Elenia is one of Finland’s largest electricity distribution companies, serving 442,000 customers across nearly 100 municipalities. The company manages and develops the electricity grid, with a strong focus on weatherproofing its infrastructure and introducing smart grid solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers.

To manage its operations, Elenia had long relied on the Microsoft Dynamics ERP system. By 2021, the company saw an opportunity to modernize its legacy on-premises system by moving to Dynamics 365 in the cloud. The goal was clear: improve efficiency, enhance transparency and open new avenues for innovation. Following a public tender, Elenia selected CGI as its partner.

“CGI’s proposal was the clear winner, both in terms of quality and cost,” says Jaakko Saarinen, ERP System Lead at Elenia.

Delivering a modern ERP for core operations

With CGI’s support, Dynamics 365 now sits at the heart of Elenia’s IT architecture. The platform is used daily by teams across finance, asset and project management and supply chain operations.

A standout feature of the new system is its extensive integration capability. More than 30 integrations have already been implemented with CGI’s expertise, ensuring that the solution is seamlessly embedded into Elenia’s wider technology ecosystem.

The project also included the co-development of Power Apps solutions with CGI, including contractor portals and a mobile app for material procurement. These tools extend the benefits of the system to Elenia’s contractor partners, making collaboration smoother and more effective.

Improved efficiency and transparency through the cloud

“In terms of core functionality, the system is similar to the previous one, but the modernization—and especially the move to the cloud—has made our operations much more efficient and opened up new opportunities for further development,” says Harri Happonen, CIO of Elenia.

Employees have also noted the improved user experience, faster access to data and the ability to tailor interfaces to individual needs.

“At the system level, the overall environment is now more transparent and easier to manage. I’ve received positive feedback from users about faster data retrieval and about being able to tailor the interfaces to individual needs,” adds Saarinen.

A large-scale project delivered through strong collaboration

The ERP modernization was a large-scale, three-year initiative, from definition to production rollout. Thanks to thorough planning, the system was delivered on schedule and the transition to production went smoothly.

“Our understanding of the desired solution became clearer as the project progressed, and CGI’s team took this into account very well. We redefined some requirements along the way, and in those situations we were able to focus on our functional needs instead of technical details. CGI also showed flexibility whenever plans needed to change,” says Saarinen.

“CGI’s expertise made a strong impression. They played a key role in shaping the functionalities into what they are today,” adds Happonen.

Unlocking new opportunities with Dynamics 365

The new system has established Dynamics 365 as a central hub for Elenia’s data flows. Alongside the ERP project, Elenia carried out a reporting harmonization initiative, further enhancing the role of Dynamics 365 as a foundation for future development.

“We realized that Dynamics 365 has become a major data hub for us. By leveraging it, we can take our reporting in entirely new directions,” Happonen notes.

“Power Apps also provide us with a very interesting path for further development, which we intend to explore in more detail,” Saarinen adds.

A trusted partnership for the future

Elenia continues to receive proactive support through CGI’s ongoing services to ensure the system operates reliably and efficiently.

The partnership has proven to be both scalable and personalized — delivering the resources of a global provider with the consistency of a dedicated local team.

“At first, we wondered whether CGI might be too big a partner for us. In practice, they turned out to be the right size in exactly the right way: security and data protection are taken seriously, operating models are effective and well thought out, and there are always sufficient resources. At the same time, in day-to-day operations, we work with the same familiar people,” says Happonen.

Looking ahead, Elenia plans to explore AI and expand the use of Power Apps, continuing its collaboration with CGI to drive efficiency, innovation and growth.