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Geomachine
Geomachine aims to make ground investigation as efficient, profitable, and high-quality as possible. That’s why it develops cutting-edge digital innovations that will lead the industry into a new and smarter era.
Continuous development is deeply embedded in Geomachine’s DNA. In recent years, the company has focused particularly on digital innovations in its product development to enable companies in the ground investigation industry to conduct their business more intelligently and profitably.
“In the ground investigation industry, traditional methods have often been used, resulting in many manual workflows and fragmentation in the value chain,” says Pasi Majakangas, who designs digital services for Geomachine. “Four years ago, we initiated the development process for digital products with the aim of tackling these challenges.”
Geomachine’s digital product family currently includes four innovative tools. “The heart of our product family is the GMTracker data-logger. It is an extremely smart tool that provides full visibility into the investigation processes and gives an overview of the performance of the equipment used. In its StandAlone version, GMTracker works locally as an operator tool, and in its Cloud version, it creates a real-time, two-way connection between all project stakeholders. The Cloud version can also be extended with modules such as GMCare, which enhances machine maintenance and servicing, GMSiteOps for optimizing project management and planning, and GMFleet, the equipment registry.”
Step by step forward
As with all of Geomachine’s product development projects, the planning and development of the digital product family involved strong customer collaboration. “In the development of the GMTracker data-logger, we received invaluable support and insights from our long-time customer, Aluetaito Oy. They were involved in the project from the very beginning, and through iterative work, we developed the data-logger to the point where it could be launched to the market.”
The first version of the GMTracker data-logger was made for research methods used in Finland, and later versions were developed for Sweden and Norway. “From a product development perspective, the initial challenge was that there was considerable variation in the needs and practices of companies in the ground investigation industry. A single software solution for everyone was not an option at that point, so the product had to be configured individually for each customer’s specific needs. We focused heavily on customization in our product development. Today, customizing GMTrackerCloud to meet the unique needs of customers can be done with just a few clicks.”
Once the first version of GMTracker and its project management features were up and running, the product development moved forward. “In the next phase, we began considering solutions to enhance machine maintenance and servicing and improve equipment management transparency. These challenges were addressed with the development of the GMCare and GMFleet tools.”
Toolbox expands as needed
According to Pasi Majakangas, no other digital product family like Geomachine’s is currently available on the market. “Until now, individual tools could be purchased from various providers. However, this has resulted in customers having to manage a system architecture that could become messy and difficult to handle. Each program had to be learned separately, and integrating them could require a lot of effort. Managing the whole is now much smarter and easier when all the essential tools can be obtained from one provider.”
One of the strengths of Geomachine’s digital product family is its scalability. “Our products adapt to the needs of the user. You don’t have to purchase the entire extensive toolbox at once; it can be expanded as needed.”
Once all the innovative features of GMTrackerCloud are activated, it provides solutions for the efficient and data-driven execution of the key tasks in ground investigation projects. The transparency of supply chains immediately increases project efficiency, reduces equipment downtime, improves fleet management, and reduces the amount of manual, unnecessary work. In the long term, projects become more productive continuously, as machine learning makes maintenance and servicing operations more predictive. Data on operations and equipment performance constantly increases, helping to make the overall operation more profitable over time.
Continuously smarter and more versatile
Pasi Majakangas says that the development of the digital product family is still ongoing. “In the future, our product family will include even more analytics and 3D visualization features. With these, for example, risk assessments and quality assurance on work sites will be done even more efficiently. The drill rig will learn to identify ground characteristics and automatically suggest them to the driller. Additionally, it will take care of its own maintenance and identify its own issues. This way, maintenance can be performed as soon as the machine starts to show signs of failure, even before an actual breakdown occurs.”
Geomachine’s digital tools are currently in use by leading companies in the ground investigation industry in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. “Every ground investigation company that understands that project productivity requires transparency across the value chain can benefit from our innovations. We want to enable our customers to focus on the right things. Do more with less – that’s what we want to offer our customers in a nutshell.”
Interested? Contact Geomachine!
Geomachine
Updating the equipment used in geotechnical investigations becomes relevant for every industry player from time to time. Whether it’s a facelift or a complete renewal, the process is clear and seamless under Geomachine’s guidance.
“The geotechnical investigation industry in the Nordic region is relatively small,” begins Alexander Packalén, Geomachine’s Chief Operating Officer. “It’s a highly specialized field where industry professionals often know each other. That’s why the companies reaching out to us for their equipment needs are frequently already familiar to us.”
Regardless of whether the customer is a long-time partner or a new acquaintance, the discussion always starts by aligning with their needs. “Most of our customers are well-informed and have a clear idea—down to the model—of the machine that best suits their requirements. However, sometimes they only have a general idea of the intended use. In such cases, we explore the situation in more detail, and based on these discussions, we determine the best approach for moving forward with the procurement process.”
The needs of all stakeholders are considered
When a customer first contacts Geomachine about acquiring a machine, their primary concern is usually the cost. “When the time comes to make a purchase, it’s naturally important to understand the budget scale. Once the investment range is clear, the customer can proceed with internal decision-making within their organization.”
The next step involves diving into the details. “We arrange a meeting for a thorough needs assessment. In addition to the decision-maker, we also welcome the machine operators to this discussion. A skilled driller typically has a strong opinion on the features their tool must have. By mapping out these requirements during the design phase, we can ensure a cost-effective production process, avoiding unnecessary modifications later when the machine is already nearing completion.”
Should you upgrade or replace?
According to Alexander Packalén, the goal is always to find the best solution tailored to each customer’s needs. “We provide calculations for our customers to assess whether upgrading their existing equipment or investing in a new machine would be more cost-effective in their specific case. This analysis is especially crucial for companies continuously striving for better profitability.
Sometimes, an upgrade isn’t enough. Companies positioning themselves as industry pioneers and preparing for future changes in their business environment often choose to acquire an entirely new machine. “The geotechnical investigation industry is subject to increasingly stringent regulations, particularly regarding emissions standards. If a company aims to operate in densely built urban areas or participate in public tenders, acquiring a new machine is often the smartest choice. Even if an old machine has been upgraded with smart technology, a new boom, or other modern features, it won’t be competitive if its diesel engine exceeds emission limits.”
The geotechnical investigation sector is constantly evolving. “We closely monitor industry developments and regulatory changes. While no one can predict the future with certainty, we can at least provide well-informed insights based on our expertise.”
Start the conversation when the need arises
When it’s time to update or renew equipment, Alexander Packalén encourages reaching out to Geomachine without hesitation. “Our Sales Manager, Alex Lindholm, is the right person to contact by phone or email. He initiates the discussions and assembles the Geomachine team to drive the procurement process forward. Depending on the case, machine production times range from a few months to a year. That’s why it’s best to start the conversation as soon as a new purchase is on the horizon—ensuring that the machine is ready for use exactly when needed.”
Regardless of the level of preparedness or prior knowledge about equipment procurement, Geomachine is always a valuable partner. “We have been in the geotechnical investigation field for several decades and have learned to listen closely to our customers’ needs. We guide the procurement process in close collaboration with our clients, from the initial needs assessment to the moment the machine rolls off our production line. Customer satisfaction is always our priority, and we are known for this in the industry. That’s why we are the right partner for professionals who want to work with the best tools on the market and continuously improve their business success.”
Interested? Contact Geomachine!
