Innovation Leaders Club: AI – Not a Goal, but a Tool

Author: Elo Gaver

On May 28, the Innovation Leaders Club held its latest meeting focusing on how to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in business. The event was opened by Lauri Antalainen, a member of the club’s advisory board and the co-founder of Digiwise. In his keynote, he emphasized that AI should not be treated as a goal in itself. Instead, it should be seen as a chosen tool that enhances human actions. To begin with, organizations should map their current processes (as-is), outline their desired future state (to-be), and define a specific business task. Only then can they choose the right AI-based solution or partner.

Sandra Reivik, a consultant at Digiwise, shared three principles that will help turn AI into real value: a shift in mindset, curiosity, and the ability to use AI consciously. According to her, AI is not going away — it is becoming a natural part of everyday work. That’s why it is important to create internal focus groups, encourage experimentation, and build awareness and readiness across the organization. AI is not just an IT matter — it’s a team effort.

Throughout the event, one clear message stood out: AI won’t replace people, but people who use AI will soon replace those who don’t. When applied thoughtfully, AI can improve workflows, boost efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. But to get there, we need to engage with technology as consciously as we do with people — by starting with needs, asking smart questions, and learning step by step.

Updated Digital Solutions at Tourism Company Tiit-Reisid

Author: Elo Gaver

Last year, the tourism company Tiit-Reisid, based in Hiiumaa, went through a generational shift. The founder passed leadership to his son, Raido Randmaa, bringing fresh energy alongside years of experience. Having been close to the company since its beginning, Randmaa saw the move as a natural next step. From the outside, it may have seemed surprising — leaving a top position at Estonia’s largest infrastructure company to return to his roots in Hiiumaa and step into the tourism industry.

Although the business operations were familiar, Randmaa was surprised by the overall low level of digitalisation in the tourism sector. Tiit-Reisid had a functioning website, online store, and booking system, but managing data still involved a lot of manual work. This led to errors, wasted time, and unnecessary effort.

To bring clarity and structure, Tiit-Reisid joined the Visit Estonia digital mentoring programme. Together with Olga Luštšik, Senior Consultant at Digiwise, they mapped the customer journey, internal processes, and data flow. The result was a comprehensive and actionable digital roadmap, including 42 specific steps to guide the company over the next three years.

“I feel that I’m in the right place, doing the right thing,” Randmaa said. “The support and mentoring from Digiwise helped me see the big picture and make smarter choices.”
He added that some of the tasks from the roadmap will already be completed before the end of the year.

“Work Smart, Not Hard”

Autor: Elo Gaver

Under this theme, a series of educational seminars took place in collaboration with the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, HotelBuddy, Visit Estonia, and D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions. The aim was to help hotels keep up with industry trends and discover new ways to improve their daily operations.

The seminars focused on digitalisation and automation in hospitality. Speakers shared practical tips and real-life solutions for making everyday work more efficient and for improving the guest experience.

One of the keynote speakers was Lauri Antalainen, Lead Consultant at Digiwise. His talk, “Where to Begin and What Are the Benefits?”, offered a clear and hands-on guide to starting a digital journey. He explained how to build a step-by-step roadmap and make changes in a structured and successful way.

Events like these show that Estonia’s hospitality sector is ready for innovation and open to collaboration. Digiwise is grateful to the organisers for their trust and looks forward to taking the next steps together with tourism professionals across the country.

Visit Estonia Info Day: How Can Estonian Tourism Grow Sustainably and Efficiently?

Author: Elo Gaver

Just before the start of the new season, EAS and Visit Estonia hosted an inspiring and informative info day for tourism professionals at the PROTO Invention Factory in Tallinn. The event was divided into three main parts: an overview of Estonian tourism and Visit Estonia, insights into key target markets, and a discussion on sustainable management and digital waste.

The first part focused on the history and future of Estonian tourism. Updates were shared about Visit Estonia’s online platform and team, as well as the “Tourism Act” competition – a major initiative supporting the development of tourism in Estonia.

The second part gave a closer look at research on target markets. Are German tourists planning trips to Estonia? Is the average UK tourist quirky or traditional? What happened to the Swedish connection, and how do we best connect with Finnish travellers? These and other questions were addressed by Visit Estonia experts, who shared up-to-date insights and fresh analysis.

The third part tackled the theme of sustainability and resource efficiency for companies and organisations. The session included an economic outlook from a business analyst on Estonia and the surrounding region. Hestia Hotel Group presented its sustainability initiatives, and speakers shared real-life stories from the hospitality sector. A key highlight was Lauri Antalainen from Digiwise, who offered practical tips on how to avoid digital waste and operate more efficiently.

The event offered participants valuable knowledge and hands-on solutions to help Estonian tourism not only grow, but do so sustainably and with digital efficiency. One of the main takeaways was how digital technologies can help reduce waste and make tourism services more eco-friendly. Together, the discussions laid the foundation for a more sustainable and innovative future for Estonian tourism.

First Place in the Supreme Court Case Competition!

Author: Elo Gaver

Geia Rõivas, a graduate of Miina Härma Gymnasium, took part in the Supreme Court’s case competition for the third time this year. The competition gives students interested in law the chance to solve real-life court cases and contribute to justice.

Geia had already earned second place and special prizes from the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court in previous years. However, first place had always remained out of reach. This year, picking the right case and solving it skillfully was a bigger challenge than ever. As the saying goes, “Measure nine times before you cut.” Geia’s first choice was a criminal law case, which she and her mentor had carefully discussed. But just days before the deadline, she decided to switch to an administrative law case, making a bold last-minute change.

This decision turned out to be the key to her success. By trusting her instincts and focusing on a politically relevant case, Geia was able to win. The Supreme Court recognized her strong reasoning skills by awarding her first place with a certificate at the competition held for the Court’s 105th anniversary.

Geia reflects on her experience: “Having participated in the competition several times, I encourage all high school students interested in law to get involved. It’s a great way to see if law could be the right career for you. The competition has opened my eyes to new perspectives and broadened my worldview. For example, this year I gained a deeper understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict—an issue that helped me grasp the complexities of international law and geopolitics.”

Geia Rõivas was once again guided by her former teacher, Elo Gaver, the assistant manager of Digiwise.

County Development Centers’ Digitalization Training – A Step Towards the Future

Author: Elo Gaver

In the autumn of 2024, the County Development Centers (MAKs) partnered with Digiwise OÜ to launch a digitalization training program aimed at increasing business owners’ awareness of how digital technologies can enhance business processes. The training was led by Lauri Antalainen, who has extensive experience in delivering practical training on digitalization and automation topics.

Digitalization – Where to Start?
The first module focused on identifying losses and waste in processes. Participants quickly realized that the biggest obstacles to effective work in businesses were fragmented, inaccurate, or poorly structured information flows. Lauri Antalainen highlighted various forms of digital waste during the training, including:

• Manual data entry and double processing
• Excessive communication and information overload
• Inefficient use of time and unoptimized processes

The second module addressed improving processes through standardization and automation. Broadly speaking, companies have the opportunity to improve workflows through standardization, digitalization, and automation. Common solutions include the adoption of e-invoices and the digitalization of work orders. The training also covered robotic process automation in businesses, where repetitive manual tasks can be entrusted to software robots.

Real-Time Economy and Data Quality
The third module focused on real-time business solutions, allowing companies to make data-driven decisions without delay. The main advantages of these solutions include secure and automatic data flow, machine-readable e-invoices and delivery notes, as well as the use of relational databases and registries.

During the training day, participants discussed how data quality and structure impact decision-making processes within companies. In a practical exercise, they analyzed which registries were necessary for their work and how existing data could be used more efficiently.

Making the Right Choices in Implementing Digitalization Projects
The fourth and final module was focused on planning digitalization projects and conducting cost-benefit analyses. Companies received guidance on how to choose the right software solutions for their needs, how to develop a digitalization roadmap, and how to calculate the return on investment for digitalization.

Lauri shared examples where companies replaced outdated ERP systems with newer solutions that better met their changing needs.

This practical training program gave participants a clear overview of digitalization opportunities, along with actionable tips. It became evident that digitalization is not just a passing trend but an essential step for staying competitive.

Key Takeaways from the Training Sessions:

• Mapping and optimizing processes is the foundation of digitalization.
• Data quality determines the success of digitalization.
• Choosing the right tools and software helps avoid large costs and failed projects.

The County Development Centers’ initiative to offer such training is a crucial step in advancing digitalization and enhancing the competitiveness of Estonian businesses.

Läänemaa Business Conference “Business in the Digital Age” – The Future of Business is Here

Author: Elo Gaver

On November 14, 2024, the Läänemaa business conference “Business in the Digital Age” took place in Haapsalu.

Digitalization and artificial intelligence have arrived to stay, and the goal of the event was to raise business owners’ awareness about digitalization and the skillful application of artificial intelligence in modern business. Speakers provided a wealth of practical knowledge and shared their experiences, inspiring attendees to think big about what businesses have already achieved.

Throughout the day, speakers repeatedly emphasized that digitalization is no longer just a trend—it is a crucial step for maintaining and increasing competitiveness. Manufacturing companies, in particular, can automate and optimize various stages of the production process through digitalization, which in turn helps reduce costs. With the ability to collect and analyze data in real-time, businesses can be managed more efficiently.

One of the speakers, Lauri Antalainen, a lead consultant at Digiwise, highlighted how the application of artificial intelligence in production can predict maintenance needs, optimize supply chains, and improve quality control. He also addressed the burning question: “Will artificial intelligence take away our jobs?” Lauri believes that AI can complement human work, as its purposeful and thoughtful use helps businesses improve efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness.

Alise Technic OÜ shared their experience in the field of digitalization. They faced the challenge of manually processing orders, which took seven minutes per order. This became too time-consuming for the company, so they developed a platform to automate the order process. As a result, the company saves over 600 hours of manual work annually and reduces the possibility of errors during order entry.

The conference also introduced the much-anticipated BellaBot, a robot presented by Jana Valliste from Roborent OÜ. BellaBot served as a living example of how automated solutions can enhance service processes and improve efficiency across various sectors.

Conference participants were reassured that, when used skillfully, artificial intelligence can be a helpful companion, not a rival. It saves time and money, enabling businesses to focus on what truly matters—innovation, growth, and better customer service.

Tartu Entrepreneur of the Year Awards: Digiwise Clients Among the Nominees

Author: Elo Gaver

Since 1998, the city of Tartu has been recognizing the best entrepreneurs. The competition is based on economic indicators submitted by all registered companies in Tartu and the Tartu County to the Business Register by the required deadline.

Based on the results from the previous fiscal year, Tartu’s top entrepreneurs were invited to the recognition gala. Digiwise is pleased to highlight three companies that were honored at the event:

Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ opened a 1,600 square meter manufacturing facility in June 2023, where therapeutic antibodies and proteins for clinical trials are produced. The company was awarded the title of Investor of the Year. Over the past year, Digiwise has had several meetings with Icosagen to support their efforts in taking production process digitalization to the next level.

Torm Metall OÜ is a long-time partner of the Tartu College of Applied Sciences. They were recognized for their contribution to advancing applied education, including investments in learning materials, equipment, and mentoring.

Saunasell OÜ takes pride in Romet Tsirna, who stood out to the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for his youth and entrepreneurial spirit. Romet was awarded the title of Best Young Entrepreneur in Tartu County. Saunasell OÜ has also shown interest in using artificial intelligence for some of their business operations, and Digiwise has worked with them to explore the best solutions.

Foxway OÜ received the title of Job Creator of the Year and was also recognized as Export Growth Leader of the Year. Digiwise and Foxway have collaborated through the Digitalization Masterclass, and we are thrilled to see these well-deserved awards go to them.

The recognition of Tartu’s entrepreneurial leaders underscores that innovation and collaboration are cornerstones of successful business ventures. Digiwise is proud to be part of their success story, helping them achieve their goals through the digitalization and automation of their production processes.

AI Enthusiasts Gather in Tallinn: 10 Practical Lessons on Applying Artificial Intelligence

Author: Elo Gaver

New Nordics AI Week (September 2–6, 2024) brought together AI fans and experts from across the Baltics and the Nordics. The event aimed to share practical ideas, build valuable connections, and support the growth of AI in the region.

One highlight of the week was the AIPowerment AI Meetup, held on September 3 at Bondora’s office in Tallinn. The event focused on real-life uses of AI in different fields. Around 100 people took part.

The panel included four experts who shared their hands-on experiences:

• Gerlyn Tiigemäe (Eesti Energia)

• Sandra Roosna (Askly)

• Lauri Antalainen (DigiWise)

• Rafael Gonzalez Iglesias (Bondora)

Here are 10 key lessons from the discussion:

1. Start with standardisation: To benefit from AI, processes must first be standardised and digitalised. That creates quality data AI can work with.

2. Find your AI champion: Every company needs a passionate leader to drive AI projects forward.

3. Check your readiness: Make sure your data is good, roles are clear, and security is in place before launching AI projects.

4. Respect data rules: Using customer data in AI models means following GDPR and getting consent.

5. Stay ahead of rivals: Tracking and learning from competitors’ AI tools can give your business an edge.

6. Use AI to save time: For example, Äripäev uses AI to process podcasts and videos, giving journalists more time to create content.

7. Leadership support matters: Without backing from top management, AI projects can fail to take off.

8. Talent is limited: Estonia has few machine learning experts. Companies like Bolt have had to hire internationally.

9. Focus on efficiency: Right now, AI brings the most value by cutting costs and saving time.

10. Change your mindset: AI can take over routine tasks, so people can focus on creative and strategic work.

Events like New Nordics AI Week help more people understand what AI can do. They also support Estonia’s role as a leader in digital innovation.

A Successful Finish to the Digitalisation Masterclass

Author: Elo Gaver

Spring marked the graduation of the seventh group from the Digitalisation Masterclass. This season was especially successful for Digiwise mentors — Malmerk Klaasium, led by Lauri Antalainen, took home the overall win, while Bestair Group, mentored by Olga Luštšik, was voted the audience favorite!

Malmerk Klaasium was proud to receive the top award, especially among a group of 20 forward-thinking companies. According to their team, external feedback and guidance from Digiwise founder Lauri Antalainen gave them the confidence that they are on the right path and ready to take their next digital steps.

Bestair Group also had reason to celebrate, winning the audience favorite award. Their professionalism, initiative, and innovative mindset clearly won people over — qualities that also define them, according to Digiwise Senior Consultant Olga Luštšik.

We’re especially glad to see that both teams developed a strong synergy with their mentors. That kind of connection makes future collaboration much easier, should they choose to continue working together.

Digiwise congratulates both companies and looks forward to cheering them on as they continue their digital journey!

Photos by Tõnis Tõnström.

How AI Impacts Work and Everyday Life – A Conversation on the AIPowerment Podcast

Author: Elo Gaver

AIPowerment is a podcast that brings listeners the latest news from the world of artificial intelligence, reviews of popular and new tools, and interviews with AI advocates. In a recent episode, the guest was Lauri Antalainen, founder of Digiwise, who shared how AI can benefit people in both their work and personal lives.

For years, Digiwise consultants have helped companies make better use of their data. In the past, this mostly meant analysing internal datasets, since public databases often lacked business-specific value. Having access to large amounts of company data was essential.

But things have changed. The rise of generative AI has made it possible to get value from smaller datasets, too. Thanks to large language models and machine learning tools, even companies with limited data can now use AI effectively.

The conversation also covered the automation of business processes. Digiwise works with companies that have reached the point where process optimisation and automation are no longer optional — they’re essential.

The optimisation journey follows three key steps:

1. Standardisation – defining the most efficient way to perform a task.

2. Digitalisation – choosing digital tools to support that process.

3. Automation – using software and AI tools to automate tasks that were previously done manually.
   AI plays the biggest role in this final step, where its full potential can be realised.

AI isn’t just for work — it can help in everyday life too. Need to compare cars before buying one? AI can build a comparison table in seconds. Planning a party? Let AI suggest creative ideas while you focus on the fun part — deciding between a red or blue car and picking the best theme for your guests.

You can listen to this smart and practical episode now on Spotify (in Estonian) here.

Digital Mentoring for Tourism Businesses – Now with a Digital Roadmap

Author: Elo Gaver

The importance of digitalisation for running a business efficiently cannot be overstated.

Even small businesses eventually reach a point where a shared Excel file just isn’t enough. For years, companies have had the chance to join the Digitalisation Masterclass — a three-month programme designed to help businesses create a digitalisation plan and take their first steps with the help of an experienced mentor. Organisations have also been able to reach out independently to find a suitable business advisor.

Now, tourism companies can benefit from a new digital mentoring service that lasts up to five months. This allows businesses to continue their daily operations while also having access to a mentor whenever challenges arise or new goals need to be set.

One key outcome of this mentoring process is the creation of a digitalisation roadmap — a vital document for applying for the EAS digital transformation support scheme.

You can find more details about this new service on the Visit Estonia website.

How AI Is Changing the Business World Around Us

Author: Elo Gaver

At the 2024 TalTech Business Forum, Lauri Antalainen gave a talk called “How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Business World Around Us.”

The talk was full of practical examples. Lauri shared tips on how to choose your field of study and focus your learning. He also explained how to divide work between people and AI in a business.
His main message was simple: AI is here to stay. The sooner we learn to work with it, the better our chances of success.

After the talk, students had the chance to ask questions. Their worries were addressed — both from those afraid AI might replace their jobs and those concerned about AI doing the thinking for us.

It’s a great one-hour listen, available now (in Estonian) on YouTube.

Two Things to Do Before Using AI in Industry

Author: Elo Gaver

Äripäev Radio recently invited Lauri Antalainen, Lead Consultant at Digiwise, and Kristiina Niilits from the joint organisation of EAS and KredEx, to discuss how artificial intelligence is being used in the industrial sector.

In the episode, Digiwise shared many practical examples of how AI is applied in real industrial settings. Kristiina Niilits introduced a range of government support measures available to companies for factory development and innovation.

Curious to know where to start?
There are two key steps every company should take before implementing AI in their production processes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode (in Estonian) to find out what they are!

AI in Business: Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Author: Elo Gaver

Not long ago, artificial intelligence felt as distant and futuristic as flying cars. But today, one thing is clear — AI is here to stay.

Several exciting events are coming up that will explore how businesses can use AI to improve and innovate.

TalTech Business Forum 2024 — March 27–28, Tallinn
Estonia’s largest youth entrepreneurship conference will host a range of inspiring speakers. Among them is Lauri Antalainen, who will discuss how AI is reshaping the business landscape.

MELT Innovation Forum — April 16, Tallinn
This year’s theme is “Artificial Intelligence – A Creator of a Better Future?”
The opening panel will dig into this big question. Speakers include Lauri Antalainen, Agnes Roos, and Otto Mättas.

Narva-Jõesuu Business Conference 2024 — May 9, Noorus SPA Hotel
Boldly titled “The Future Is Here!”, this conference brings together local entrepreneurs, municipal leaders, and decision-makers. Lauri Antalainen will again be sharing insights on the practical use of AI in business.

At Digiwise, we’re proud to see so many forward-thinking Estonian businesses embracing the possibilities of AI. These conversations are shaping a smarter and more innovative future — and we’re excited to be part of it.

See you at the conferences!

Digiwise Helps You Apply for Business Support Funding

Author: Tomi Meitus

For years, Digiwise has supported companies in finding the right funding measures and preparing strong project applications. Once again, it’s a great time to apply for funding to boost your business growth and investments!

The Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EAS) has opened applications for the Business Development Programme, offering up to €500,000 in support for ambitious growth plans.

Additionally, large manufacturing companies can apply for the Major Investor Grant, which includes support for new building construction — from €1 to €3 million in funding.

Current and upcoming support schemes are open to both SMEs and large companies. Funding can be requested for:

• business digitalisation,

• purchasing equipment for manufacturing,

• implementing automation solutions,

• and many other development activities.

To learn more about the available opportunities through EAS and the Environmental Investment Centre, get in touch with us. We’ll help you find the best match for your business goals and guide you through the application process.

Book a free online consultation with one of our advisors today!

Innovation Leaders Club Has a New Advisory Board

Author: Elo Gaver

The business world is always changing. To keep up, companies need more than just good products — they also need strong innovation skills.

To support this, Tehnopol and SEB launched the Innovation Leaders Club in June 2020. The club helps Estonian companies work together on innovation.

Digiwise has been part of the club for some time. In February 2024, the club elected a new seven-member advisory board. One of the new members is Lauri Antalainen, Lead Consultant at Digiwise. The board will set new goals, grow international cooperation, and help measure the impact of the club’s work.

The board’s main focus for this year is the Innotrepp online platform. This new digital tool supports collaboration and helps Estonian companies build a stronger innovation culture.

The Innovation Leaders Club is always open to visionary thinkers and ambitious businesses from all sectors who want to explore new ideas.

Practical Experience: Automating Contracts – A Costume Rental Case Study

Autor: Olga Luštšik

Many businesses face challenges when it comes to creating contracts — whether they’re service agreements or employment contracts. Collecting data through email and copying it manually into Word documents takes time and often leads to errors.

In this case study, we show how a fictional Costume Rental business can digitalise its order intake and contract process. By using simple and accessible tools, businesses can save time and provide clients with faster, more convenient service.

In the video series, we introduce these low-code/no-code tools:

• Creating a website with Durable

• Explore the fictional Costume Rental site here

• Building intake forms with Google Forms

• Creating contract templates with Google Docs

• Storing submitted data using Google Sheets

Watch how these tools can breathe new life into everyday business processes.

This article is part of our Practical Experience series, which highlights the benefits of using Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) software for business process digitalisation.
You don’t need to be a programmer — with the right tools, digital solutions are now within reach for everyone!

Practical Experience: A DIY HR Management App – A Café Case Study

Author: Olga Luštšik

In many companies, support processes often take a back seat to more urgent core activities. One commonly overlooked area is HR management. Employee data — contracts, files, training certificates, forms, and personal notes — may be scattered across spreadsheets. This can lead to confusion, limited visibility, and difficulties in managing tasks like vacation requests or gathering statistics.

Onboarding new employees can also become inefficient when IT setup and preparations are left to the last minute.

HR software might seem like the obvious solution — but many systems are expensive or too complex. That’s why we decided to build a custom, cost-effective solution ourselves.

In this case study, we demonstrate how a fictional Café business can successfully digitalise its recruitment and HR processes. The result? Huge time savings for internal teams and a smoother experience for employees.

We introduce the following low-code/no-code tools in the video series:

1. Creating a website using Durable
2. Explore the fictional Café’s website here
3. Using Airtable
4. Setting up contract templates in Google Docs
5. Storing employee info in Google Sheets
6. Take a look at the fictional HR management app here

🎥 Watch the video series (in Estonian) for hands-on inspiration:

• Video 1: The recruitment journey

• Video 2: Preparing for a new employee

• Video 3: Organising HR documents

• Video 4: Managing vacation requests

• Video 5: Reports and statistics

This article is part of our Practical Experience series, which explores the power of Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) tools in business process digitalisation.
You don’t always need a developer — with the right tools, digital solutions are now within everyone’s reach!

EBS Anniversary Panel: “Data and Information – How to Achieve Breakthrough Growth?”

Author: Elo Gaver

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Estonian Business School (EBS) hosted a conference titled “Building The New: How Data, Information and Urban Design Shape Our Community, Growth and Responsibility?”

The first panel discussion — “Data and Information – How to Achieve Breakthrough Growth?” — brought together a powerful mix of voices:

• Bengt Holmström, MIT economics professor and Nobel laureate

• Kadri Tuisk, EBS alumna, founder of SageOS and Clanbeat, named Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021

• Lauri Antalainen, founder of Digiwise and President of EstBAN
  The discussion was moderated by Andreas Veispak.

All panelists agreed: AI is evolving fast, and we’re witnessing a shift in mindset. As Lauri noted, many once thought of AI like flying cars — futuristic and out of reach. But since ChatGPT, that perception has changed. Now, even CEOs are asking, half-jokingly, “Which employees do we really need to keep?” Used wisely, AI is a powerful tool that’s breaking through old limitations.

Kadri Tuisk called it an exciting time to grow alongside AI, especially in startup culture. With today’s tools, a 48-hour hackathon can achieve far more than ever before.

Lauri shared real-world client stories on digitalisation and automation, highlighting how AI is no longer abstract — it’s reshaping everyday work.

And Bengt Holmström made a memorable call to action:
“Forget physical training — focus on improving your ChatGPT skills!”

🎧 The full recording of this English-language panel is available here.

The Final Edition of the Digitalisation Masterclass Begins!

Author: Elo Gaver

Digitalisation is like a living organism — it’s always present in a company and always needed. That’s why it’s important to break it down into clear projects, write out the steps, and make sure someone is guiding the process. Only then can digital tools support the business in the right way.

The spring edition of the Digitalisation Masterclass was introduced in a one-hour webinar by mentors Roman Zahharov, Lauri Antalainen, and Juhan Pukk. They talked about how to find the right digital solutions, automate business processes, and collect useful data.

The key message: a digital project has three equal sides — the client, the supplier, and the system itself. If any one of them fails to engage, the whole project can fail. In fact, 75% of new business solutions don’t succeed. Not because the tools are bad, but because they don’t fit the company’s needs.

The webinar also offered simple steps that any company can take before calling in experts. For example:

• Use one main communication tool
• Organise conversations by topic, not person
• Use clear file naming rules
• Create checklists for key processes

What about data? What’s worth collecting? The speakers shared real-life stories — like losing extra sales due to missing info, or having to search online for invoice details. In some cases, even logistics teams had to call clients to ask where and when to deliver.

All of these topics — and more — are covered during the Masterclass. Every participating company works with a mentor who helps find the “bottleneck” — the place where digitalisation can make the biggest difference.

Digiwise is proud to contribute three mentors to the programme: Lauri Antalainen, Olga Luštšik, and Ingrid Prinsthal.

👉 Registration for the spring Digitalisation Masterclass ends on February 7, 2024.

Supreme Court Special Recognition for Case Competition Participant

Author: Elo Gaver

For the second year in a row, Geia Rõivas, a student at Miina Härma Gymnasium, took part in the Supreme Court of Estonia’s student case competition — and received a special mention for her outstanding work.

This time, the jury praised her original thinking and independent approach to solving the case. Geia was mentored by Elo Gaver, Assistant to the CEO at Digiwise, who also teaches full-time in the classroom.

The Supreme Court’s annual competition invites students to step into the shoes of a judge. Participants are given real-life inspired cases and can choose to solve them in the fields of administrative, criminal, or civil law. They can submit either a written judgment or a creative-format response.

Geia chose to solve a civil law case and submitted a traditional written judgment. Over 70 students submitted entries, and just over 40 made it to the jury’s desk. The jury praised the maturity of the students’ reasoning and noted that while most entries refer to the Estonian Constitution, many also rely on specific laws and regulations.

The mentor’s role is a delicate one — to guide, offer feedback, and help the student stay focused, without ever taking over the process. The student’s own values and sense of justice must shine through.

For a mentor, seeing a student grow and explore new opportunities is its own reward. Thanks to last year’s recognition, Geia has already taken part in job shadowing experiences at both the Ministry of Justice and the Harju County Court.

First Creative Companies Graduate from the Real-Time Economy and Digitalisation Masterclass

Author: Elo Gaver

In October, the first group of creative companies joined the Real-Time Economy and Digitalisation Masterclass — a new course designed especially for businesses in the creative sector.

Digiwise helped develop the programme to improve business processes using innovative digital tools and real-time economy solutions.

Now, after 2.5 months of learning and collaboration, the pilot group has completed the course. Every company found new ways to tackle their business challenges through smart and practical digital solutions.

Digiwise sends a big congratulations to all graduates — and wishes them a journey that’s faster, higher, and farther.
We look forward to welcoming the next group this spring!

The Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Center AIRE offers advisory services on the feasibility of implementing artificial intelligence in industrial enterprises.

Author: Elo Gaver

Tehnopol Science and Business Park conducted a public procurement process to find partners who could provide advisory services on the feasibility of implementing artificial intelligence in industrial enterprises. The new partners selected include Proud Engineers OÜ, Lean OÜ, Net Group OÜ and Digiwise OÜ, who are all experts with extensive experience in advising on the feasibility of implementing artificial intelligence. Digiwise has already offered guidance on this topic to more than ten companies, some of which have also received support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications for their pilot projects.

The advisory service is mainly intended for small and medium-sized Estonian manufacturing companies that wish to increase productivity by incorporating artificial intelligence competencies into various production processes. The advisory service involves preparing a report for the company, mapping out their strengths and weaknesses, and their capability to implement artificial intelligence.

The report provides a clear overview of the feasibility and practicality of implementing artificial intelligence solutions and, based on the results obtained, companies have the opportunity to seek additional funding from both AIRE’s advisory services and Tehnopol.

The contract for providing advisory services is valid until 2025, and companies can register for the advisory service here.

Estiko-Plastar can invest in a better future by implementing green technologies.

Author: Elo Gaver

Estiko-Plastar AS approached Digiwise with an ambitious desire to modernise production and bring a new sustainable and innovative product category to the market. Our part in this process was to help Estiko-Plastar think through the project plan and the financial calculations related to the new product as well as to find additional financing for investments.

Estiko-Plastar’s daily commitment to constantly move towards more environmentally friendly solutions, their strategic choices, post-processing, and extrusion have been a direct indicator for other production companies as well as customers. Therefore, we wanted to contribute to taking the next steps and helped to find additional funding for the implementation of the project.

The goal of the Estonian-Norwegian cooperation programme is to support the sustainable development of companies, and we helped Estiko-Plastar prepare a project. It received a very high score from the project committee and received funding, too. During the project, a new printing machine, an additional plastic regranulation device to increase recycling, and a laser cleaning device for the environmentally friendly cleaning of aniloxes used in printing machines were placed in the production building. The existing afterburner will also be expanded as part of the project, and additional developments will be carried out for resource planning software. To make all this possible, the production building was expanded. Many new jobs are planned to be created through the project. Given the challenging times in the industry, this is undoubtedly welcome news.

The Digiwise team is happy that the project prepared with our help was successfully launched. In the meantime, we have also carried out the next cooperation project with Estiko-Plastar in assessing the company’s readiness for artificial intelligence.

How to avoid costly mistakes? – Smart Manufacturing Meetup

Author: Elo Gaver

The Smart Manufacturing Meetup took place in Tartu for the fifth time, where it focused on the benefits of digitisation. The goal of the conference has always been to offer participants new ideas and solutions in a pleasant setting. This event, too, offered something for the live audience, those participating via video link and the contributors who shared their ideas on stage.

Lauri Antalainen, Chief Consultant at Digiwise, led a discussion on how to avoid mistakes related to digitisation.

In consulting work, we come across mistakes that have previously been made involving a specialist. Panelists Reigo Rusin, Kadri Rehkli and Kaur Saarepuu agreed that digitisation doesn’t necessarily make processes easier simply for the sake of digitisation. Just because one company uses ERP doesn’t mean it is the answer to all the questions of another company.

Lauri Antalainen pointed out that the most important stages of the four-stage journey of digitisation are the first and the fourth.

It is important to start with mapping out the problems. His idea was further developed by Kadri Rehkli, who talked about practical experiences and shared a story about how they thought they desperately needed an ERP system without knowing what possibilities it offered and which problems it solved.

Once the problems have been identified, work can begin towards solving them – at this stage, the insight of an experienced consultant who has encountered countless similar challenges over the years and is familiar with various solutions can be extremely useful.

When suitable solutions for the company have been identified, they need to be implemented. This is the stage that some mistakenly believe is the end of setting up the digitisation process. However, Reigo Rusing aptly said that no matter how good the coach is, you still have to run the race yourself. In other words, the last stage, implementation of the solutions, is something that all employees in the company must be involved in, and if not addressed properly, all the previous work will have been in vain.

Therefore, it is important to ensure from the outset that the company is clear about which processes need to be digitised, and that the entire team is willing to work on implementing the new solutions.

EIT Digital opens its Baltic office in Tallinn.

Author: Elo Gaver

Europe’s most influential digital development and innovation cluster, EIT Digital, opened its Baltic office in collaboration with the Estonian Research Council and TalTech Mektory. The purpose of establishing the office is to increase investments in research and development activities, as well as to promote the more effective integration of regional digital innovation and entrepreneurship communities.

The opening of the office was marked by a conference led by Johannes Tralla, who engaged in conversations with guests throughout the day. Among the speakers was Lauri Antalainen, Chief Consultant at Digiwise, who discussed topics related to the importance of digitisation – this is clearly a growing trend, but how can we ensure that it actually brings benefits?

EIT Digital offers various opportunities for universities as well as businesses. Its support is important for fortifying the innovation ecosystem and fostering relationships with different European stakeholders. Furthermore, it offers new prospects for our own start-ups.

Digiwise attended a development marathon organised by Tehnopol and evaluated the business and technical aspects of ideas.

Author: Elo Gaver

Tehnopol Science and Business Park hosts AI development program hackathons for companies whose processes in manufacturing, customer management, product development or other areas could be made more efficient and sustainable with AI solutions.

The hackathon held in August welcomed data-intensive education, green, health and industrial companies. During the hackathon, solutions were found for creating a new technical AI solution, evaluating the new solution from the commercial side and creating a comprehensive project plan. The main focus of the event is teamwork in creating AI solutions.

In addition to companies interested in improving their processes with AI, the hackathon welcomes anyone who can and wants to test themselves in creating and implementing AI solutions. The program also features experienced trainers and mentors, who help to match problems with solutions.

Digiwise participated in the program as an evaluator of AI solutions from the technical and business side. We wish all funded teams the best of luck! You can read more about their ideas on the Tehnopol website.

Digiwise has assessed and consulted Estonian industrial enterprises on implementing artificial intelligence.

Author: Elo Gaver

Since its inception, Digiwise has researched and analyzed fourteen forward-thinking Estonian industrial companies to determine their readiness to implement artificial intelligence. Among others, we have been approached by companies from the forest, metal, plastic, food, oil and textile industries seeking our advice.

Innovation-minded companies seek to digitize their processes. They understand that it is wise to consult specialists for answers to existing questions and to those that arise during the process.

Questions typically arise around the following topics:

• Requirement prediction – statically set requirements for inventory and other parameters in production programs are insufficient. Instead, smarter solutions are needed that dynamically predict both the requirements and other parameters and adjust them as circumstances change.
• Predictive maintenance – enterprises seek solutions that can predict equipment maintenance needs, and thereby save time and resources. This, in turn, would reduce the likelihood of more costly problems arising.
• Automation of robotic processes – most companies see potential in this area, but questions arise about the rigidity and capabilities of the software.
• Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) – there is a growing interest and need for them. The movement of material from storage to production, as well as transferring components and semi-finished products between workstations is a time-consuming process that can now be automated through the use of robots.
• Quality control – several timber industry companies already use artificial intelligence-based solutions for sorting and assessing timber quality. Other companies are also assessing the opportunity for and exploring the means to digitize quality control.

Companies that have sought advice from us include Tarmeko Spoon AS, Lasita Maja OÜ, Nõo Lihatööstus OÜ and Baltoil AS.

The framework for implementing artificial intelligence in industrial companies is now available.

Author: Elo Gaver

AI and Robotics Center AIRE collaborated with Digiwise to develop a framework for implementing artificial intelligence in Estonian industrial companies. The framework was needed in order to define projects that AIRE can assist businesses with and to create a vision and decision-making document for industrial companies to plan their AI and digital development.

The framework has already been used by AIRE, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and several consulting firms offering AI advisory services.

AIRE is dedicated to promoting the development and innovation of Estonian industry, and Digiwise is delighted to support this initiative.

Digiwise leads the conversation on the use of artificial intelligence in industry.

Author: Elo Gaver

On 13 April 2022, “Artificial Intelligence in Industry and Support Measures”, the fifth event of the AI & Robotics Estonia club, took place in the Yanu OÜ premises in Tartu. Digiwise was there to lead the discussion on the use of artificial intelligence in industry. The participants who shared their thoughts included Karl Kruusamäe from University of Tartu, Oskar Kilk from TORM Metall OÜ, Marko Saviauk from Leanest OÜ and Alan Adojaan from Yanu OÜ. The discussion was moderated by Lauri Antalainen.

During the conversation, the participants exchanged experiences on the topic of prejudices related to robots. It has often been necessary to convince companies that robots can be trained to do what humans do, and in some respects, robots can be even more efficient in doing the same job. However, the fact that training a robot is a time-consuming process should certainly not be ignored.
Another idea that emerged was that if there is a desire to get something done, a solution can always be found. A good example of this was the Yanu OÜ robot bar – after experiencing bottlenecks in how bars function, the founders came up with an idea to solve them, and the result is a fully self-functioning contactless robot bar.

As the event took place in Tartu, Katrin Kask, head of the Department of Business Development at Tartu City Government, presented support measures for the financing of production and digitisation for companies based in Tartu.

Kersti Kuusalu spoke about the digitisation journey among Estonian companies, and Kirke Maar introduced the future of AIRE and financial advisory services.

The highlight of the evening was testing the robot bar, which was accompanied by great food and pleasant company.

ELMO Rent received a large grant from Enterprise Estonia.

Author: Elo Gaver

ELMO Rent has been developing its remote-controlled car and controller technology for over a year. While currently the rental car is delivered to the customer by an ELMO driver, then after the introduction of remote-control technology, the car will reach the customer by remote control. Therefore, the introduction of new technology reduces the cost of delivering a car to the customer and increases the efficiency of car use.

ELMO Rent is satisfied with the opportunities offered in Estonia for the implementation of various innovations. “Estonia is the only right place for developing and testing innovation, and if we can speed up the global conquest of green technology in cooperation with the state, then everyone will win,” said Enn Laansoo Jr., founder of ELMO Rent. “The purpose of Enterprise Estonia is to support ambitious companies such as ELMO Rent in challenges related to export and product development so that their developmental leap is as big as possible,” said Peeter Raudsepp, Head of Enterprise Estonia. So, Enterprise Estonia simply needed someone to formalise the reception of support successfully.

Digiwise consultant Tomi Meitus accepted the challenge and is glad to be able to help ELMO Rent take its development to the next level. As the grant received will help ELMO Rent complete the processes of remote-controlled cars, Tomi hopes to see remote-controlled cars on city streets soon.

Lauri Antalainen was elected as the new VP of EstBAN

Author: Elo Gaver

Estonian Business Angels Network was founded in 2012 as an umbrella organisation for business angels and business angel groups seeking investment opportunities in Estonia to grow the quantity and quality of local seed-stage investments.

On the 31st of August in 2021, due to changes in the EstBAN board, a new President and Vice President were elected. As of that day, Lev Dolgatsjov will serve as the President and Lauri Antalainen as the Vice President. Lauri has already been a board member of EstBAN for a little over two years. He says that business angels in Estonia are having great times and opportunities to fund new ideas right now. During the last year, a record number of new members have joined, so EstBAN already has about 230 bold and innovative investors.

Changes in EstBAN board – EstBAN