The popular AI Finland AI 1000 trainings continue under Digia’s leadership. The program tailored for Junttan’s management team was a great example of why it is worth taking a step back to reflect on AI development jointly. The result can be surprisingly new opportunities – and a clearer overall AI strategy.
Junttan is a global manufacturer of piling machines and equipment, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The company has extensive experience with market and global changes – and AI is seen as a significant opportunity, says Leena Karhu, Head of IT at Junttan.
“At Junttan, we see AI development as consisting of three areas. The first is improving productivity through generative AI. In practice, this means training and inspiring our entire international organisation to use AI.
The second area is embedding AI into processes. We are exploring, for example, how AI and data could be used for predictive analytics, assessing machine maintenance needs, identifying deviations in production, or improving inventory management.
The third area is how AI can be used to create new business and develop value-adding services for our customers.”
AI 1000 is a training program designed for decision-makers that helps company boards and management teams identify and leverage AI-driven growth opportunities. The ambitious initiative is led by AI Finland, with Digia acting as one of the training partners.
Junttan joined the program to gain clarity on building its AI strategy – and, according to Karhu, that is exactly what they achieved.
“We were extremely satisfied with the active and engaging training, which included both remote sessions and workshops. In addition, I had one-on-one discussions with each member of the management team to brainstorm potential AI development initiatives for their respective areas of responsibility.
During the training, we then explored the topics in more depth. We gained an excellent understanding of our current AI maturity level – and of everything that needs to be considered when building an AI roadmap.
During the AI 1000 training, Junttan realised that key stakeholders still had differing views on the target-state role and significance of AI. Earlier, it had also become clear that some employees approached AI with caution, while others were enthusiastic and full of new ideas. This created a natural starting point for building a shared understanding and a common development path.
“The training reinforced that the AI strategy must be clear, and that the journey is not merely an IT project. It is a significant transformation that requires change management at all organisational levels.
People also need to be motivated to explore opportunities and encouraged to share ideas and experiences. I personally visit the factory regularly to talk with people and encourage experimentation. This is where development really begins and becomes embedded in everyday work.”
• You can register for the AI 1000 training on AI Finland’s website or by contacting us.
• More information about Digia’s AI expertise is available here.