Tech, Design, and Business. Mjølner UPDATE 2nd, 2015

”WITH MJØLNER’S HELP, WE RAISED THE USER EXPERIENCE OF OUR APPLICATION SIGNIFICANTLY” Rasmus Tarp Vinther, Director of Plant Applications, Vestas

2nd Issue 2015

EDITORIAL

ELEVATING BUSINESSES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY Technology gives us endless possibilities and allows us to

We also bring you a new service tool concept to help

get the most out of what we already have, or what we can

industrial clients use Big Data, the Internet of Things, and

easily build.

IT in general in a new and profitable way.

Whether you make money on wind energy, eldercare, or

As a tech fix, we teach you how to strengthen your

anything in between, your business could probably benefit

customer relations through great user interfaces.

from technology in one way or the other.

Finally, we bring you stories from our two events during Our clients are a varied bunch and with a focused approach,

Internet Week Denmark. They were all about digital

technical insight, and clever stakeholder involvement, we

innovation, business, and getting your hands dirty.

help them find new ways to elevate their businesses with the use of technology. This edition of Mjølner UPDATE is a testament to that.

Best Regards,

On the following pages, we bring you stories about our work with Vestas and Silkeborg Data. By putting

their businesses first and delivering strong code, our consultants have helped them create solutions that take their products to the next level.

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen, CEO

UPDATE Cover Photo: V112-3.0 MW, Macarthur, Australia Courtesy of Vestas Wind Systems A/S

CASE

VESTAS: USER-CENTRIC & SALEABLE SOFTWARE Vestas Online Enterprise offers customers a historic and real-time understanding of the return on their wind power investment.

In this user group, you will find owners of smaller wind parks, perhaps even a farmer with just a single turbine.

These users do not need deep analysis tools. They simply

Vestas has been moving towards more user-centered

need to know whether the turbine is running smoothly

software development for quite some time. Their new

and providing the promised availability.

web application - Vestas Online Enterprise (VOE) – is a great example.

New User Groups With new user groups follow new demands. Vestas turned

By user-centric prioritization of data, a simple design, and

to Mjølner, when they needed support in detecting and

intuitive navigation, VOE allows customers to monitor the

matching these demands.

output of their park.

Mjølner’s consultants have raised the user experience of VOE gives customers a historic and real-time under-

our application significantly. Our domain knowledge and

standing of the return on their wind power investment.

their technical capabilities have really made our teamwork seamless, and they came up to speed very quickly.

A Web-Based SCADA System

- Rasmus Tarp Vinther, Director of Plant Applications, Vestas

VOE is a web-based SCADA system providing plant owners and other user groups with an easy KPI overview.

With a team of three - a user experience consultant, a digital designer, and a software developer - Mjølner

The application targets a broader user group than the

supported Vestas’ work with the user experience, interface

typical expert user with in-depth technical insight.

appeal, and software integration.

Software as an Individual Commodity Viewing software as an individual commodity rather than standard equipment brings some new perspectives to the table.

In order to convince potential customers to buy the software, it needs to be user-centered, effective, and appealing. Mjølner’s knowledge about technology and users became a valuable asset here.

Mjølner’s consultants have been great to work with.

Their professionalism and enthusiasm made it a great experience where we gathered new insights along the way.

- Rasmus Tarp Vinther, Director of Plant Applications, Vestas

In addition to the functionality benefits of more customized software, there are branding potentials as well.

As software becomes more user-centric, it builds closer customer relations and strengthens customer loyalty, due to the value that the customized service brings.

V112-3.0 MW, Lemnhult, Sweden Courtesy of Vestas Wind Systems A/S

CASE

MJĂ˜LNER SERVICES & SOLUTIONS USED Product Interface Design Adding the User Perspective User and Customer Research Business-Aligned Systems Engineering Integration & Architecture

Activities Requirement specification, wireframing, design, and software development.

“

Mjølner’s consultants have raised the user experience of our application significantly.

Rasmus Tarp Vinther, Director of Plant Applications, Vestas

CONCEPT

A TOOL FOR YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN Working closely with the industry sector, it is clear to us that these businesses can benefit greatly from the Internet of Things, Big Data, and IT in general. This is our take on a service tool concept.

Our service tool concept supports the business-critical and dynamic tasks of a service technician on the go. All to optimize product lines, reduce costs, raise quality, speed, and security, and build your business.

1. The day starts with a task overview provided at home by an app.

2. Route planning guides your service technician to the right places at the right time.

3. Sensors enable quick positioning, making it easy to drop off or pick up the correct components.

4. Easy remote control, touch screens, and predictive service and maintenance solutions support a smooth workflow at the manufacturing site.

5. Completed tasks are reported in real-time to HQ and customers while on the go.

6. A management dashboard with analysis tools allows administrators, management, and technicians to work together seamlessly.

The service tool allows manufacturing companies to gain more business by better time managment, fast information flows, and proactive decision making on the basis of real-time data and visibility.

CASE

FROM ONE PLATFORM TO ANOTHER WITH SILKEBORG DATA With manpower, technical assistance, and consultancy, we helped Silkeborg Data perform the migration part of the front-end of their wage system, Silkeborg Løn, from one platform to another within a short time frame.

With the shift from Websphere Application Server 6.0

Silkeborg Data has more than 40 years of experience

To get Silkeborg Løn up and running on the new platform

within salary and personnel administration.

before the strict deadline of April 1st this year, Silkeborg

to JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 5.1.2, Silkeborg Data has achieved a sustainable platform which enables Silkeborg Data to continue delivering prestine services to their customers.

Data needed more manpower and technical assistance, At present, 28 municipalities, 4 regions, and more than

and they asked Mjølner for help.

100 public institutions use Silkeborg Løn. The many users speak for themselves and make Silkeborg Data the most

The overall project was split into eight teams with Mjølner

successful Danish provider of salary systems.

being in charge of project management in five of them.

With a consideration of the users’ needs, Silkeborg Løn is

A total number of 17 people from Mjølner stepped in to

easy to navigate and effective. It was crucial to Silkeborg

assist Silkeborg Data with the migration project.

Data that the migration to a new digital platform did not inconvenience Silkeborg Løn’s many users.

Migrating Silkeborg Løn was a complex and demanding task. We trusted Mjølner’s expertise and diverse set of

New Platform and Architecture

competences to help us accomplish the job within the

At the end of last year, it became clear to Silkeborg Data

short time frame. Mjølner more than lived up to that trust.

that Silkeborg Løn needed to move to a JEE platform

- Jesper Palm Mortensen, CTO, Silkeborg Data

supplier, as the existing one would no longer be supported.

Silkeborg Data’s offices where our consultants were stationed.

Management, Architecture, Development & Testing

end of Silkeborg Løn System successfully from one

Mjølner was part of the project from the start and

platform to another. We even finished before deadline.

contributed by solving project management, architecture,

The move was gradual and easy on the users.

development, and test management tasks.

Great Results through Teamwork Testing played an especially important role as both

The migration project was not only dependent on the

continuous quality control in the individual teams and on

teams’ individual skills, but also their ability to work

the general level was vital for the result.

together.

Mjølner was a true asset in our migration project. The

Silkeborg Data was forthcoming and cooperative. As

consultants were a boost of competence and a good

a result, our united teams were very effective. It was a

match to our teams.

pleasure working as consultants for Silkeborg Data.

- Jesper Palm Mortensen, CTO, Silkeborg Data

- Elmer Sandvad, Project Manager, Mjølner Informatics

Due to great cooperation between the teams, determi-

The great teamwork between Silkeborg Data and Mjølner

nation, and a common goal, we moved part of the front-

was a huge part of the migration project’s success.

TECH

STRONG CUSTOMER RELATIONS THROUGH GREAT USER INTERFACES It is complicated to navigate the digital platforms that form customer interaction today. We hosted a seminar explaining how you can use them to strengthen your customer relations. Here’s a recap.

Bad user interfaces equal bad customer service.

Digital solutions are largely replacing traditional customer

User interfaces are effective tools for holding on to

interaction. Still, quite a few businesses struggle to find

customers.

It is all about customizing user interfaces to the different types of customers. Customers love to be heard, and we need to listen to them!

their way on the digital platforms that form customer relations today. Here are some pointers from our seminar:

How to Create Great User Interfaces?

Our own UX Consultant, Maria Holmegaard, presented

Why are User Interfaces Important?

some methods for creating user interfaces that strengthen

Martin Nielsen from Danske Bank explained why they

your customer relations:

see their user interfaces as their most important tool for creating and maintaining strong customer relations.

Today’s customers expect an abundance of digital services and are quick to switch supplier, if services do not meet their expectations.

The user interfaces of our digital services are how we meet most customers today, making it our most important tool for customer relation management.

Put the customer center stage!

The traditional face-to-face contact with customers has qualities, which should be incorporated in the user interfaces. This can be done by: Including your customer in the process both before, during, and after development.

Identifying your customer. Detailed personas are a

Do You Need Our Help?

great management tool.

You are more than welcome to contact us for a

Clarifying your existing customer relation. Where do your customers meet you and how?

noncommittal talk about user interfaces, customer relations, or digital business development in general.

Ask yourself: Do we include our customers enough?

Brian Gottorp Jeppesen, CEO

Who are our customers, and what is important to

brj@mjolner.dk

them? Where do our customers meet us?

+45 41 95 36 26

EVENTS

MAKING TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOUR BUSINESS Technology gives us endless possibilities, and they are not reserved for big projects. Technological growth is all about getting the most out of what you already have, or what you can easily build.

Learn from the Innovators!

We put our stance to the test with two events during

On stage were Sekoia, Draupner Graphics, SEGES, Mobilize

Internet Week Denmark, June 1 – 5. Both events proved

Me, Kamstrup, Kanda, and Danske Bank. Our CEO, Brian

to be crowd pleasers and brought along some new ideas.

Jeppesen and Executive Software Client Architect, Peter

This event was a showcase of seven innovative Danish companies that have used technology to build or strengthen their businesses.

Lange from IBM, kicked it all off with a few words about

Strengthening Bottom Lines with Digital Innovation

tech trends and new business models.

Whether you make money on wind energy, eldercare, or anything in between, your business can benefit form

At the end, we discussed digital innovation and what it

technology. This workshop showed just that.

requires in a Danish context.

IT Consultant, Gustav Nielsen, and UX Consultant, Kasper

The overall conclusion was that true innovation requires

Svendsen, guided representatives from Scan-Thor, Max

bravery – we need to believe in our ideas – and that we

Manus, Zispa, Mediehus-Danmark, Frontgate, and a

must never forget our users. We need to listen to them,

freelance photographer through our service blueprint

understand them, and center all our work around them.

model, specifying each company’s possible gains of

No users, no business.

technology.

All the hardworking participants found new ways to use technology in taking their businesses further.

Learn more about both events at mjolner.com/blog

Showcase & Debate, June 3rd.

Workshop, June 1st.

VESTAS: USER-CENTRIC & SALEABLE SOFTWARE A TOOL FOR YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN FROM ONE PLATFORM TO ANOTHER WITH SILKEBORG DATA STRONG CUSTOMER RELATIONS THROUGH GREAT USER INTERFACES MAKING TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Mjølner Informatics A/S

Finlandsgade 10, DK-8200 Aarhus N

+45 70 27 43 43

www.mjolner.dk

info@mjolner.dk