Isak Rizell – Published: 2024-09-16
Digitalization is increasingly critical to business success. Munters, a global industrial air treatment systems company, is facing its own digital transformation. In an interview with Kenneth Verlage, CIO and CDO at Munters, the challenges and opportunities offered by digitalization are discussed. With a background of previous experience from, among others, Postnord and a strong conviction to deliver quickly, Verlage shares his insights on effective digital development.
Starting at the right end – the foundation for digital success
Kenneth Verlage emphasizes the importance of starting every digitalization journey with a clear focus. “The ultimate goal is to make it easier for our sales people to sell Munters products,” Verlage explains. However, it requires careful planning and an understanding that successful digitalization does not start with the big visions, but with collecting data and building the foundation for future solutions.
Digitizing a company like Munters is no easy task. It means first collecting data from factories and other business areas before you can even start thinking about creating valuable customer solutions. “It’s like digging in the mud before you can build something big,” says Verlage, referring to the fact that digital transformation requires patience and persistence.
Small deliveries are the key to big success
One of Kenneth’s strong principles is to get things into production quickly. He explains that this approach is based on agile methodology and ‘pretotyping’, a term coined by Alberto Savoia at Google, which is about testing ideas at an early stage without investing large resources. “If the customer shows interest, then you know you’re on the right track,” explains Verlage.
Publishers see it as crucial to be able to quickly demonstrate a working product to users and then develop it further based on their feedback. An example of this approach is Munters’ first e-commerce platform, where the team started with a simple solution to test whether customers were interested in buying spare parts online. The result was immediately positive, and the platform was further developed based on this.
Digitization for people – simplicity and ease of use
When it comes to creating successful digital solutions, Verlage emphasizes that systems must be built with users in mind. “None of us have an instruction manual for the apps on our phone. We just understand how to use them,” he says. For Verlage, it is crucial that companies build systems that are intuitive and user-friendly.
To achieve this, Verlage believes it is important to work closely with users from day one. Involving them in the development process ensures that solutions are tailored to their needs and expectations. “It’s about delivering from day one and then continuously improving the product,” he explains.
Large projects fall on their own weight
A common pitfall for companies is the belief that digitalization requires large, complex projects. However, Verlage says it is often the smaller, more flexible projects that lead to success. “Many large projects fall on their own weight,” he says. Instead of investing in big disruptive systems, he advocates starting small, testing and adjusting along the way.
“At Postnord, for example, we built the app in stages, and it took time before we could deliver features such as the ability to use BankID to pick up parcels,” says Verlage. This example shows how important it is to keep pushing and never give up, even when the technical challenge feels overwhelming.
Driving digitalization in industry
Verlage stresses that digitalization is not just about saving money through increased efficiency. He urges industrial companies to focus on how digital solutions can improve their offerings to customers. “The most important advice is to digitize where you are already the best,” he says. For Munters, a world leader in air treatment systems, this means finding ways to improve the product through digital solutions.
According to Verlage, successful digitalization is when technology helps a company sell more products or improve the customer experience. He warns that too many companies set digitalization projects in motion without a clear link to how it affects their core business.
Closure
In his role as CIO and CDO at Munters, Kenneth Verlage is constantly working to find new ways to improve and streamline through digitalization. His thoughts on simplicity, fast delivery and building with users in mind provide a clear direction for companies that want to succeed in their digital transformation journeys. It’s not about creating the perfect solution from scratch, but about taking small steps towards a digital future where customer needs drive development.
