The Finnish Meteorological Institute puts its procurements out to open tender globally with the help of Cloudia

The Finnish Meteorological Institute and Cloudia started their cooperation in autumn 2016. The first step was to bring the Institute’s procurement contracts into control with the help of Cloudia’s contract management service. The digitalisation of the Institute’s sourcing operations was started with the help of Cloudia’s sourcing service in April 2017.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute is a service and research institute tasked with providing high-quality observation and research data on the atmosphere and oceans. The Finnish Meteorological Institute combines these competences into services which it provides in order to further general safety and the welfare of society and the environment. The history of the Finnish Meteorological Institute is long indeed, as it dates back to 1838. The institute received its present name in 1968.

In addition to providing services and research, the Finnish Meteorological Institute is also a member of several international organisations. The institute is also an active participant in a number of international research and development projects. As it is, during the past 50 years, the institute has developed weather and climate services in more than 100 countries.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute is an internationally recognised organisation whose professional competence is utilised globally through consultation services. The procurements put out to open tender range from research equipment to maintenance services and coders, so there was an existing need for a digital sourcing system.

“We have a lot of foreign suppliers that we use for purchasing items such as super computers and other hardware. We also contribute to the development of the developing countries’ weather service by providing consultation and assistance to the best of our ability,” says procurement specialist Pipsa Ylikantola-Päkki.

Global operations also pose special challenges. For example, the difference in the use of electronic systems may be considerable between Nordic and developing countries. Help for potential differences in use cultures is available from Cloudia’s customer support, which the Finnish Meteorological Institute has found very effective.

“Cloudia’s customer support responds to phone calls very quickly, is friendly and always tries to find an answer to our sometimes difficult questions”, says Pirkko Niemi, Head of Supplies at the Finnish Meteorological Institute.  “I would also like to thank Cloudia’s customer support for their English-language customer service and instructions.”

Cooperation between Cloudia and Finnish Meteorological Institute started in 2016

The Finnish Meteorological Institute and Cloudia started their cooperation in autumn 2016. The first step was to bring the Institute’s procurement contracts into control with the help of Cloudia Contract. The system was positively received in the organisation.

“Cloudia Contract makes information easy to find, and contracts no longer remain inaccessible when the offices are closed or stay behind certain individuals,” says project manager Tommi Asplund.

The digitalisation of the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s sourcing operations was started with the help of Cloudia Sourcing in April 2017. The previously used Word-based forms were to be replaced so that the constant exchange of e-mails and the need for the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s Registry to act as an intermediary could be eliminated as far as possible.

“Cloudia Sourcing has overcome the previous challenges both on the national and global scale. Even the intercontinental time differences no longer pose any problems,” says Niemi.

Cloudia’s services have helped the Finnish Meteorological Institute to streamline and facilitate its procurement processes. The information pertaining to purchases and contracts can be found centrally from a single location.

“Furthermore, using the systems saves working time, among other things, as the same information no longer needs to be entered several times.”