Customer Story · May 2016

EKOKEM

Ekokem Increased Customer Satisfaction by Using Milestone XProtect as a Marketing Tool The ChallengeEkokem is aiming to be one of the best and most customer-oriented environmental services and waste management companies in Finland and furthermore in the Nordics. This means that they needed improved services and ways to market these services. Waste handling facilities are challenging work places needing situational awareness to protect staff and environment to avoid accidents when handling large amounts of waste and complex machines. In the beginning, the security system was analogue and consisted of different system that were not networked and not very practical for modern requirements. Ekokem needed a harmonized system that enables centralized monitoring, is user-friendly, and able to meet Ekokem’s expansion plans.

The SolutionMilestone Platinum Partner Empower Oy installed Milestone XProtect Corporate video management software to enable central management of 80 cameras from Axis and Bosch. The cameras are installed at the premises both indoors and outdoors to ensure a comprehensive overview of all facilities. All video from the cameras is accessible through the XProtect Smart client, an easy-to-use client application with an intuitive interface for the surveillance installation’s daily operations.

OrganizationEkokem

Location Finland

Industry SegmentIndustrial

System IntegratorEmpower TN OY

Milestone PartnersAxisBosch

SolutionXProtect® Corporate XProtect® Smart Client

Number of cameras80

Our customers are very satisfied with the initiative and it has helped raise customer satisfaction. It sends a very positive signal about us keeping our promises and being totally transparent.

Timo KapulainenMaintenance Supervisor

Ekokem

‘‘AdvantagesEkokem has gotten a competitive advantage by introducing a new tool that has enabled them to expand their services to raise customer satisfaction. Their customers are offered external access to Ekokem’s video feeds to let them see how their waste is processed in an environmentally friendly way as promised. The initiative has been well received and has contributed to heightened customer satisfaction. With increased situational awareness, Ekokem managed to improve the security level at their premises keeping the staff safe while increasing efficiency at the same time.

Video Service Raises Customer SatisfactionEkokem, a Nordic environmental services and waste management company, was looking for a way to become even more competitive. With the implementation of Milestone video management software, Ekokem was inspired to use the video management software to provide an additional service to their customers. Customers have been given the possibility to gain external access to the video from selected cameras through the XProtect web client to let them in on the waste handling processes. The idea is to show transparency about how waste is recycled and transformed to provide live documentation proving that the waste is processed in an environmentally sustainable way.

According to Timo Kapulainen, Maintenance Supervisor at Ekokem, the innovative initiative has been very well received by Ekokem’s customers: “Our customers are very satisfied with the initiative and it has helped raise customer satisfaction. It sends a very positive signal about us keeping our promises and being totally transparent”. An example of companies that benefit from this service are those who need to dispose of hazardous waste such as paint, refrigerators, and batteries. With hazardous waste Ekokem makes sure to extract the parts that can be detoxified and reused and convert the rest to energy by combusting it. Nordic Companies that need to dispose hazardous waste are subject to strict rules and need to make sure that they are followed in order to avoid government fines. With the live streaming service from Ekokem, customers can check themselves that the rules are being followed. They can also use video recordings as additional documentation for inspectors.

In the future, the service can also be used by Ekokem’s customers in their own branding efforts to show that they are environmentally conscious. A producer of bottled water, for example, can show how the plastic bottles are processed and re-cycled by providing video footage of the processing on its website.

Ensuring Safety of StaffAnother key priority for Ekokem was to find a video security solution that could help secure their staff at industrial sites in the best possible way. Their previous solution consisted of different vendor systems that did not communicate with each other and the security officers found it difficult to use. Ekokem has several premises located in Finland and was requesting one centralized solution that would cover all of their premises instead of having one solution for each facility.

Customer Story · May 2016

EKOKEM

In case of an anomaly, we can use the system to analyze what and why it happened and what can be done to prevent it happening again. Fur-thermore, we also use video from the system in discussions and meetings with our subcontractors to pass on learnings.

Timo KapulainenMaintenance Supervisor

Ekokem

‘‘Milestone Platinum Partner Empower TN OY designed and installed a centralized solution with Milestone XProtect Corporate video management system to manage 80 IP cameras from Axis and Bosch for increased situational awareness. The cameras are installed both indoors and outdoors for the best possible overview of the premises. Video feed from the cameras are accessible through XProtect Smart Client ensuring that the operator has an overview of all locations at once. The operator can access video from all cameras through one single intuitive interface making it quick and easy to check up on different locations. ”I’m very pleased that we can get quick access to any camera anywhere in the system,” says Timo Kapulainen.

One way Ekokem uses their Milestone video system to ensure the safety of their staff is by using a remote controlled camera to inspect slag heaps during the furnace maintenance. They inspect the large slag heaps to find cracks and protruding parts. The slag heaps are sometimes up to 10 meters high and two meters wide. They can impose a great risk if they drop or collapse while the staff is in contact with them.

The video is also being used to monitor that all safety guidelines are followed. Ekokem can use the video to learn from previous incidents how to become more efficient and safer going forward. The embedded time line in the XProtect Smart Client makes it easy to go back and investigate an incident. “In case of an anomaly, we can use the system to analyze what and why it happened and what can be done to prevent it happening again. Furthermore, we also use video from the system in discussions and meetings with our subcontractors to pass on learnings,” says Timo Kapulainen.

A Future-Proof SolutionEkokem is a company in growth and is expecting expansion in the next years, which makes it important that their video surveillance solution can be scaled up and adjusted to changing needs.

The Milestone solution can be expanded to include more cameras and facilities as the company grows. Milestone builds its products on an open platform architecture making it possible to integrate with third-party solutions. This gives Ekokem several opportunities to broaden the functionality of their system. For example, it is possible to integrate the system with license plate recognition software to ensure automatic opening of gates for Ekokem trucks entering the premises. The latest expansion is the use of thermal cameras to alarm for critical temperatures before an eventual fire breaks out in the waste feeder. The open platform provides many options for the future use of their Milestone system. The surveillance system grows with Ekokem because it can be adjusted for different needs giving them the optimal system both today and in the future.

Customer Story · May 2016

EKOKEM

Ekokem’s use of Milestone software integration allowed them to enhance their marketing position by expand-ing service offerings to include live streaming video

Milestone Systems is a global industry leader in open platform IP video management software, founded in 1998 and now operating as a stand-alone company in the Canon Group. Milestone technology is easy to manage, reliable and proven in thousands of customer installations, providing flexible choices in network hardware and integrations with other systems. Sold through partners in more than 100 countries, Milestone solutions help organizations to manage risks, protect people and assets, optimize processes and reduce costs. For news and viewpoints from Milestone Systems visit The Milestone Post Use of trademarks

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Customer Story · May 2016

EKOKEM