Solving business problems with data and AI

From energy efficiency to campaign analytics, this is how we help our clients move forward faster, smarter, and with confidence.

Recordly was founded to help people cooperate better with data. And throughout the four years the company has existed, we’ve seen the struggles that many companies face. 

Automation and real-time insights still matter

Even before the hype around AI, our clients had been automating their processes with the help of real-time or near-real-time data. The goal was often to eliminate manual tasks, like sending and manipulating Excel files, and to create systems that better supported day-to-day decision-making.

We also addressed the root causes of manual processes. Data was siloed behind systems or invisible organizational walls that prevented people from being productive and self-serving with the organization's data. 

All the manual steps and all the missing bits and pieces of the common understanding also naturally lead to problems with data quality and that has also been one of the common themes we discuss with our customers.

All problems are still relevant with the possibilities different AI technologies now offer, but there’s even more pressure to solve them in a way that supports different AI use cases.

The Recordly approach: business first, tech second

At Recordly, we like to title ourselves the Business Data Company. That means our approach starts from a business perspective:

• What vision does the top management have?
• Which KPIs matter the most right now?
• What processes drive those KPIs?
• Who are the key stakeholders involved?

And when we do design technical solutions, they need to be better equipped to handle changes than the current solutions are. Because as we learn, there will be needs for changes.

That’s the Recordly approach.

Case 1: Building a real-time analytics solution for Duunitori

Duunitori is an excellent example of a company we’ve helped.

In their case, important data for analytics and insights was scattered across many systems; some internal and many external. Data was integrated in different ways and with multiple granularities.

Just unifying the data collection and management would already have made an improvement. But our goal was also to help Duunitori make faster decisions and quickly respond to changes.

For Duunitori, the opportunities near-real-time insights offer are countless. Different campaign types and customer needs can be solved and even optimized with fresh insights. We also made the solution manageable by Duunitori’s own data team and have been supporting them in their work.

“Our fast-paced and reliable analytics platform helps us to serve our core business better.”, said Markus Rautopuro, CGO & Co-Investor at Duunitori. 

The same solutions and principles are relevant for other businesses whose products and services are online and being consumed by real human beings.

Case 2: Energy optimization through real-time data and automation

In a totally different domain, we’ve helped another customer by utilizing real-time data.

The world of energy optimization faces many challenges that data can help mitigate. Energy price volatility has increased significantly over the past few years. For industrial buyers, electricity can account for up to 30% of the final product’s cost, depending on the manufacturing technology. Reducing energy costs can therefore have a major long-term effect.

The future looks much brighter for companies that can adjust processes and workloads based on electricity prices and avoid high-cost operations. With our customer, we’ve taken steps in that direction by building a data platform that optimizes both energy consumption and cost.

A mathematical optimization model now automates the creation of consumption plans, improving accuracy by relying on the latest data rather than just individual expertise. Once results are ready, they’re instantly available wherever needed.

This kind of data-driven decision-making strengthens resilience. By combining real-time data with optimization, our customer can act with more confidence in a volatile market. The ability to handle uncertainty with confidence, even in volatile conditions, is what sets leaders apart.

Case 3: Freeing R&D experts’ time with smarter integrations

Another recent case focused on automating manual data handling for an energy sector client. At their multiple facilities, different chemical combinations are used, and separate R&D environments simulate production conditions to support product development and solve production issues.

Previously, experts in these environments had to manually import data from various sources, spend time manipulating data and eventually communicate updates themselves. Even though the process had been fine-tuned, it still involved errors and unnecessary manual work.

We introduced integrations that automated key steps, reducing errors and freeing up experts’ valuable time. We also developed a different concept for analyzing and making corrections to the data automatically. With the data in better shape, the experts can spend more time developing a shared material bank of previous projects and tests.

Case 4: Rethinking data at Kesko

In the retail sector, our client Kesko never had a problem with a lack of data, they had plenty. In fact, the issue was the opposite: with so much data, different domains had developed independently, making it harder to align and manage multiple important but separate development tracks. 

Recordly got the opportunity to take part in an initiative combining data and expertise from different domains, and introduced a new way of looking at the data Kesko already had.

Sometimes, taking a whole new perspective makes all the difference. 

In Kesko's K-Hyvinvointi initiative, we took the perspective of a consumer:

• "How can I make the best choices that support my health?"
• "How could my family be more environmentally friendly?"

The data for taking this approach was already there, but the consumer's perspective of wellbeing was something that needed careful designing and many different expert opinions. This case was a collaboration between Kesko, Futurice, and Recordly.

What ties these cases together?

Across all the cases, clear business objectives have guided both big-picture initiatives and smaller decisions. When targets are defined from the start, we can focus on the right data and use it more effectively.

A fresh perspective on existing data often reveals new value, sometimes even entirely new revenue streams or better ways to collaborate.

And while quick wins matter, long-term thinking is essential. The solutions we build aren’t just for today, but designed to stay useful as needs evolve.

four years of solving meaningful data problems

In this blog I have shared a few cases we’ve completed in our first four years as the Business Data Company. We’ve always known that data is a way to optimize business operations. But these past four years have really highlighted how valuable data can be when it is used right to support business actions.

Since Recordly is the business data company, we believe in solving meaningful problems. And digging dollars with data, of course. 

Contact us and let's find out how you can use data you already own in new ways!