Lassila & Tikanoja wanted to simplify its numerous system integrations and make them more supportive of L&T’s business. We developed common ground rules for L&T’s integrations, implemented a new Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) and integration platform and are managing integrations as a continuous service. Integrations are now faster and more cost-effective, changes can be responded to in an increasingly agile manner and the creation of new services is easier.
Lassila & Tikanoja (L&T) provides its customers with services related to waste management, recycling, property management and cleaning. The operations require the integration of numerous systems and processes, both inside the house as well as with customers and partners. Over the years, the system integrations had formed into a fairly complex package. Given that there are so many dependencies between the systems, changes were difficult, if not risky, to implement – a change in one system has an impact on the rest and the changes had to be done in all systems separately. The amount of manual work was high. This kind of integration architecture was also unhelpful in terms of L&T’s multi-supplier environment, and posed challenges for the employment of cloud services.
We joined L&T in an effort to clarify and harmonise operating models and to plan a new integration solution. We started by drawing up an integration policy.
“We wanted to come up with clear ground rules and operating models for all of our integrations. In addition to technical solutions, it is crucial that we have a shared perception of our strategy, our business goals and the role of integrations therein, organisation, architecture and administrative models. This is the only way for us to achieve the benefits pursued,” says L&T’s CIO Harri Karjalainen.
In addition to integration policy, we drew up an integration manual. It includes an extensive set of practical instructions, which can also be used as requirements for the deliveries of various suppliers.
The development and administration of integrations was centred in an integration competence centre. We designed the competence centre’s operating model and produce the competence centre’s services for L&T.
Solita’s people work as a seamless part of our own organisation
“Solita’s people work as a seamless part of our own organisation and we have genuinely high-standard competence at our disposal. The competence centre’s specialists design the internal integration services and manage the technical platform and tools. They also develop models and best practices in cooperation with us. The cooperation has been very smooth,” says Integration Architect Janne Torppa.
To gain a better ability to respond to the needs of business and to support the digitisation of processes and the development of new services, L&T also took into use a new integration platform and ESB. ESB enables uniform and reusable integrations. ESB allows for the flexible and cost-effective integration of customers’ and partners’ systems into those of L&T. ESB’s benefits are particularly visible in change situations: changes are easier and faster to implement.
Consistent operating models, an integration platform, ESB and the centralised integration service centre form a whole that supports the development of L&T’s business, enables new kinds of services and enhances operations.
A well-designed and implemented integration solution is a prerequisite for our ability to make full use of different systems and information
“We want to offer our customers and partners new added value services and facilitate day-to-day work. A well-designed and implemented integration solution is a prerequisite for our ability to make full use of different systems and the information in them in the development of our operations. The new solution and new operating models have also helped us to bring many of our long-term development projects to a successful conclusion,” says Harri Karjalainen.
ESB allows for the automation of data transfers, which reduces manual work and mistakes, and improves the quality of information. Centralised control enables reliable monitoring and a better control of problem situations. A multi-supplier environment provides you with uniform, maintainable and sustainable solutions, regardless of the supplier. The use of cloud services is easier.
ESB allows for the automation of data transfers, which reduces manual work and mistakes, and improves the quality of information.
In practical terms, the benefits are already visible at L&T as enhanced shift planning and resourcing, for example, as well as in the development of logistics processes and in inventory and fleet management. The entire package works a great deal better than before.
“The ESB is an architectural model which you have to commit to and develop with a long-term perspective. I still believe that, over time, as more and more services are digitised, the amount of information grows and the operating environment continues to change, it will provide us with a sound starting point for efficient, flexible and competitive operations,” says Janne Torppa.
As more and more services are digitised, the amount of information grows and the operating environment continues to change, it will provide us with a sound starting point for efficient, flexible and competitive operations.
Janne TorppaIntegration Architect, Lassila & Tikanoja
