Data extraction and information management AI solution brings savings to Kuopion Energia  

In recent years, Kuopion Energia has sought to further digitalize its processes. Technical drawings are an important part of this digitalization. When drawings are systematically named and in digital format, they not only streamline work processes but also reduce the risk of errors and improve information management.

The digitally formatted drawings at Kuopion Energia were named using numerical sequences, making it challenging to associate them with the correct device positions. This complexity made locating the right files difficult, let alone managing the paper-based drawings.

“Browsing and searching through drawings in a paper archive is neither modern nor efficient. Information needs to be found in electronic form today, using suitable and user-friendly search tools,” says Sami Koponen, Maintenance Manager at Kuopion Energia.

Kuopion Energia aimed to develop a way to find the right drawings more quickly and conveniently while reducing manual and routine work. To achieve this goal, the company needed a reliable partner to help improve the management of drawings, ensuring a clearer and more consistent naming convention and that the correct drawings are always easily available.

Etteplan was chosen as the project executor because the company demonstrated strong expertise in AI solutions, provided a competitive offer, and had already made a good impression during a previously executed similar pilot project.

Together, Etteplan and Kuopion Energia aimed to create an AI-assisted service solution that streamlines information management tasks by identifying and extracting data from various drawings, enriching the document management system's information, and significantly reducing the time spent on data retrieval.

To implement the solution, Etteplan's technical communication service area began the process by collecting data and analyzing existing drawings. Based on this, an algorithm was developed that could identify and rename files appropriately. After this phase, the AI solution was ready to take drawings as input and extract predefined information into an Excel spreadsheet. The predefined information also included metadata related to the drawings provided by Etteplan, allowing Kuopion Energia to enrich the data in its management system.

After completing the project, Kuopion Energia observed significant benefits. By automating routine tasks with AI, productivity increased, and the risk of human errors decreased. Employees now dedicate more time to strategic tasks, as information retrieval has become faster and easier. This shift enhances the operational efficiency of energy production and supports more informed decision-making. Additionally, the solution is projected to deliver substantial cost savings for Kuopion Energia in the future.

“Delegating routine tasks to AI increases productivity. Of course, new types of routine tasks may temporarily increase, as the AI's operations need to be monitored and checked in the initial phase. Etteplan has provided a modern solution that frees up employees’ time from previously labor-intensive tasks,” says Sami Koponen.

The benefits of Etteplan's AI-assisted solution continue to grow as it learns more while performing productive work. This AI-driven work model enables the processing of large volumes, accelerating the learning pace.

Etteplan’s team worked closely with Kuopion Energia's staff to ensure all processes ran smoothly, and the customer feedback was very positive. This collaboration not only improved Kuopion Energia's current practices but also laid the foundation for future developments and innovations. The project made it clear that the benefits of AI are accessible to the company in many different applications.

“Etteplan's strength was clearly its expertise and ability to present the best and most cost-effective solution to the customer after defining the needs. Everything was handled in good collaboration using the best new practices and AI-based solutions. By working together – in line with Etteplan's 'Smarter Together' principle – we managed to achieve the best possible outcome,” says Sami Koponen.

“Working with Kuopion Energia was smooth, and they eagerly embraced the AI solution model we proposed. They are bold in using new technologies, and it is a pleasure to continue collaborating with them on future projects,” explains Jukka Ryhänen, Team Manager of Etteplan’s technical communication solutions.

“We are taking significant steps in utilizing AI together with our clients. AI and digitalization, in general, play an important role in achieving customer benefits and competitive advantage. With Kuopio Energy, we harnessed the opportunities of AI to automate manual, time-consuming tasks, saving a tremendous amount of time now and in the future. Kuopion Energia was open to new technologies, including AI, and the collaboration was rewarding,” adds Kimmo Kallio, Vice President, Technical Communication Solutions at Etteplan.