Hämeen kiinteistöautomaatio (part of Bravida) is the leading automation company in the Lahti region, specializing in electrical building technology, centralized building automation, and maintenance. The company manages and optimizes all its customers' properties with one brand-independent cloud platform – our Web Port system.
Hämeen Kiinteistöautomaatio Oy
"For years, I was on the hunt for a building monitoring software that would allow me to manage automation brands from various manufacturers. I found what I needed in Web Port: its pricing is transparent, the platform is easy to use, and the technology is open," says Technical Director and Founder Jari Niemelä.
Hämeen kiinteistöautomaatio (HKA) has been a Certified Kiona Partner since 2022.
A broader customer base than ever before
HKA serves its clients throughout the entire life cycle of a building, from new construction to renovation and modernization. The company provides complete turnkey solutions for buildings. For building automation, they offer several different contract levels.
"We reduce our customers' real estate costs and suggest improvements. At the lightest level, we move the customer's property to the cloud, and the customer receives backups and the necessary access rights. We also offer services where our professionals manage the client's property."
"In this case, we agree on a client-specific basis, for example, how many hours per month the service is needed, what is reported to the client, and so on," Niemelä continues.
In the past, HKA's services have been brand-dependent, but today, they can offer the same services for multiple device configurations.
"Each supplier has its own type of monitoring software. We previously focused on systems from three different suppliers. Now that we have an open platform like Web Port, we can also take on brands we haven't supported before. We currently have monitoring software from six different vendors." Niemelä explains.
We previously focused on systems from three different suppliers. Now that we have an open platform like Web Port, we can also take on brands we haven't supported before.
He says the platform is robust and highly functional, making managing customers' property portfolios easier. And when they don't constantly have to switch monitoring views between different brands, their work efficiency also improves.
"We can add up to 100 properties to the platform. From Web Port, you can't see which or whose system is behind the monitoring; everything is done the same way. That makes our job a lot easier."
The IoT boom in building automation
Future buildings will be highly equipped and complex, driving the increasing need for technical expertise within building automation. And the Internet of Things (IoT) is currently booming in this sector.
HKA has invested in the development of IoT solutions at the forefront. During COVID-19, they received support from Business Finland for a development project aimed at wireless metering in buildings.
"Now, we can wirelessly measure various parameters in our customers' properties, including air quality, pressure differentials, carbon dioxide levels, and particulate matter concentrations. We install sensors in the buildings, and the data is transmitted to Digita's LoRa network and from there to our systems," says Niemelä.
The data is measured in real-time, and the cloud service allows the data to be used automatically to adjust the conditions in the buildings.
"I dare say that we are very high on the Finnish scale in terms of expertise in these matters," says Niemelä.
While many things can now be done wirelessly and remotely, HKA promises to remain easily accessible to its customers.
"Above all, we promise to be present locally, even if we are not in the same place. We take responsibility for what we do."
Finding solutions to customers' problems
Customers contact HKA mainly when a fault has been detected in their building or its automation system, when there is a problem with the indoor air, or when the customer wants to save energy. Rarely, however, is the contact proactive.
"Usually, the customer calls us to report a particular issue. Then, we discuss, assess the situation, and collectively seek solutions. We resolve the issues and see how things start functioning. It's important that our services generate value for our customers."
According to Niemelä, the biggest challenge for the building automation sector in Finland has long been cheap energy.
"For example, electricity has been so cheap that it has been difficult to make people understand why they should save it. The electricity price boom made our job easier and helped customers understand that every euro saved improves their bottom line."
Electricity has been so cheap that it has been difficult to make people understand why they should save it. The electricity price boom made our job easier and helped customers understand that every euro saved improves their bottom line.
Niemelä and his team serve municipalities, cities, hospitals, and shopping centers. He is proud of his company's client base.
"We couldn't do this kind of thing if we didn't have extremely professional staff. The most important asset is the people who do it."
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