Customized Student Business Projects 30 years

Lindex – Loyalty Card Project

Lindex Oy ordered Student Business Projects to carry out market research aimed at determining the consumer response to a new customer loyalty card.

‘The project was completed on time and the results were useful, helping us to create a more focused marketing message. What was most important, however, was the speed of the project. It was completed in two months, which was crucial to us. A comparable project with the same flexibility and the same price would be hard to find.’ 

Ari Isohella, Managing Director, Lindex Oy (2001)

Photo: Press photo, Lindex

Finavia Terminal Logistics

The purpose of the project was to increase understanding of the logistics flow of shops and restaurants at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The research was conducted with interviews, field research and data analysis

‘We are pleased with the results from an economical point of view. The cost to value ratio of a student project is not easily matched by private consulting firms. The team managed to analyze the logistics of the best airport in Northern Europe in just a few weeks.’

Sami Kiiskinen, Vice President of Airport Development, Finavia (2022)

VTT – New Industries

‘In the research, students found areas of industry that we hadn't thought of and the order for them, i.e. where to invest, was well justified. Reaching potential customers was definitely the biggest benefit of the project. We have used the information in our negotiations with foreign and domestic manufacturers and things look positive at the moment. The project was successful. The students managed to excavate information admirably and the professor brought in new perspectives.’

Jyrki Tervo Specialist Researcher, VTT (2004)

Optimizing Sokos Emotion Stores Product Portfolio

The goal of the project was to create an optimization tool that helps SOK determine which products can be removed from the physical Sokos emotion store based on their sales data. In addition, the tool shows how the removal of these products affects the store's key figures, such as sales volume and profit margin.

‘The goals of the project were successfully achieved. The optimization tool seems easy to use and helps us to optimize our product range from a profitability point of view. The results of the project are important to SOK, and we look forward to using the tool to customize the product selections in our stores. All in all, we are very satisfied with the results of the project and the work of the student team.’

Hans Backström, Sales Director, SOK (2021)

Photo: Tommi Vihervaara

ECHA – The European Chemicals Agency

How information on the risks and safe use of chemicals reaches the end users? 

‘The project enabled the students to put their theoretical knowledge to practice in a real-world business environment. They carried out interviews in 17 machinery industry companies that use chemicals in their production. The information provided by the interviews was used as the basis for identifying shortcomings and problems in terms of information flow, and the project sought solutions for them.

The work that began with this research project will help us develop both our own and the EU Member States’ activities aimed at improving the dissemination of information. For us, working with Aalto University students was ground-breaking - an extremely good start - and there's more collaboration to come.’

Matti Vainio, Head of Unit, The European Chemicals Agency (2016)

KPMG – Digitalisation of financial administration

‘The project went beyond our expectations – the final results were clear and in many aspects they exceeded our requirements both in quality and scope. We will make use of the results in KPMG’s own strategy work and customer communications, for example in the thought leadership publications and customer seminars, which examine markets and operating environments.’

Erkki Tiitta, Head of Tax Compliance and Transformation, KPMG Finland (2018)

Photo: Tommi Vihervaara

S-Group – S-Business Card 

The participated in development of S-Group's new S-Business Card. The study investigated the current purchasing activity of the service's potential customers and their attitude towards the S business card.

‘The project got off to a great start, thanks to Tommi Vihervaara, Aalto's project specialist, who put a lot of effort into it. The Team academic supervisor and the students also quickly realized what we was relevant. I have already recommend student projects to others here at SOK and I will continue to do so in the future.’

Niko Sinervä, CEO, S-Yrityskortti Oy (2014)

Kalevala Koru – New Store Concept

The project created new store service concepts for Kalevala Koru. The concepts included a written/visual description, e.g. about how the service concept works and how the service concept can be produced cost-effectively. The project group consisted of a student of engineering, art (design), and business.

‘A well-managed project that achieved its goals both in terms of content and schedule. The end result was concrete enough and applicable to the business environment without significant investments or huge resource additions. Project was practical in a good way and innovative the same time with results that bring out new ways of working.’

Riitta Huuhtanen, CEO, Kalevala Koru (2012)

Town of Porvoo – The impact of Cultural Centre Art Factory 

The effect of the Art Factory on the city of Porvoo from a regional, cultural and economic perspective.

‘Particularly valuable aspects of the project were its continuity, created by cooperation taking place over the years, as well as the project team’s and project manager’s clearly visible strong motivation and focus on the task. A similarly enthusiastic attitude also characterised the previous projects. The report will present new perspectives and also new understanding of how customers in the area perceive the Art Factory and how the area could be developed further.’ 

Fredrick von Schoultz, Deputy Mayor, Town of Porvoo (2018)

Text: Project news 
Photo: Tommi Vihervaara

Posti Group – Video project

‘It was a pleasure to see the students focus so carefully on planning and producing the video. The progress of the project was regularly monitored and the students responded well to Posti Group’s wishes. Even unexpected changes came up during the project, which required flexibility and strong teamwork skills from the students’, says Kaisa Suojoki. ‘The best parts of the project were the students' fresh ideas and their ability to see Posti Group as a corporation in a new light. We will use the video in Posti Group’s internal and external communications to support, for instance, recruitment marketing.’

Kaisa Suojoki, Learning and development manager. Posti Group (2019)

Posti - The Makers of the Future (1)
Posti - The Makers of the Future (2)

Text and photo: News article 28.5.2019

Burkina Faso – Implementation of a well in one of the poorest countries in Africa

Sometimes a picture (above) is worth a thousand words. More details about the project in the video:

(92) Aalto University Student projects: Not far from Dedougou - YouTube

Finnish Meteorological Institute – Responsibility reporting project (2023)

‘These kinds of projects are great opportunities for team members to see how the operations of organizations can be influenced. It was really easy to be this team’s academic advisor because the team acted proactively and in a self-directed manner, and I could not but admire both the students’ attitude toward work and their visionary and solution-oriented work,’ says one of the project’s advisors. 

Seppo Ikäheimo, professor, accounting, School of Business

Posti – How early deliverers experience participation in the new strategy (2021)    

‘I believe that the opportunity to do such a project for a real company is a valuable learning experience for students. They will benefit from this in their future careers.’

Frank Martela, university lecturer, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Science

Keski-Karjalan Kehitysyhtiö Oy (KETI) – Development of wood-based business in the Puhos area (2014)

‘From the instructor's point of view, it is very meaningful to supervise business projects during the holidays from other teaching work, which give students the opportunity to apply theory directly to practice and test their ability to produce results in a real environment. Three things in particular projects successful:

1. The concept of the Customized Student Business Projects is well-honed and the roles are clear. 
2. Both the student group and the partner company are truly dedicated to the project and are ready to sacrifice resources for its implementation. 
3. The instructor also receives support from the project coordinator when needed. 

The instructor also receives support from the project coordinator when necessary. This time, all of the above came true, so from the director's point of view, the project was successful in every way.

This time, all of the above came true, so from the director's point of view, the project was successful in every way.’

Juho-Petteri Huhtala, postdoctoral researcher, marketing, School of Business
 

KPMG – Moving to new premises

‘A project that went well. The recruitment of team members was very successful, and teamwork went exceptionally well. It was a pleasure to work with such a team of students.’

Kristiina Mäkelä, provost, professor, International Business, School of Business

Triangel – Hotel Korpilampi Design strategy 

‘A good operating concept, with which advanced students can and should be brought into interaction with companies and other society actors. Employment care at its best, when graduation is already looming!’

Timo Salli, professor, School of Arts and Design

Nokia InnoWay Project

‘An excellent project that is leading to practical improvements to improve the customer's competitiveness. At the same time, it gave the students a unique opportunity to familiarize themselves with the topics central to the company's development. The students coped with the task brilliantly.’

Erkki Ormala, professor of practice, School of Business

Finpro – Market Intelligence Needs of Finnish Companies in the International Environment

With the experience gained from guiding about 10 business projects, I can say that customized business projects are excellent for both students and our instructors.’

Sami Kajalo, senior university lecturer, marketing, School of Business

Stock Exchange Listing of an Expert Company

‘All in all, a bulls eye project. These projects could be marketed even more. Value for money with a good team is unimaginably good.’

Elias Rantapuska, professor, finance, School of Business

SOK – Launch of a self-Service Cash Register

‘My overall project supervision experience was very positive. The discussion connection with the group was good and the meetings regarding the project were constructive and interactive. No particular problem occurred at any point, at least from the academic supervisor's point of view. The student group also had a good drive throughout the project. The key issues in the success of the project are student selection and student motivation. In this selection process and motivation, our project coordinator Tommi Vihervaara had insight and good expertise. The project's success is also increased, if student team gets a clear mandate and the client is genuine committed to the project.’

Arto Lindblom, professor, marketing, School of Business

Helsinki-Vantaa airport terminal logitics

‘In this case, many good things came together. First of all, the target company Finavia is a well-managed company known to all Finns. It is responsible for the operation of one of the best managed airports in Europe. Secondly, the company was able to describe the assignment clearly, and thirdly, an excellent group of students representing different subjects was selected to carry out the research, who were able to perform the task together commendably.’

Markku Kuula, professor, logistics, School of Business

Tax and law related applications of natural language processing (NLP)

‘The technological solutions for Natural Language Processing (NLP) have evolved immensely over the past decade, and the time is now right to utilise them. NLP can enhance PwC's internal processes significantly, as the consultants do not have to use as much of their valuable working time to read documents. The students got to work with an energetic approach, and we all learned many new things.’ 

Tom Bäckström, assistant professor, School of Electrical Engineering

Portugal Energy Business Opportunities 

In cooperation with the Embassy of Finland in Lisbon, Business Finland and Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) the project's objective was to identify business opportunities for Finnish companies in the energy sector in Portugal and to provide companies with a deeper understanding of the energy policy, business environment, and technology needs in the region.

‘I worked on this kind of Projects as supervisor for the first time and felt very supported by the Aalto coordination team, so I understood well my roles and responsibilities and I feel that I was able to concentrate on the supervision and help students work smoothly. It was a great learning experience for me overall, in terms of teaching and supervision methods. Working with students was highly motivating and rewarding.’

Inex Peixoto, postdoctoral researcher, Organizations & Management, School of Business

FinELib – Cost-effectiveness of library material acquisition (2009)

‘In addition to the accumulation of working life skills, the project had other benefits, which was also the reason why I applied for the project in the first place. Through the project, I got a summer job, and getting to know the supervisor made it easier to find a masters thesis topic and a sponsor.’ 
 

S Group – Launch of self-service cash registers (2010)

‘I think our team was really good. I feel that everyone put as much effort into the research and we helped each other as best we could. Our team's spirit and functionality were at the best level!! I couldn't have gotten a better team, so you had selected the students well from among all the applicants.’

Elisa – Consumption of audiovisual content, the changing practices and meanings of everyday life (2010)

‘This project was great for someone who is in the final stages of their studies. I also felt that I have never before been so motivated and excited to do a course related to project. It was great to do this project at every stage despite the schedule pressures.’

Evantia Oy – Development and design of the usability of the day care system user interface (2013)

‘As you might expect, the project produced a lot of work and gray hair. An absolutely insane course what comes to learning experience, and I can recommend it to every one of my schoolmates. It's great to be able to learn about the challenges and stumbling blocks of the real business world already at school projects.’

S Group Qualitative research on the possibilities and challenges of the S-business card in the field of SMEs (2011)

‘It was a pleasure to work with such a good team. Both of us were fully invested to the work and it was nice to create a high-quality result. The client was wonderfully enthusiastic about the project and that made us even more excited to work. The work felt very meaningful.’

Regional, cultural and economic impact of the Porvoo Art Factory (2013)

‘Overall, I thought the project was very successful and I would gladly participate in a similar project in the future, even though the workload far exceeded the average course workload. In the project, work-life orientation and challengingness were realized in a such way that a student rarely gets to experience it even in the one's own work field.’

Lassila ja Tikanoja – Utilization of positioning technology (2014)  

‘In all, the opportunity was unique. Approaching any company representative was easy, and this we also took advantage of. I cannot imagine running into another opportunity like this that could give such an in-depth understanding of a versatile and widely-operating company. Few employees even have the chance, so I definitely feel entitled. And (I was also ) hired, thanks this concept and its personnel! ;-)’

Pohjantähti Insurance – Customer analysis (2016)

‘During the project, I learned a lot of concrete things related to group dynamics, communication, working life and working with customers. So I learned a lot that studying accounting does not make possible other vice. I got what I was looking for.’

CGI – Multiactor Model Analysis

Being involved in the student project was a significant benefit for my jobhunting.

‘Even though NDA prohibited me from speaking freely about the work we had done for another company, just knowledge from a project done for a major player greatly increased my credibility in my job interview. The interviewer especially liked the fact that I had gained experience working with clients during the project. I believe that the Customized Student Business Project was the decisive influence  getting the position I applied for as a Junior Business Intelligence consultant.’

Posti's Mobile Device User Survey (2020)

‘I really enjoyed the project overall. My team member and I put a lot of thought and effort into the project and it showed! In my opinion we got just the right amount of assistance from the coordinator, supervisor and company.’

Deloitte – Primary Health Care Digitization Analysis (2021)

‘Great project, Aalto team supported us fantastically through the whole project. Had a lot of fun working with my student colleague. I think I've learned more from this project than any other course I have ever taken.’