Text: Kirsi Riipinen Photo: Marko Laukkarinen
TOP-NOTCH SALES TEAM Steveco’s sales team is made up exclusively of experienced professionals who leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of success for their customers.
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nd now we proudly introduce Steveco’s caused problems for many customers. It’s made it difficult Power Seven sales team: Tapio Mattila, for them to estimate how much it will ultimately cost them to deliver the goods.” Vice President, Sales and Marketing, International trade has also been hampered by Markus Myllylä, Vesa-Heikki Renlund container imbalances, which Orimus says may be felt for and Mia Brunila, Sales Directors, and a long time to come. Sami Orimus, Markku Tuokko and Päivi NygrenHe is pleased that the sales team has been able to help Laitinen, Sales Managers. customers and look for alternative delivery methods to Now that Covid-19 is fading, the team has taken up sea freight, if needed. Instead of a sea container, goods hybrid work combining remote work with being in the have travelled in bulk on ships, and sometimes the head office on Kirkkokatu street in Kotka. And there are smartest thing has been to use rail transport. even times, though rare, when they are all at the office A lot of research has gone into looking for the most together at the same time. suitable options for each customer and shipment. “We have a common mindset to be on the move and to meet customers in person. Combined with online meetA TREASURE TROVE OF EXPERTISE ings, this is a workable hybrid model,” says Brunila. Renlund says that the finely-tuned skills of the sales team Mattila cites an everyday example from the exceptional stem from the diverse careers of the team time of the pandemic of how modern members. Colleagues have experience technology plus in-person customer It is easy for the cus- in various aspects of production relations can streamline operations. and forwarding, with an impressive He arranged an online meeting with a tomer to contact a familiar client operating in the Far East, familiar sales person accumulation of specialised expertise. The sales team members take care of during which they reached an agreewith any questions their customers independently – whether ment on future matters. After hearing it is exports, imports, transit, loading or about the online meeting, a friend of they might have even customs clearances. It is easy for Mattila’s remarked, “You see, the whole about deliveries. the customer to contact a familiar sales thing was handled in an hour, and you person with any questions they might didn’t need to travel anywhere”. “I said he was wrong. We were able have about deliveries. to renew the contract online because we had first laid the Because the sales team is close-knit and its members foundation for a trusting business relationship, face-tohave known each other for many years, customers benefit face, before the pandemic hit,” says Mattila. and get help from other team members when they need it. “If I need special knowledge about freight, for example, A PANDEMIC OPENS UP NEW ROUTES I get the best advice from a colleague, which I can pass on Orimus is well aware of how the pandemic has complicatto the customer. In turn, team members seek advice from ed Steveco’s customer relations. me about a specific project and special handling,” says “Container shipping has been really messed up during Renlund. the pandemic. Import and export freight prices around The team took steps to introduce a new version of the the world have been higher than ever before, which has customer management system to work more systemat-
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