The powerful interplay of software and hardware
Customer
Suunto
Industry
Manufacturing
Services
Embedded and IoT
Technologies
C++, Arm and FreeRTOS
Suunto and Rakettitiede have worked together for over 10 years. At the heart of their long-term collaboration is Suunto’s implicit trust in Rakettitiede’s ability to solve even the most challenging problems quickly, efficiently, and to the highest possible standard. Their no-nonsense relationship has forged a partnership that is now as durable as Suunto’s best sports watches.
Making top-of-the-line sports watches, dive computers and compasses, Suunto wants its products to be a reliable adventure companion for its customers in life’s unique moments. Suunto’s core business is getting software and hardware to work effectively together. According to Suunto’s Principal Software Development Engineer Mikko Hiltunen, that is exactly where Rakettitiede’s developers are truly skilled.
Consultants pick up their tools and start building
Over the years, Rakettitiede’s developers have been a key part of this journey. They have helped Suunto craft increasingly better user experiences, usually in teams of one to six consultants. Everybody knows how hard it is to recruit new tech experts with the right skills, especially if you’re in a hurry. In addition, most companies typically need the extra help for just a limited time.
Petri Lehtovirta, Suunto’s VP of Product, says the recipe for success is simple: the best experts, mutual trust, and an open line of communication. “Most of the time, we’re already rocketing at full speed, and Rakettitiede’s experts are always ready to pick up their tools and get to work,” Lehtovirta says.
CHALLENGE
Suunto’s core business is all about making the company’s software and hardware sing in harmony. In the technology sector, recruiting new, suitable talents is not necessarily quick nor easy.
Turbo-boost your development with a consultant’s help
Do you want to take product development to the next level? Well, look no further! Here you'll learn from the eight years of collaboration between Suunto and Rakettitiede in embedded systems.
Bring in an experienced consultant, preferably a high-level software developer. As a buyer, it is important to know what you need. This way, the seller can also succeed. (Sales: Know exactly what the customer needs and sell only what you have to deliver.)
Be honest with each other from the start of the deal. Speak plainly, don't make up stories. If there's a problem, talk on the phone.
When the consultant comes onboard, hand them paint and a brush and let them get to work. Give the consultant a chance to understand your customer – put the progammer into the deep end.
Truly integrate the consultant into the team. A good consultant coaches, communicates, asks questions, and clarifies matters when needed.
Be open to consultant’s ideas that save time. However, maintain ownership of product development in your hands: don't outsource responsibility.
Accelerate into the next project together.
SOLUTION
Top-notch professionals who have ideas and valuable insights on how things should be done. Trust and transparent communication are also needed, which means honest discussions about skill requirements.
Coding expertise spills over into hardware
In addition to sports watches, Rakettitiede’s developers have had the opportunity to dive into Suunto’s other areas of expertise – sometimes even literally.
The embedded systems specialists have done a lot of work on Suunto’s diving products: developing their UIs, facilitating the coding behind their mobile apps, and supporting the work done by Suunto’s product developers and assemblers – who says coders can’t make a splash in the world of hardware?
FINAL RESULT
Offering even better user experiences, customization options, and more accurate products. Suunto, a manufacturer of high-quality sports watches, dive computers, and compasses, is a reliable adventure companion in life's unique moments.
Swarm intelligence and open communication lead to better results
Petri Lehtovirta emphasises that a good programmer must be able to act as part of a team.
“You won’t get far toiling alone, and you can’t come up with any exotic solutions that are incomprehensible to everyone else. Rakettitiede’s experts know that they can rely on their colleagues when need be – their swarm intelligence is only a Slack message away.”
Lehtovirta appreciates the level of communication throughout the companies’ collaboration:
“We’ve had our blazing-fast highs along with the occasional lows, but we’ve always been able to hash things out with a quick call. We don’t believe in making up any stories, since it’s not fair to anyone.”
Suunto’s and Rakettitiede’s partnership has taught Lehtovirta that a focus on longevity and integrity is worth the price, even in the sales phase. Above all, a buyer should know what they really need – then the people making the sale can succeed as well.
“We’ve been happy with our collaboration from day one, and Rakettitiede’s developers have the years at Suunto to prove it. They’ve always been ready to go above and beyond the call of duty!”
Mikko Hiltunen, Principal Software Development Engineer, Suunto
“Rakettitiede’s experts are second to none, and our companies trust each other implicitly. We believe in maintaining an open line of communication and finding the best solutions together."
Petri Lehtovirta, VP of Product, Suunto
