major role in doing things more intelligently. The fact that both we, as a logistics provider, and our customers can develop e.g. our sustainability efforts based on data makes the work really meaningful. It’s easy to feel comfortable working here and with these people. Working here is flexible, we get to use excellent tools, and there is every opportunity one could hope for to develop and progress in your career.
