MTK - utilising external data for research and development
QuickBI and MTK have cooperated closely since 2022 to automate the retrieval of external data for reporting and further processing. The aim of the cooperation is to simplify and optimise a critical task for MTK: monitoring and analysing massive amounts of data. The main focus has been on evolving data tasks from manual, routine labour into insightful work of research and development.
The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) is an interest group for farmers, forest owners, and rural entrepreneurs. The MTK group also includes Viestimedia Oy (which publishes the Maaseudun Tulevaisuus newspaper) and the Landowners’ Assessment Center. MTK’s main task is advocacy at the international, national, and regional levels. In order to influence political decisions, for example, MTK needs reliable data and statistics. Additionally, the aim is to provide members with information that will help them make decisions, such as those related to sales or production.
QuickBI discussed the collaboration over the past year with Kalle Karttunen , the head of research for MTK’s forestry department, regarding a project to automate the processing of external data. Karttunen’s work focuses on the analysis and research of timber markets. The foundation for that comes from global markets, the so-called derived demand, which directly affects the timber markets of Finland. Therefore, utilising external data is practically obligatory for reporting and advocacy.
Before QuickBI - the need for automation
Before the collaboration with QuickBI began, MTK had adopted a comprehensive BI system, Tableau, but its use was limited. Data was retrieved from various sources and manually entered into Excel spreadsheets. It was clear that there was a strong need for automation.
There were many Excel files used in reporting, some of them interlinked. From these, result graphs were made in PowerPoint. Raw data was manually fetched from the Natural Resources Institute Finland and from some paid sources manually, and it was processed using the Alteryx software, although the tool wasn’t fully adopted. Most of the work was done manually in Excel and PowerPoint. Since new data to be processed comes weekly from several different sources, the work was very slow.
MTK’s main goal is to transition from data collection and distribution to actual advocacy. The more time freed up for other tasks, the more focus can be placed on MTK’s primary mission—tasks related to advocacy. Kalle Karttunen doesn’t think it’s productive for his time or anyone else’s to be spent on work that could be automated. Due to the lack of time, Karttunen has already had to stop following some trends that he felt did not provide significant benefit to forest owners. Resources must be concentrated on what truly matters.
For effective advocacy, it’s essential for field managers, experts, and other users to be able to delve into their own regional data. However, without automation, regional-level analyses cannot be reached. It is simply not feasible to produce and keep such a large number of PowerPoint slides up to date. Here we see a familiar pattern: when processes involve a lot of manual work, deeper analysis and insights are left undone.
Karttunen also notes that simply showing statistical graphs is far less user-friendly and useful than having, for example, a map or options that allow further exploration.
Beginning of the cooperation
When MTK realized the need to seriously invest in automating data processing, they initiated an experiment in 2022. MTK offered a proof-of-concept (POC) trial to several companies, and QuickBI was selected for implementation.
The task definitions were Karttunen’s responsibility, and there were some initial challenges, but he noted that as the collaboration progressed, QuickBI quickly understood and delivered what was needed. A good starting point was established when it was decided that the reports would be presented in the same visual style as the previous PowerPoint slides, combining multiple elements in a single view where possible. The map visuals, which now allow for deeper dives into regional data, were particularly important.
Concrete benefits for decision-making
For its members and internal experts, MTK’s forestry department publishes information on its website that is publicly available in other sources —mainly price data from the Natural Resources Institute Finland on timber sales. However, with QuickBI, this data has now been refined into a much more user-friendly format. The improvements are clear:
- Regional data: Users can now click on a map to view the development of their own region, which was not possible before. This is highly useful for regional managers, forestry associations, and even forest owners.
- More comprehensive data: For example, the monthly statistics for industrial timber now cover a wide range of aspects and dimensions. The previous manually compiled weekly statistics were not nearly as comprehensive.
- Combining and comparing: Reports now combine multiple aspects into the same graph, making it easier to uncover their relationships and analyse, compare and draw conclusions.
Making external data efficient
MTK’s research and reporting are heavily based on the use of external data, with the main source being the Natural Resources Institute of Finland. The Natural Resources Institute also has data overviews from external sources, which is very useful for MTK also when automating data processing.
Additionally, MTK purchases certain indexes on the forest industry markets. Statistics from Finnish Customs are still retrieved and entered into reports manually; here, Karttunen again sees an opportunity for automation. He also recognizes a significant opportunity in biodiversity and carbon footprint issues, areas where they currently lack the resources for analysis.
“There is a massive amount of data that we should convert to a certain format, to truly understand how things are and to make decisions. For example, we have experts who deeply understand their field from an advocacy perspective, but when it comes to quantities and how things develop, we need a clear data foundation, such as location data or other statistical data,” Karttunen reflects.
QuickBI’s services demonstrate that even a large amount of information can be tracked and analyzed without an army of analysts, when the report is built correctly and data flow is then automated.
Synergy and savings
Working with QuickBI has been easy and enjoyable, according to Karttunen, although defining the assignments was challenging at times. Initially, it took time to shape the ideas, and meetings were held weekly, sometimes even more frequently. Karttunen believes it is crucial to take the necessary time in the early stages and keeping the objective clear, because it will definitely pay off in the end.
Karttunen also points out that companies should consider synergies when budgeting such projects. MTK identified synergies within the first few months, for instance, by helping other entities within the same group tackle the same challenges, achieving cost savings.
As the project progresses, developing reporting becomes more cost-efficient. Building the infrastructure and creating the first reports require the most time and resources, but the work becomes easier and faster afterwards. MTK expects tangible savings soon, as they will be able to phase out the Alteryx software previously used for weekly data processing.
One of the biggest benefits is the significant time saved for everyone whose work involves data collection and analysis. Another major advantage is that everyone who needs access to timely and relevant information can access it more easily.
A strong foundation from a successful project
Karttunen can recommend QuickBI as a service provider, as the collaboration has gone smoothly. He considers one of the most successful solutions to be the publishing of the finalised reports on MTK’s website. He believes this was crucial in showing the potential of the implementation and generating enthusiasm. It has now been decided that in the coming years, all of MTK will focus on efficient data processing and market monitoring.
“We are really satisfied. The biggest win and breakthrough, I think, is that this project is already spreading, and there is continuity… We are bringing this modern approach into widespread use across the whole organisation.”
Karttunen hopes that close collaboration will continue. As the head of research and development at MTK, he sees the amount of data only increasing in the future and emphasises that automation must be pursued now—otherwise, the modern, development-driven execution of advocacy may be jeopardised. Decisions can’t be made based on “intuition” alone; data is what makes the difference.