From guesswork to data-driven decisions: How HL Group streamlined device lifecycle management

Written by

Juhani Heinonen

Warehouse worker organizing shelves stacked with boxes and supplies

Key highlights

With SavannaX, HL Group can see a clear, at-a-glance overview of the overall status of their device fleet and required actions, without having to search for information across multiple systems. The service has been experienced as easy to use and has supported HL Group particularly in IT budgeting and in assessing actual device replacement needs. HL Group also values the fact that their development ideas and feature requests have been listened to and implemented.

HL Group started using SavannaX in October 2025, and after the first three months of use, we asked their IT Development and Quality Manager Tina Vikström and IT Manager Jouni Otamaa about their experiences with the service and its benefits.

What issues have you previously faced in managing the device lifecycle, and how did SavannaX solve these issues?

Tina: Previously, I found it difficult to get a quick overall view of the condition and update needs of our workstations and laptops. I often had to ask Jouni for this information. With SavannaX, I can easily see everything myself. The service is very easy to use, and I can see the overall situation at a glance.

Jouni: SavannaX provides a fast and clear overview of the situation and is very easy to use! There's no need to investigate the condition of each individual device anymore - everything is visible at a glance.

You were already using a device agent. How does SavannaX differ from using only a device agent?

Tina: For IT budgeting purposes, SavannaX clearly shows device replacement needs. For example, how many new devices we need to acquire at a minimum. The "low utilization" list shows device usage levels, which allows Jouni and me to evaluate whether a device actually needs to be replaced.

Jouni: Seeing update requirements and antivirus status is also very valuable! Understanding the overall condition of the device fleet is much easier than before, and the service provides clear, actionable recommendations.

What new features would be useful for you?

Tina: Device names are useful for us, and this information was already added through updates. A summary of application usage would be very useful, especially for cloud services. Currently, I monitor this at the individual application level.

Jouni: Adding device names to the listing was a great improvement. Receiving the most important alerts via email would also be very helpful. Additionally, the ability to deploy updates directly through the service would be an excellent feature.

What benefits have you gained from SavannaX that you didn't expect beforehand?

Tina: Support for IT budgeting related to laptop and desktop renewals. This has turned out to be surprisingly easy and efficient. The service also supports our sustainability efforts by helping us avoid unnecessary device replacements and safely extend device lifecycles.

Jouni: Being able to directly see which devices require updates or restarts is very useful. Ease of use has been a positive surprise - finally everything is visible in one place without extensive training or onboarding.

What are the biggest benefits for your respective roles (IT Director and IT Manager)?

Tina: For my role, the biggest benefits are simplified budgeting for new devices and a clear, high-level overview of the condition of our device fleet.

Jouni: Being able to see the condition of the entire device fleet at a glance.

Was there anything SavannaX did not meet your expectations on?

Tina: Nothing comes to mind at the moment.

Jouni: Initially, the lack of device names, but that has now been resolved. Thank you!

What would you say to a person or a company considering using SavannaX?

Tina: I encourage you to try the service and see whether it brings value to your business. It is a good idea for the system's main administrator to make reviewing the system a recurring task, for example weekly or monthly, depending on the age of the device fleet. Our suggestions for developing the system have been listened to, and the improvement ideas have been taken into account and implemented as part of the service.

Jouni: I agree with Tina.

Background

SwanIT and HL Group began discussions about modern device lifecycle management in May 2025. HL Group quickly recognized the value of SavannaX, and joint next steps were agreed upon already in September, at the time of the service launch. HL Group started using SavannaX in early October as one of the first customers and has been extremely satisfied with the service.

About HL Group

HL Group Oy is a modern technical trading company serving a wide customer base across Finland. Our mission is to be more than a traditional wholesaler. We offer a broad range of high-quality products and international brands across three sectors: automotive products, automotive paints, and industrial products. We aim to create added value for our customers not only through top-tier products, but also through services that help our customers focus on their core business.

Our operations are guided by ISO 9001 quality certification and ISO 14001 environmental certification. We also invest strongly in sustainability. Our operations are audited annually by Inteliam, an independent evaluator specializing in the automotive industry, with one of the focus points being sustainability. We perform excellently in industry comparisons. As part of our sustainability work, we have selected three UN Sustainable Development Goals where we can have the greatest impact through our own operations.