Jim Brown and I are jazzed up after learning about how Elisa IndustrIQ is combining the data management and analytics of the parent telco to strengthen already successful manufacturing applications. This combination of data structures, analytics algorithms for AI and ML, and applications that serve specific industries’ needs can deliver very high value. Elisa IndustrIQ is making its modular solution available in a way that also leverages data from outside the suite to make it even more valuable and broadly applicable.
A true digital transformation changes or extends the business model, and Finnish telco Elisa has done just that. It recognized that its analytics and automation to run the telco could apply to optimizing manufacturing. They also realized that embedding this into applications that solve real business issues would boost the customer’s value. So, for the past few years, it has been building and acquiring manufacturing applications to address manufacturing challenges, including production speed, connected supply chain, skilled workforce, climate change, and cybersecurity.
Their research showed that increased agility in production would be paramount to manufacturers’ success. Acquisitions have fueled the depth of the company’s applications and geographic spread of manufacturing-savvy people and customers:
- CalcuQuote: Purchasing automation software for electronics manufacturing service companies or contract manufacturers based in Dallas, TX, USA
- camLine: MES and advanced SPC-based quality for semiconductor and high tech industries that originated in Germany
- TenForce: Environmental health and safety (EH&S) software company out of Belgium that is strong in chemicals
- sedApta: Supply chain planning, execution, and intelligence solutions with strength in food and beverage and customers in process, batch, and discrete industries out of Italy has Elisa as a minority owner
Now, these products are offered independently or as a modular solution set. The core Elisa IndustrIQ data analytics stack is available to strengthen all of these. For example, the camLine root cause analysis can now use telco-developed machine learning and algorithm development. They also have partners who embed parts of the Elisa IndustrIQ suite into their portfolio.
We are impressed that a telco has understood the value propositions and how to assemble solutions to achieve them, not just to dangle technology. Thank you, Tero Lappalainen and Coen Mulder, for taking the time to get us up to speed. We look forward to following the success of the individual brands as well as Elisa IndustrIQ.
