Customer story
HögforsGST: Making quality thinking part of everyday work
- Software testing
HögforsGST needed help planning testing to support product development. Instead of providing a quick technical fix, we jointly created a sustainable operating model that integrates quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle. Our willingness to challenge the original request led to insights that will create value far into the future.
The right solution starts with identifying the real need
HögforsGST, based in Leppävirta, is known for high-quality district heating substations. A product development initiative introduced new technical requirements. In particular, features such as remote management and data collection required new ways to ensure product quality, reliability and security. HögforsGST approached us about test planning, but the discussion quickly went deeper.
“I was impressed by how Tickingbot took ownership. I did not need to specify the need in great detail. Based on a couple of calls, they identified the solution that would genuinely help us.”
— Santeri Hinkkanen, Project Manager, HögforsGST
The courage to offer what the customer actually needs
Our experts recognized that a single test plan would not solve the challenges of maintaining long-term quality.
“Rather than simply delivering what was requested, we took a bold step and challenged the original brief. We saw an opportunity to create broader, more lasting value for the customer through a different approach, and chose to pursue it.”
— Testing specialist Samuli Lahnamäki
Our specialists recognised that a single test plan would not solve long-term quality challenges. We proposed comprehensive development of the quality assurance process instead. The objective was to move the organisation’s thinking forward so that employees would adopt lasting quality thinking in new areas as well.
The project consisted of two workshops supported by thorough preliminary interviews with participants ranging from developers to management. This gave us a genuine, comprehensive view of the starting point.
Insights beyond everyday routines
We held the workshops at Farmi in Hervanta. Although the customer team was initially cautious because the project was in a busy phase, enthusiasm quickly took over. Our facilitation was designed to help the customer create the insights through its own work.
“For me, the summary of the initial assessment was already a real eye-opener. It clearly revealed where we had gaps in our expertise and communication. The workshops themselves were an excellent blend of insight generation, learning, and active participation.”
— Hinkkanen reflects on
Workshop themes:
- Quality assurance thinking: shifting the focus from end-of-process testing to proactive quality assurance.
- Communication and reporting: shared practices and reporting models across units.
- Lifecycle documentation: extending documentation to tools and working methods so that critical tacit knowledge remains available for decades.
- Information security: identifying the critical security needs of a remotely managed system and finding the right specialist expertise.
- Commitment: because the team shaped the solutions, the new practices grew from their own insights and encouraged genuine commitment.
As excellent as the workshop content was, we still managed a very human slip-up. We had forgotten to arrange coffee for the first workshop morning. The explanation was simple: there are hardly any coffee drinkers at Tickingbot, whereas coffee is practically a cornerstone of any Finnish morning. Luckily, we realized our mistake and had it fixed by the afternoon.
Quality assurance as part of the culture, not a sticker on the bonnet
Our support did not end with the workshops. We continued to act as an active sparring partner between meetings to ensure that the agreed actions moved into practice. The greatest success was the shared understanding that quality assurance requires a cultural change across the entire organisation.
“I got the sense that they genuinely cared about helping us get things all the way across the finish line, not just ticking off the workshops and moving on.”
— Hinkkanen says
While our proposal was not the lowest-priced option, the value it delivered and its comprehensive approach were recognized as a worthwhile investment. Perhaps the most significant outcome was the realization that quality assurance requires a shift in culture throughout the entire organization.
“I can recommend Tickingbot without reservation. The greatest benefit for us was a better understanding of what quality assurance and lifecycle thinking really require in a software product. Their ability to uncover the real problem and offer a sustainable solution was highly convincing.””
— Hinkkanen praises
Contact us
COLLABORATION INQUIRIES
Matleena Piesala
CEO
matleena.piesala@tickingbot.fi
+358 50 366 1849
Samuli Lahnamäki
Testing Specialist
