Delivering parcels with best user experience

One of the most challenging projects that has brought the most benefits to Itella is the integration of sorting lines.

Initially, the outdated integration in Estonia was replaced with a new solution. Then, we used the Estonian sorting line as inspiration to create a new solution for Latvia and Lithuania. In Latvia and Lithuania, a sorting robot from a different manufacturer was chosen, so some adjustments were necessary. Now, the entire Baltic region experiences significantly faster operations.

Couriers who previously used multiple devices now have one unified device (Android phone with an app) that allows them to manage both home deliveries and deliveries to parcel lockers.

This device can also be used by additional help staff during the holiday season. Christmas is the busiest period in the logistics field, with both post offices and parcel lockers being overloaded.

The work of logisticians is one of the most difficult at Itella. Couriers pass over 100 stops during the day. The task of logistics is to create the most suitable route, which must also take into account the unexpected.

The sales and marketing department previously used a lot of Excel in their daily work. Now they have a new back-office environment created by Artify that can be further developed according to their needs.

For example:

A flexible technical solution was created also for defining and offering special services to clients.

The main task of customer support is to answer customer questions over the phone. Their work environment must hence be intuitive and fast. However, the package's journey can be almost 90 days long and go through a lot of different operations - that is, a lot of data can be accumulated.

Customers are the backbone of any business and they too were not left out of Artify's innovations. The biggest improvement to Itella’s business is a comprehensive online and mobile self-service for both business and private customers.

We even added convenience services in addition to creating a new and improved platform.

At the beginning of the cooperation Itella had only one type of parcel machine. Now they have 2 types of parcel machines and also parcel houses.

The distribution network has expanded and that has also affected the needs for the technical solution. Each parcel machine type is a different piece of hardware and requires different approaches from the software side. Additionally an integration with Valnes Weblock system was built.

When creating the Kiosk interface for parcel machines surprising challenges were met: the screens may be shifted after reboots, customers use different force and and speed when touching buttons; beautiful designs turned out not to be the most practical one.

So after first deploying the pre-tested solution quick reaction was needed to add modifications during the implementation period. 

Artify team consists mainly of senior specialists who have long-term experience in their field. A talented and experienced team is the basis for a fast paced development.

Itella project team included a technical manager, a project manager, 2 software architects, 3 senior developers, developers, analysts, testers and a designer.

It is worth noting that the founders of Artify are a designer and a software architect with rich experience, who have committed their heart and soul to their work.

We started the Itella project with two people, but now, 5 years later, we have a team of 15 on board. The Itellas's team has also grown, because in addition to Estonia, we also serve the Baltics and the needs of the Finnish Post Group.

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We offer our cooperation partners only modern full solutions

Artify team works on SCRUM principles. For the majority, as also in Itella’s case, it is unreasonable to create a longer waterfall type development plan.

The work processes and user needs are often clarified on an ongoing basis, especially as the business continues to grow and evolve as development is ongoing.

Every week we conducted 2 refinement sessions with the client. Managing a large team, tasks and expectations requires constant communication with the client.

Thanks to good cooperation with our partner, we of course found a good way to work together and grow into one big development team.

When you partner with Artify, know that you're getting the whole package.

We don't just develop software, we work to make people's work easier, more intuitive and convenient.

In addition to writing code, we think about how to optimize processes and create software that supports the future.

As a strategic partner, we support the present and expect that in the future your business expands.

With the systems we have created, growth is assured.

Artify's portfolio includes several end-user solutions as well as "in-house" work management systems.

Over the course of 5 years of Itella’s development project, many changes to the original plan appeared.

Due to the pandemic, parcel business grew by 300% and the systems at that time were not ready for such growth.

Fortunately for Itella, they had involved a cooperation partner for whom it was not a problem to focus on this unexpected need and solve it before returning to the planned development path.