Wasaline's Power BI for Data-driven optimization

Wasaline is the northernmost shipping line in the world, which transports passengers and freight daily between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. In addition to being the most environmentally friendly sea route between Finland and Sweden, the route is also important for security of supply. The company's hybrid ferry, Aurora Botnia, is equipped with dual-fuel engines and batteries. Aurora Botnia is the most environmentally friendly passenger ferry in the world and Wasaline invests in sustainability in all its processes. The Key Flag has been awarded both to Aurora Botnia and Wasaline’s services as a recognition of Finnish work.

Challenge

In the last few years, Wasaline has increased passenger and freight traffic with 25%, which brought both internal and external demands. It became evident that they needed to enhance their ability to generate statistics and analyses to meet new requirements effectively.

Encountering difficulties accessing data from their systems and generating relevant reports to support their operation, Wasaline turned to Indevit to address their challenges. Wasaline urgently required automation to streamline processes and reduce manual work as their system was lacking flexibility for informed decision-making based on data analysis. Indevit's expertise became essential to support Wasaline to manage and optimize their data in the middle of rapid growth challenges.

Kick off

Wasaline preferred to collaborate with a small, local company that could provide personalized service and attention. The two organizations began with an evaluation meeting, establishing a solid understanding. At Indevit a combination of the following factors was necessary: good foundational knowledge of business systems, understanding of Wasaline's data, an extensive company-wide expertise in efficient data analysis and management, and the ability to tailor a solution to Wasaline's specific needs.

Collaboration

The collaboration with Indevit resulted in a solution that was optimal for Wasaline’s needs. Choosing Power BI, a platform Wasaline was familiar with, proved beneficial in utilizing the tool to meet current needs. Indevit understood the needs well and presented a sample report demonstrating how Wasaline could maximize the usage of the tool. The favourable cost structure made the solution even more attractive. According to Wasaline’s Freight director Tony Ehrs, the collaboration with Indevit resulted in a solution tailored to their needs.  

“With their expertise in Power BI, they provided the support and knowledge we needed from a partner to fully utilize the tool. Additionally, Indevit brought the deeper analytical expertise that we lacked internally, enabling more advanced analyses and better decision-making”

– Tony Ehrs, Wasaline

The collaboration with Indevit has been positive in several ways. Wasaline have appreciated Indevit’s agile work methodology and quick response to their needs. Indevit's competent staff and professional approach have contributed to a successful collaboration without surprises. Wasaline’s Analytics and Systems Manager, CSO, Jennie Hinz comments that Indevit’s close and personal dialogue, along with their effort to meet Wasaline’s expectations, have built a trusting relationship between both organisations.

“We have appreciated the prompt support and assistance whenever needed. It has truly contributed to a smooth and efficient process”, says Jennie.

Marica reflects that Wasaline is perceived as a highly positive collaborator by Indevit. The collaboration is characterized by a close and friendly relationship with a low threshold for communication.

“We appreciate Wasaline's clear requests and objectives, which provide a solid foundation for our collaboration. Jennie, one of Wasaline's representatives, impresses with her competence and skill, contributing to the success of our projects. The industry in which Wasaline operates is perceived as exciting and constantly evolving, providing further motivation for a rewarding collaboration between Wasaline and Indevit”, states Marica.

Utilization of Power BI 

Companies in the freight and logistics sector have much to gain from using effective analytics tools. In an industry where swift and well-informed decisions are crucial, access to reliable data can make a significant difference. The demands on the industry are constantly growing, especially considering sustainability and environmental perspectives. By using analytics tools like Power BI, companies in the sector can effectively monitor and optimize their operations to meet these demands. Power BI offers a cost-effective solution that provides quick access to visualized data, making it easier to understand trends and make well-informed decisions. 

Reflections by Wasaline personnel

Jennie Hinz at Wasaline, holds the position of Analytics and Systems Manager, CSO (Chief Security Officer). She acts as the overall project manager and is responsible for project and budget monitoring. Additionally, she develops and implement technical solutions and ensure data security. She also handles analysis requests to support decision-making and provide insights to optimize business processes and enhance customer experience through deep insights into Wasaline’s booking system and its data. For her, Power BI is a central part of her daily work for several reasons.

“I use it to address specific questions by conducting various analyses based on our business data, assisting decision-making by extracting and presenting relevant information in an understandable manner. Additionally, I utilize Power BI to monitor trends and track guidelines within our operations, creating overview visuals and dashboards to swiftly identify any deviations or opportunities. Lastly, Power BI enables me to perform in-depth analyses to gain a detailed understanding of business processes and identify areas for improvement or business opportunities”, says Jennie. 

“I would warmly recommend Indevit - every day of the week, our collaboration has been a great experience!”

– Tony Ehrs, Wasaline

Tony Ehrs, working as the Freight Director at Wasaline, is responsible for the entire freight operation. He leads the development and increases Wasaline’s market share through customer sales and marketing of their freight services. He also serves as a resource for his colleagues by providing analytical support and continuously improving their processes and results within the freight operation. In his daily work, he uses Power BI to gain a comprehensive view of Wasaline’s freight operations, both in terms of volume and economics.

“By analyzing data in Power BI, I can identify trends and patterns, as well as make comparisons to determine which customers or partners are performing differently. Furthermore, I utilize Power BI to generate internal and external reports on freight data, aiding us in making informed decisions and optimizing our operations.” states Tony.

Tony sums up with the final words: "I would warmly recommend Indevit - every day of the week, our collaboration has been a great experience!"