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Carinafour serves the construction and marine industries by providing digital materials management solutions for project industries. The company combines technology, processes, and people so that supply chains, materials, and production needs come together seamlessly. To support this, Carinafour develops its own digital materials management platform, CALS, which has taken significant development leaps over the years — with the goal of integrating AI into its workflows.

To advance this AI vision at Carinafour, the Business Finland–funded AiWo research project (Human-Centric AI-enabled Collaborative Fieldwork Operations) was launched. Carinafour participates in the consortium together with Finnish companies and universities. The project investigates, among other things, human–machine interaction, supply chain risk management, and knowledge-based decision-making, so that AI fits into practical work with quality and seamlessness.

To reach that goal, certain identified challenges must first be solved. Managing project deliveries requires visibility into the different phases of work and multidisciplinary data collection. Construction schedules are a critical source of information for the project, and although they are available, the transfer of that data to the platform often happens manually. In such cases, the timeliness of the data cannot be guaranteed, and human errors can weaken the overall picture of the situation on the site. Automated integration plays a central role in solving this challenge, and at the same time it lays the foundation for the future AI vision.

A need was therefore identified for a next-generation data platform that would serve as the technical foundation for future AI solutions. Improving the collection of schedule data — above all, connecting it to supply chains and materials — was a concrete and focused need from which to start. For this, Carinafour needed a partner with deep technical expertise in data platforms and integrations. The companies found each other at the Solver X event, and collaboration with Veracell began.

Building the data platform together

The collaboration began with a careful planning phase that ensured a seamless transition from project planning to implementation. When Carinafour's strong industry expertise and Veracell's technical knowledge came together, an accurate and realistic project plan emerged: the work to build the data platform and implement the first automated integration was set in motion.

The implementation followed an agile development model. The teams kept each other updated daily and divided responsibilities according to team members' strengths. Implementation plans and tasks were agreed on by mutual understanding before being carried out. Veracell brought in experts who worked according to the plan from day one. Knowledge transfer to Carinafour's own development team was considered from the planning stage onward.

"The development process moved forward really smoothly, in close cooperation between us and Veracell. The sales phase, specification, and implementation followed each other naturally, and when the groundwork was done well, it was easy for the project team to continue with us. At no point was there a feeling that the expertise wasn't enough. The match between expertise and need hit the mark." – Maarit Lappalainen, Business Director of CALS, Carinafour

"The collaboration went smoothly from the very start. A joint team with a Carinafour developer kept communication fast and seamless." – Eemeli Kallio, Architect and Lead Developer, Veracell

As a result of the project, schedule data now flows automatically straight into the CALS platform without manual imports or extra work for users. Carinafour's project teams have a clearer and more up-to-date picture of construction progress, which improves collaboration between different roles and supports daily decision-making. In addition to the concrete outcomes, a data platform architecture emerged that is designed to grow, so that new data sources can be added in a controlled way and AI solutions can be developed as part of the platform.

When evaluating the project, the way the project was carried out proved to be just as important as the end result itself.

"I personally liked Veracell's approach. It was absolutely essential for us in terms of building the future. The collaboration model was agreed in advance: clear responsibilities on both sides, and knowledge transfer was set as a goal from the very beginning. It has been a conscious strategic decision to use external expertise thoughtfully and in a business-sensible way — specifically where it matters most at each moment." – Maarit Lappalainen

"Knowledge transfer worked because Carinafour's team genuinely invests in understanding the technology. From a lifecycle perspective, that makes continuation much easier: when a new need arises, we already know each other's strengths. A long-term partnership in close cooperation usually produces the best result." – Timo Erkkilä, CEO and Founder, Veracell

‍Looking ahead

The data platform built together lays the foundation for the next steps in Carinafour's AI strategy. The goal is to take materials management toward smarter workflows where data, people, and technology support each other seamlessly. AI brings added value especially where decisions are made amid many variables and uncertainty: in supply chains, in identifying risks, and in building situational awareness. Alongside this work, the Business Finland–funded AiWo research project also continues, running until 2027.

Both new integrations and the progress of Carinafour's AI vision offer natural opportunities for the collaboration between Carinafour and Veracell to continue.

"This is just the beginning, and new things are already in the pipeline." – Maarit Lappalainen