Hypergene Gives Viking Line Access to Improved Decision Guidance for Procurement, Planning and Monitoring

Hypergene’s system meets all expectations.

Mats Engblom, Chief Business Control and Planning

Challenge

When ferry operator Viking Line wanted to replace its traditional budgeting work with a rolling, driver-based 12-month forecast, it soon discovered that its existing decision-support system was unable to cope.

In driver-based budgeting, the starting point is anything that drives or changes the budget, which in the case of Viking Line means that the budget is revised regularly and automatically depending on, for example, passenger numbers.

With this transition in mind, coupled with the fact that its existing decision-support system was unable to meet the organisation’s requirements for user-friendliness, Viking Line decided to invest in a new solution.

Summary:

• Transition from traditional budgeting work to a 12-month rolling, driver-based forecast.
• The need for a user-friendly tool.
  
  

Solution

“We conducted a thorough procurement with a number of system vendors, at the end of which we chose Hypergene. There were several reasons for this, with the user interface being one of most important. The flexibility of the program also worked in Hypergene’s favour,” says Mats Engblom, Head of Business Control and Planning at Viking Line.

Alongside Budgeting and Forecasting, Viking Line also decided to implement Monitoring and Analysis, with the option of Performance Management, in a manner that breaks down overall plans into targets, key performance indicators and activities throughout the organisation.

Summary:

• Budgeting & Forecasting, Reporting & Analysis with the option of Strategic Management.
  
  

Results

Hypergene enables Viking Line to monitor all important parameters onboard linked to sales, food and entertainment. For example, the system can report daily on how a particular category of goods is selling on board a specific vessel, which categories of customers were on board at the time, and how satisfied they were. This can be used both to monitor performance and plan for the future.

Viking Line’s solution also includes important checklists that are used as support for employees and a reporting system for distribution within the organisation. According to Mats Engblom, Hypergene’s system meets all expectations and the company is pleased with the solution.

“We now have a flexible and user-friendly system that fully supports our transition to rolling 12-month forecasts.”

Addressing other companies that may be looking to invest in a new decision-support system, he adds: “Think very carefully about why you need to invest in decision support. You also need to consider carefully which processes you intend to use that decision support for, and whether it is a new tool or will replace something existing.”

Each year, 6.5 million people choose to cross the Baltic Sea on one of Viking Line’s ferries. Viking Line offers passenger services, recreation and cargo carrier services on the vessels Gabriella, Mariella, Amorella, Rosella, Viking Cinderella, Viking XPRS and on the new flagship Viking Grace. The company has around 2,800 employees.

Summary:

• A flexible and user-friendly system that delivers an improved overview and simpler processes.