Kategori: Pressmeddelande

Optidev – the first Swedish company with Google validation

One way to ensure that a supplier is at the right level is to undergo a validation. By being approved as an Android Enterprise Service Provider, Optidev has not only set a high standard but also ensured customers’ confidence in implementing a mobile platform for their company. Optidev is the first Swedish company to have validation.

The large number of mobile devices and services offered on the market can create confusion for companies that want to integrate everything into a cohesive solution. To clarify and simplify the use of both services and partner services, Google has created the Android Enterprise Recommended programme. The programme identifies OEMs, Enterprise Mobility Management, and vendors that meet the strict business requirements validated by Google.

Although Optidev is already well-integrated with a number of platforms, carriers, services and mobile offerings, in order to achieve the status of Android Enterprise Service Provider and give customers even greater security, Optidev had to meet a number of different criteria.

“To be approved, 60 percent of the sales organisation must have undergone training in Android Enterprise, while 60 percent of resources in pre-sales must undergo even more advanced training. Finally, at least three experts must obtain the highest Android Enterprise Experts certificate. We currently have four people who have trained at that level, says Fredrich Pékar,” Deputy Consulting & Project Delivery Manager at Optidev.

All in all, it is about delivering as smart and as good a solution as possible. Android is already widely used by companies, as more and more mobile devices are utilised for critical business processes. The need for proper planning and support for Android devices is only growing.

“This confirms that our way of working with solutions for Managed Mobility Services, together with Android Enterprise, is the right one. We always aim to follow the right guidelines and deliver the best possible solution to the customer. We now have Google behind us, which feels great, of course. A good validation is proof we know what we’re doing.”

 
Contact 

Fredrich Pekár
Deputy Consulting & Project Delivery Manager
Mobil / Mobile: +46 701-96 32 00
E-post / E-mail: fredrich.pekar@optidev.se

Glenn W. Gleditsch-Reiersen
Head of Sales
Mobil / Mobile: +47 416 25 590
E-post / E-mail: glenn.reiersen@optidev.no

Optidev acquires eConnectivity with clients including Volvo Cars, Polestar, and SKF

“The acquisition of eConnectivity is part of our and our owner Techstep’s strengthening of our expertise and capacity to become a leader in Managed Mobility Services in the Nordic region,” says Fredrik Logenius, CEO of Optidev.

The company eConnectivity was founded three years ago by Claes Widestadh, Christoffer Shokofan Taudien, and Stayhard founder Joakim Naumburg. The company specialises in strategic services relating to mobility and digitalisation, as well as integrated app solutions. With its solutions for major companies including SKF, Volvo Cars, and Polestar, this is a key acquisition for Optidev’s and Techstep’s continued growth.

“Together with Techstep, we are strengthening our range of joint MMS solutions. We really value eConnectivity’s expertise in mobility transformation and best practice, says Logenius.

eConnectivity also sees great potential.

“When we started eConnectivity three years ago, we saw a gap in the market for helping companies realise the business value of mobile services and solutions. Together, we’re on course to become the leading Nordic supplier in digitalisation with Managed Mobility Services. It’s incredibly energising to be recognised for how far we’ve come, and we’re now ready for the next step,” says Widestadh of eConnectivity.

This deal is also in line with Techstep’s long-term strategy.

“The acquisition is in line with Techstep’s growth strategy, which is driven by organic growth and acquisitions,” says Jens Haviken, CEO of Techstep.

For further information, please contact:
Fredrik Logenius, CEO, Optidev AB, +46 33 20 42 02
Jens Haviken, CEO, Techstep ASA, +47 930 90 070

About Optidev AB
Optidev is one of the leading Nordic players in turnkey deliveries of cost-efficient mobile solutions for transport and logistics companies and the security industry. The solutions include software and equipment for traceability and accessibility, as well as the collection of business-critical information in real time. Optidev employs 85 people and has offices in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The company was founded in the year 2000 and is owned by Techstep ASA. For more information, please visit www.optidev.se.

About Techstep ASA
Techstep was founded with the aim of being the leading supplier of Managed Mobility Services in the Nordic region. Techstep’s software-based Managed Mobility offering enables companies to let their staff do their work using mobile devices and in locations with high levels of security and operational stability. Techstep employs 210 people based in Norway and Sweden, serving almost 4,000 clients and 210,000 subscribers in various industries in both the public and private sectors. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.techstepasa.no.

Optidev CEO Fredrik Logenius nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year

In early October, Optidev’s Fredrik Logenius and Christian Lundin were named Borås Entrepreneur of the Year 2020. Just a few weeks later, CEO Fredrik Logenius has now also been nominated for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award, a programme which spans more than 60 countries around the world. Logenius, one of Western Sweden’s ten finalists for the prize, has a good chance of progressing to the national final in Stockholm on 29 January 2021.

“It feels great that Optidev’s success and my work as CEO have received so much attention lately. The nomination as Western Sweden’s Entrepreneur of the Year is proof of our efforts and it’s a huge honour for me personally,” says Logenius.

Competing alongside some of the foremost entrepreneurs in the world

EY Entrepreneur of the Year is one of the world’s most prominent awards for entrepreneurs. As an organisation, each year EY arranges an awards ceremony to raise awareness of entrepreneurs and promote entrepreneurship. The competition is held at regional, national, and international level in 140 cities across more than 60 countries. The winner of the main prize will represent Sweden at the world final in June 2021 to compete for the title World Entrepreneur of the Year.

In order to be nominated for the award, entrepreneurs must have founded a company that has been active for at least five years and has a turnover of at least SEK 10 million, or at least ten employees. This autumn, independent juries will select six regional winners in the four prize categories. In addition to the main prize, there are also prizes for Female Shooting Star of the Year, Male Shooting Star of the Year, and Best International Growth. They will then advance to the national finals at Stockholm City Hall on 29 January 2021.

Growing and award-winning employer

Optidev has been developing and supplying business-critical mobility solutions for more than 20 years, including everything from digitalisation for industry-leading transport and logistics companies such as Postnord, DHL, and DB Schenker, to data-secure systems for ticket checks on public transport. Early on in the pandemic, Optidev also created an app solution so that pupils could still get a school lunch despite distance learning, while also supporting the local restaurant industry. The solution was a huge success in Borås and has since been picked up by several other Swedish municipalities.

“For us, it went without saying to offer our expertise. What’s more, it’s great to see that our solutions are useful and make day-to-day life easier,” says Logenius.

From its head office in Borås, Optidev has grown steadily. It now employs around 90 people and has an annual turnover of SEK 187 million. For several years the company has actively pursued a positive internal culture for its employees. The company has featured on the Great Place to Work list in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In early September, Optidev AB was acquired by the Norwegian firm Techstep ASA. Together, the companies are consolidating their positions as leading players in cost-effective and complete mobility solutions with an emphasis on transport, logistics, data security, and Managed Mobility Services (MMS).

Techstep ASA – Save the date: Capital Markets Update

Techstep is pleased to invite investors, analysts and other stakeholders to its Capital Markets Update to be held in Oslo on Tuesday 1 December 2020.

The event will provide an update on Techstep’s strategic development, market and outlook, including presentations by CEO Jens Haviken, CFO Marius Drefvelin and CCO Erik Haugen, as well as a presentation on Techstep’s most recent acquisition, Optidev AB.

“Over the last years we have positioned Techstep to become one of the leading providers of Managed Mobility Services in the Nordics. Today, we are at an exciting stage in our journey and we look forward to updating you on our development and the way forward”, says CEO Jens Haviken.

A more detailed agenda, further details regarding registration of attendance and information about the live broadcast will follow in due course.

About Techstep ASA

Techstep is purpose-built to become a leading Managed Mobility Services provider in the Nordics. Techstep combines device management, software, hardware and connectivity into a managed service. This enables enterprises and their employees to do their work across mobile devices and locations, with a high degree of security and operational stability. Techstep has 290 employees based in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, serving close to 4,000 customers and 310,000 recurring revenue end-users across various industries in the private and public sectors. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. For more information, see www.techstepasa.no.

School Lunch App Delivers Positive Side Effects

The school lunch has been a hot issue since the Swedish government closed all the country’s upper secondary schools in March of this year. In April, AcadeMedia Free School Group, with around 36,000 students in Sweden, launched a new app that gives their students easy access to school lunch even as they are remote learning from home. Now, AcadeMedia considers using the app also after the schools reopen.
– It started as a temporary solution, but now we have a long-term goal of maintaining this system even after the Corona crisis. The reason is that the app helps reduce food waste and improve the food quality, says Jimmy Kjellström, chief operating officer at AcadeMedia.

When AcadeMedia and the software company Optidev started the development of a digital solution to help manage school lunches, several positive side effects quickly became clear. The app’s “reservation system” provides detailed information that enables the food suppliers to plan better and minimize food waste.

Mathias Kristiansson, project manager at AcadeMedia and responsible for the current project, explains:

– In addition to reducing food waste, our suppliers now have much better insight than before. The app helps them identify the most popular dishes and the preferred way of preparing the food. Perhaps fish balls aren’t so popular among the students, but Thai fish stew is. The app simply allows us to raise the quality of the food for our students and we are now looking at what a permanent solution could look like.

The app allows students to access next week’s school lunch menu and order the food they want via their phone. All lunch orders for the coming week have to be submitted by Tuesday the week before. As a result, food suppliers receive detailed food orders and can plan purchases and production accordingly.

Students pick up their school lunches at locations near their regular schools. In order to receive the food, students have to present a personal QR code, which also contains information about allergies and special diets.

The project faced several challenges, including the large scale of the project that included linking students, schools and various catering companies in different parts in Sweden – from Luleå in the north to Ystad in the south and the urgency of the project presented an even bigger challenge.

– Normally a project like this can take years or at least months to implement, but in this case, time was the most critical factor and all parties worked together to make it possible. Staff, schools, students and catering companies, but also Optidev freed up resources and worked evenings and weekends to get the system implemented in record time, says Jimmy Kjellström at AcadeMedia.

Usually, Optidev focuses on development of logistics solutions with customers such as PostNord and DHL.

– At first glance, this project may seem to be completely outside of our core business, but the fact is that order management, production, and distribution of lunches, involves many different logistics functions. Based on AcadeMedia’s size, we identified several opportunities for measureable positive effects. The project’s long-term perspective and focus on sustainability, removed any doubts we had and we felt confident to take on the project. Our focus was how quickly we could deliver a solution, says Fredrik Logenius, CEO of Optidev.

Optidev Hosts International Event

TrueMobile Day 2019
Optidev, a leading provider of rugged mobility solutions in the Nordic region, is once again inviting world-leading companies, customers, students, and others interested parties to the TrueMobile Day on October 24, 2019 in Boras, Sweden.

TrueMobile Day 2019 will focus on how larger companies and organizations can take control and be in charge of their constantly evolving mobility solutions.

Speakers include Ashkan Fardost, who began his digital journey by “hacking” Napster to spread his music in the early 2000s. Since then he has spoken at TEDxBerlin, been trend spotter at the Swedish TV4 television network, and he was nominated for swedish speaker of the year in 2017.

TrueMobile Day 2019 also features international speakers from Zebra Technologies, SOTI, ASSA ABLOY and Honeywell. Among many interesting topics, ASSA ABLOY will present an innovative solution for handling future delivery logistics.

“Last year’s keynote speaker, Robin Teigland provided a fresh perspective on our industry. This year, we hope that Ashkan Fardost will shake up things and provide new ideas”, says Optidev CEO Fredrik Logenius.

Lydia Capolicchio was a big hit last year and she is returning as the moderator at TrueMobile Day.
Edin Dzemat, food innovator and winner of the Swedish TV show “Kockarnas Kamp 2016” (the chef’s duel) will be in charge of the evening’s dinner.

TrueMobile Day is held on October 24, 2019 at the Boras new congress hall.

Optidev Coworkers to Donate Money to Their Favorite Charity

Optidev’s “coworker of the month” will be rewarded a generous amount of money to donate to a charity of his or her choice. This rewards program aims to create continuous focus on corporate social responsibility while building a caring company culture.

– We want to show our team members how much we appreciate them and at the same time strengthen our charitable work and focus on sustainability. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important part of our corporate culture, says Fredrik Logenius, Optidev’s CEO.

Appointed coworkers decide what charitable organization they want to donate the money to.

According to Fredrik, the idea of a rewards system had been discussed for some time, but it was first after watching a celebrity baking show on TV, in which the winner selects a charity as recipient of prize money, that the idea turned into action.

– I thought the idea of giving to a good cause and making the person (the donor) feel proud over his or her achievement was brilliant. It strengthens our company culture – something that is always worth investing in.

Marje Langseth Seimre, HR manager at Optidev, agrees with Fredrik Logenius.

– Culture is one of the cornerstones of a successful company, and it always takes precedence over structure. The structure of a company can be changed, but the culture takes a long time to shape and change.

Optidev has partnered with Great Place To Work, a company that ranks workplaces by evaluating and developing the organization’s culture, and has once again been placed on the list of Sweden’s best places to work.

– Our company culture is unique and it impacts everything we do. That is why it is so important that we continue to improve and develop our culture. The recognition of “the coworker of the quarter” is one of the puzzle piece that we believe will further strengthen our organization, concludes Marje Langseth Seimre.

New Head of Sales at Optidev

Glenn W. Gleditsch-Reiersen has taken on the role as the new sales director at Optidev, a company that is in an industry that has rapidly changed from a niche market to a market in the spotlight. Glenn will focus on improving the clarity of the communication to make it easier for both customers and the internal sales team.

As the new sales director, Glenn’s goal is to make the sales team more efficient by providing better support and improving the clarity of sales strategy for the team.

– With the right structures in place, we can simplify things that are otherwise complicated. By making it easier for our customers to understand our solutions without technical expertise, we are also making it easier for our sales people to do a good job, explains Glenn.

According to Glenn, one of his challenges is to manage the rapid growth in the mobility industry. In a very short time, mobility solutions have changed from a peripheral market to a core business that almost every company needs to include in their strategy. Because of this, Optidev needs to be prepared to work with a broader customer base.

The sales director job requires a leader with both a clear vision and the ability to see the individual.

– As a leader it is important to always see the individual, and because everyone is different, it is critical to understand every person’s circumstances to enable him or her to succeed, says Glenn.

Glenn has been appointed the sales director, following several interim sales managers at Optidev. He is internally recruited and was Optidev’s country manager in Norway for the last five years. He has experience from everything from IT to quality and sales.

Prior to joining Optidev, Glenn worked in DHL Supply Chain Norway as head of IT and later Business Director (General Manager) for almost ten years. It was during this time, that he came in contact with Optidev, which was one of DHL’s vendors. Based on his customer experience, Glenn has got a more clear perspective on how the sales work should be structured.

– It can be a little frustrating at times. I think we (Optidev) have the best product in the world, but we have not been effective in communicating that in a way that everyone understands. It’s like having a great stereo with bad speakers. My intention is to fix that problem now.

For questions and more information:

Glenn W. Gleditsch-Reiersen
Head of Sales, Optidev AB
+47-416-25-590
glenn.reiersen@optidev.no

Technology from Optidev Enables Same Day Delivery With PostNord

“It is Optidev that has developed the software for the new concept MyPack Home SameDay from PostNord, enabling delivery on the same day the order is placed”, says Optidev’s CEO Fredrik Logenius.

PostNord and the apparel retailer Lager 157 recently announced that they would start offering the SameDay service for orders placed before 3:00 pm through a pilot test in Stockholm. In the spring PostNord plans to offer this service to other e-retailers throughout Sweden. PostNord drivers already use the Optidev app to get information about where packages should be picked up, how many there are, where they should be delivered to, and in what order. The SameDay solution developed by Optidev allows them to track the status for all packages.

“Our SameDay API enables PostNord to see where packages are located and it provides the latest GPS coordinates and the estimated delivery time. This information can be shared with PostNord’s customers”, explains Fredrik Carlund, key account manager at Optidev.

Optidev’s collaboration with PostNord goes back many years. In addition to the mobile app for the drivers’ handheld devices and the new API for the SameDay service, Optidev is responsible for the technology that enables PostNord to remotely control and update all the mobile devices and also handles the service of the handheld devices.
“It is inspiring and developing to work with a large and leading company like PostNord that is also an early adopter of new technology. PostNord has the strength, logistics capability and size to establish the SameDay service throughout Sweden”, concludes Fredrik Logenius.

Optidev’s Test of Body Cams in the Stockholm Subway Grabs Media’s Attention

– Never before has media paid so much attention to a project that Optidev has been involved with. Monitoring, integrity and security are all hot topics with high importance to the general public.

Fredrik Logenius, Optidev’s CEO, says that the news about SL’s ticket inspectors using body cameras immediately became a hot topic in media. Both leading morning newspapers and SVT news covered the project. Optidev has delivered both the hardware and software for the body cam solution.

– The body cameras record sound and video footage and are controlled by the ticket inspectors. The cameras help to ensure that the ticket surcharges are paid and help prevent threating situations. SL has equipped twelve ticket inspectors with cameras so far. After a two-months test period the results will be evaluated, says Logenius.

With many customers in the security industry, Optidev has gained extensive knowledge and experience about privacy issues and the rules that apply. As a result, Optidev has employees with security clearance in all departments. These employees have gone through rigorous background checks performed by the Swedish County Administrative Boards, the Police Authority, and the Swedish Security Police. The security clearance is a requirement for handling projects that involve classified information.

– All forms of surveillance require maximum security. In SL’s case, all recorded material is encrypted before it is sent to a local server, protecting from unauthorized access, concludes Logenius.

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