A platform that ensures good overview and control
There can be a lot of information in all industries, and the maritime industry is no exception! A lot needs to be done for players such as Hurtigruten must run as ordered or that the Rescue Skates can go out to carry out life-saving work at any time of the day. This is where Incentra comes in, they must ensure that their members can order the goods and services they need at a competitive price and have suppliers who play well for them. They contribute to the flow.
Their work generates a lot of information, and for the information to be meaningful it is very important that you understand the numbers and words in front of you. Manual processes in Excel or emails back and forth can make you lose the thread. Incentra's new platform will prevent that. For Pål Widerøe, who is CEO of Incentra, digitization became an important word. - We needed a system that could facilitate the flow of information to both members and suppliers. Then we contacted Braathe to see how we could solve this, Pål shares with us from Incentra's office in Storgata in Oslo.
The platform must be used by all the members Incentra has. There are a total of 39 members and over 1000 ships with different needs and expertise. At the same time, the partners with whom Incentra has supplier agreements must be able to report to the same system. Both parties must therefore work together within the platform. One of the biggest benefits of the reporting is that errors can be detected faster than ever before. Incentra then also gets a good overview of where the shoe presses in one direction or the other. This way they can adjust how they will work all year round.
The Power Platform gave us a good foundation to build on
Ola Sandness, who is solution architect and head of our Digital Development department, and his team were keen to get started quickly. - For us, Power Platform was a natural choice. It gave us a good foundation that allowed us to get started quickly, and early in the process we had a working solution that Incentra could use, says Ola enthusiastically.
The solution is driven by the data model, and with Power Pages, Incentra can also show this to external users as much as they wish. Everything safely placed behind login and encryption of course. Power BI helps with good reports and analysis, while with Power Automate they could automate the processes.
Ola's team has had a very fun challenge. Through analysis, visualization and automation, they have taken manual processes to automated and more efficient processes. The data that the platform now contains is also of a higher quality, because it is not drowned in a mass of other information.
From this autumn, it has become possible to handle all processes within the portal. Everyone has an overview of purchases and consumption, companies and vessels, segments and nationality, and not least important contact points both with suppliers and members. Incentra now owns its system and its data, and that was important to them. Then members and partners can be e.grygge that their information is well looked after.
Ola has been at the forefront of this project. Together with five other system developers, they have worked out a solution that has already been adopted by both members and suppliers. The work started in 2021 and has been adapted in line with Incentra's needs. More things are being rolled out going forward as well. Sandness thinks this has been fun from the start: - This has been an incredibly exciting project to work on, and we are pleased that Incentra has been so open to suggestions from us. Then we can show off our strengths and our expertise.
What is Power Platform?
Microsoft Power Platform is a "low-code" platform, which allows you to create and manage apps, automate workflows, analyze data and integrate with other systems. "Low-code" is an expression we use which means that you do not have to be a software developer (coder) to use the platform. With Power Platform, you can create powerful business solutions, reduce costs and risks, and collaborate across the organization. It's a platform that gives you flexibility and the ability to innovate quickly.
If we are to allow ourselves a comparison, then in many ways you can imagine that Power Platform is one of IKEA's cabinet systems. Where you can build ad infinitum, but something must be included for it to stand firmly in the room. Much, however, can be adapted exactly as you wish.
The various applications give you the opportunity to build a common system that shows and gives you the information you need. We see more and more that companies are sitting on a lot of valuable data that is actually relevant to have in front of them several times a week, but due to manual processes such as mailing back and forth or many different Excel sheets, employees do not have time to find interesting connections, discover errors or perhaps see opportunities they have not seen before. These are systems that can play a major role in the development of operations.
Ease of use is essential
Ease of use and user understanding is one of the most important things we work with. This can be signed by Ola in particular, who works with this every day from our office in Harstad. He is passionate about creating IT systems that anyone can use.
- For me, it is important that what I and my team create has value at the other end. There are enough systems that people don't understand, so our specially adapted solutions must always provide value, surplus in work and more efficiency, says Ola.
Ola's team of six works full-time on development. They code, adjust and code some more. They are constantly looking for improvements and how information can be presented in a way that many people understand. For Incentra, which will have many users who do not work inside the platform every day, it is extra important that the users understand how it works, and quickly.
The platform they have created together is also flexible and can be expanded in line with Incentra's needs. Now we are working together to build more new functions and automations they can use.
No solution without good cooperation
Building solutions specifically for a player requires understanding, creativity and a good dose of openness. It is our job to understand the needs of our customers. In the meeting with Incentra, the need was to digitize manual processes. The general manager, Pål, together with his colleagues had a vision for the project and has been an important piece in the work. Ola and the team chose to actively use him throughout. Pål is clear that Incentra's philosophy is that they see all supplier agreements as partnership agreements and to arrive at the best agreements, the parties must work together well throughout the negotiation process so that you can identify "win-win situations". Pål is close to negotiation committees and suppliers when partnerships are to be renewed or entered into. He can take the temperature quickly, says Ola. That is why they think members and suppliers were so willing to stand up and test the platform.
Pål and Ola have managed to get to know each other well during the process. The collaboration has been good from the start, and Incentra has given Ola's department great confidence. It has meant a lot to the development and pace they have had. - We wanted the best solution, and then we realized that it was important to give the IT experts a lot of room for action, Pål tells us.
We thank you for your trust so far, and wish Incentra and its members and partners the best of luck. Our goal is that this will provide great value for many years to come!
