Innovation in forestry

As part of its ongoing commitment to digital innovation, Ponsse embarked on a project to modernize Ponsse Manager, its key software platform used for monitoring and managing forest machines and production data. The result, Manager 2.0, delivers a next-generation web application and mobile application with multiplatform compatibility, offline functionality, and enhanced features designed to support customers in meeting operational, sustainability, and legal requirements. 

To bring this ambitious project to life, Ponsse collaborated with multiple vendors in a dynamic digital development partnership.

Among the contributors, Siili and its subsidiary, VALA Group, played a key role in ensuring quality through test automation and development. Siili's software developers have been involved in developing a mobile app that today is an important tool for many machine contractors working on-the-go, since they don't have time to be in the office. 

Customers needed a modernized, user-friendly application that could work seamlessly across devices and offline in remote forestry environments. Manager 2.0 had to handle large volumes of machine data while maintaining speed, reliability, and operational simplicity. 

Manager 2.0 needed to enable detailed reporting for machine usage and emissions tracking, supporting customers in meeting global regulations.

As responsibility for Manager 2.0 shifted from R&D to Ponsse's Digital Services team in 2019, the company recognized a shortage of in-house ICT resources and QA expertise. This required external support to scale development, build testing capabilities, and improve software quality. 

One of the early challenges was ensuring that the development and QA teams fully understood the needs of Ponsse's global customer base.

Building customer understanding into the development process was critical and required clear communication and alignment across teams to ensure the application addressed real-world requirements. 

Siili and VALA provided experienced test automation engineers and a QA lead to fill gaps in Ponsse's internal teams. These experts contributed to building test automation frameworks, improving manual and automated testing processes, and supporting developers with high-quality tools and workflows. 

"We've been very pleased with the consultants' strong sense of ownership, high level of expertise, and clear communication. Their ability to collaborate effectively in a multi-vendor environment has been a key factor in the success of our joint work," said Sara-Lotta Moilanen, Senior Manager, Digital Services, Ponsse.

VALA's test automation team built processes that automated a majority of the testing tasks around Manager 2.0, improving testing efficiency and enabling faster feedback loops. These automated tests provided actionable insights for developers and supported better decision-making during the development process. 

"We automated all the tests for Manager 2.0, which had a meaningful impact on the quality and efficiency of development,"  said Sara-Lotta Moilanen, Senior Manager, Digital Services, Ponsse.

Siili used AI-powered coding assistant tools like Copilot as part of Ponsse Mobile and Manager development. This tool accelerated coding, improved efficiency, and reduced development timelines, showcasing the value of proactive, technology-driven solutions. 

VALA's strong company culture, focused on collaboration and shared decision-making, allowed its team to integrate seamlessly into Ponsse's processes. 

"The collaboration has always been straightforward and open. We've had the trust to discuss both positive and challenging issues, which has made the partnership productive," Teija Pesonen, Ponsse Manager, said. 

Manager 2.0 is a modernized application built on a .NET and Azure foundation, utilizing Angular to deliver multiplatform compatibility, offline functionality, and a user-friendly interface. Designed to meet the diverse needs of forestry operators worldwide, it offers robust performance and seamless operation in global environments.

Ponsse's dedicated mobile app team, including collaboration with partners, has developed an application available on both the App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring users can easily access its features across platforms.

Together, they maintain a continuous delivery process, consistently releasing new versions with updates and improvements to enhance the user experience. 

The application supports reporting, enabling customers to track machine usage and emissions. This ensures compliance with global regulations while adding value to Ponsse's customers. 

Efficiency gains

VALA's test automation processes and Siili's AI-powered development practices significantly accelerated development timelines and improved overall quality. 

Manager 2.0 has received positive feedback from Ponsse customers. The ability to pilot new features with select customers before wider rollout ensures the application continues to meet user needs. "The feedback has been very positive, and involving customers in testing has been key to its success," Pesonen added. 

The collaboration between Ponsse, Siili, and VALA has strengthened over time, with Siili's and VALA's consultants earning trust as integral members of Ponsse's teams. 

"The trust between our teams has been vital. It's a foundation for ongoing work and future development," Teija adds.