Tieto Oyj : Digitalisation of the forest industry recognised in Europe – congratulations Metsä Group!

Cogeca, an organisation that represents European agri-cooperatives, has presented Metsä Group's parent company, the Metsäliitto Cooperative, with the European Award for Cooperative Innovation. The award was granted in the category Innovative use of ICT/Digitalisation. The award-winning Metsäverkko solution has been built in cooperation with Tieto.

According to the panel of judges, Metsäverkko and the associated electronic services built for the members of the Metsäliitto Cooperative represent an excellent innovation with a significant impact on the value chain. The electronic services of the Metsäliitto Cooperative exemplify how innovations can genuinely provide added value to the owners of cooperatives, they note.

The award was presented in Brussels on 29 November 2017. The award was accepted by Metsä Group's Senior Vice President for Member Services Juha Jumppanen on behalf of the Metsäliitto Cooperative.

'Our goal is to be a pioneer in digital services for forest owners. That is why we need a partner with an understanding of change in business and the ability to manage large projects. Metsäverkko, which we have implemented together with Tieto, is currently the only service in which timber trade and the purchase of forestry services are possible electronically from start to finish', Juha Jumppanen says.

'Our electronic services make the forest property management of our owner members independent of time and place. We are very proud of the fact that European cooperatives think so highly of the services we have built', Jumppanen continues.

In the Metsäverkko service, members of the Metsäliitto Cooperative can manage all their forest property from updating the data on standing timber to share investments. Metsäverkko is currently the only e-service in which timber trade and the purchase of forestry services can be performed electronically from start to finish.

At present, nearly 30% of Metsä Group's timber trade and approximately 40% of the sales of forestry services are electronic.