Four questions to Ted Lundström at Ovako about Unifaun Analytics

Unifaun Analytics is a central function in Unifaun’s TMS offering. It was developed as a part of Unifaun’s mission to increase visibility and control in transportation. Analytics drastically improves visibility through visual data analysis based on QlikSense technology.

While building the tool, Unifaun has been very keen to include clients in the process to ensure the product meets the customer needs. Ted Lundström at Ovako is one of them and he was highly involved contributing with hands on practical input in to what was working well, what needed improvement and what functions are mostly used in everyday work.

Unifaun asked Ted four questions about the tool and how it has changed the way they work.

“I have more time now to focus on improvement measures instead of collecting and processing data” Ted Lundström, Purchasing Category Manager Logistics, Ovako

What did the developing process of Unifaun Analytics look like?

We have always been interested in obtaining data that can be useful and felt the need of a BI-tool on top of Unifaun’s TMS. We were therefore very happy to help in the process of building Unifaun Analytics. Unifaun’s strength is that it is an interface between us and our carriers; that you get feedback and statuses etc. The next step is to look at the data you get. We tried a first version and gave our views on what was useful for us and not. Unifaun made changes and let us try it again and so it went back and forth. Unifaun was always set on making a product that could fit many, so they took the opinions that fit that purpose and left the rest out.

How do you use Analytics?

We mostly use Analytics as a Management tool at our headquarters. So far, we have primarily used it in discussions with our Carriers, in follow-up meetings with them or if we have seen that something isn’t working. We have then looked at all the data from a strategic perspective to find where the problem lies and together with the carrier made the necessary changes. Analytics is not however just a top management system, it´s very much a way of steering through daily work for those working operatively in the system.

How did you work before using Analytics?

Previously when we evaluated a collaboration we basically asked around: Is it working? Yes or no? We tried to get as many facts as possible but the view on what is working or not in a collaboration can differ each day, so this was never as trustworthy as we needed it to be. Now, instead, we have a structured and repetitive way of looking at things without having to collect and compile the data manually every time. It’s already there presented in the way we want it.

How has Analytics changed the way you work?

Using a BI-tool has been a very positive change for us. If a carrier tells us they have too many deliveries we can see if that is true and we need to cut down, or if that is just a subjective perception. The numbers show us clearly where we need to make changes which makes the collaboration much easier, faster and with less friction. The carriers have been very positive and found this very interesting.

The biggest change has been that we have gone from being reactive in our actions to being proactive and solved problems before anyone even noticed them. A tool like this brings out information and facts that was previously unknown that we can now work with.

Read more about Unifaun Analytics here!