Kiho x Eltel

Comprehensive tracking and fast inspections mean smoother and safer daily operations

When it comes to cooperation and partnership, it is extremely important that both parties are ready to look toward the future—and above all, to react to the needs of a changing world. Kiho and Eltel have been developing Eltel’s fleet management system together for years, and it has become such an integral part of Eltel’s daily operations that the regular user does not even notice it.

Eltel designs, builds, and maintains sustainable and functional network connections—and uses Kiho to manage its fleet.

Comprehensive tracking is responsible fleet management

Eltel is a national service provider for critical electricity and telecommunications networks. The company’s fleet management and tracking needs are understandably extensive: a nationwide service with equipment that includes not only personnel but also various sized vehicles, different tools, and a wide range of safety equipment.

Kiho has provided Eltel with Kiho Fleet and has also developed customized solutions that enable smooth and safe use of the fleet. At the same time, Kiho has helped Eltel remain at the forefront of digitalization.

Eltel has long been a pioneer in digital solutions in its field. For example, the company adopted GPS tracking for its vehicle fleet as early as 2010, which at the time was far from widely used. The technology served Eltel’s needs for years, but as Fleet Manager Juha Miettinen puts it: technology evolves.

“15 years ago, tracking and applications were seen as a threat, and everyone opposed them: ‘we don’t want this, nor do we need it.’ Today it’s the opposite.”

– Juha Miettinen, Eltel

“The technology served us well for years, but development advances. We realized we needed to start renewing our existing equipment tracking system. At the same time, we wanted to expand digitalization to other areas. In 2018 we started to explore what options were available and what we wanted to do in the future. That’s when Kiho came up,” Miettinen explains.

Following a long pilot and testing phase, the cooperation between Kiho and Eltel officially started in 2019, when Eltel comprehensively adopted Kiho’s services. Vehicle tracking was familiar to the company and was further developed, but attention was also focused on digitizing all other assets.

“We wanted to include tools and valuable assets, so the company could track in real time what equipment is in use, where, and when. With such solutions, we can efficiently manage our assets,” Miettinen says.

Versatile needs, versatile solutions

Eltel has over a thousand daily Kiho users, many of whom use the mobile app in their field work. The user-friendly app allows field workers to track tasks and fleet directly from their phones. When Kiho was first introduced in the field, some saw it as an extra burden, but today only a few new employees are unfamiliar with the system.

“15 years ago, tracking and applications were viewed negatively. Now, if something doesn’t work, it has to be fixed immediately because it makes the job easier,” Miettinen laughs.

In addition to a large number of users, Eltel has around 700 vehicles monitored by the Kiho system. The company’s assets are not limited to vehicles; they also include expensive and critical assets like measuring devices, work machines, and safety equipment, all of which must be carefully tracked and maintained.

Eltel has divided the system into three key areas:

1. Compliance and inspections:
Legal vehicle requirements and inspections are handled using Kiho’s Driving Log. The system also tracks inspections, calibrations, maintenance, and servicing of equipment to ensure documentation is up to date.

2. Digital management of valuable assets:
Eltel uses Kiho to track the location and usage of all assets, from measuring devices to tools and machinery. Kiho provides detailed asset location and utilization data.

3. Ensuring safety:
Kiho monitors critical safety equipment inspections to ensure they occur at the right time. This guarantees that essential safety gear is always in proper condition.

During interviews with Miettinen and Niko Lindholm, Eltel’s Product Owner, it becomes clear that employee and equipment safety are priorities.

“Safety is extremely important to us, and Kiho helps with this. We have many items that are not high in monetary value but are crucial: safety equipment must be checked and tested,” Miettinen explains.

To track small tools and safety gear, Eltel has implemented NFC technology, allowing easy mobile tracking via the app.

“We track vehicles and expensive tools in real-time. The bulk volume is in lower-value tools and safety gear, so these now have NFC tags read by phone. This shows us when an item is in use and when the next inspection is due,” Miettinen says.

Data analysis as part of leadership

Eltel uses Kiho data both for internal operations and to support its customer services. For example, local partners working with Eltel can see where Eltel’s personnel are.

Over the years, Eltel has implemented extensive integrations for internal reporting. Kiho’s data is transferred via API to Eltel’s systems for analysis and to create clear reports to support decision-making.

“Measuring fleet utilization is everything. Our switch to electric vehicles happened based on Kiho’s data. We could analyze driving patterns and determine which units were best suited for EVs,” Miettinen says.

Looking ahead benefits both parties

Eltel and Kiho have an active partnership. Lindholm explains: “When we have a development need, we always have an open dialogue. We explore whether there’s already a solution in development or something that can be quickly customized for our needs.”

If no ready solution exists, one is co-developed. Eltel also considers if a development could be useful for Kiho’s other customers. For highly specific needs unique to Eltel, they request a direct quote from Kiho to evaluate whether to proceed.

Kiho’s Customer Director Jari Pirinen emphasizes regular meetings: “Monthly meetings and separate development project sessions keep the relationship and development quality high. It’s efficient and structured, with the right people and clear responsibilities.”

Preferably always one step ahead

Development happens by observing changes and identifying new needs. Lindholm shares a concrete example:

“When systems are developed, nothing is perfect from the start. For example, we moved from manual text entries to predefined options, which greatly reduced human errors.”

Eltel actively explores new development possibilities. “We always have something in progress,” Miettinen and Lindholm laugh. “We’re like a barrel of thousands of ideas. We want to improve how we use Kiho’s features every day. Data volumes grow, technology advances, and we’re always open to new models. I’m sure we haven’t yet seen everything that this partnership can bring,” Miettinen concludes.