HSY’s integration service with Epical enables and supports automation of business processes
CLIENT OVERVIEW
HSY provides municipal water supply and waste management services and information on the Helsinki metropolitan area and the environment. It employs nearly 800 people and has a turnover of more than EUR 350 million. Together with its partners, HSY aims to create the most sustainable urban area in the world.
CHALLENGE
From point-to-point integrations to a centralized environment
HSY wants to offer high-quality integration services to its internal customers. To achieve this, HSY had to build a comprehensive integration platform, starting from scratch.
- Before MuleSoft, integrations were point-to-point solutions using different technologies.
- There was no proactive monitoring, maintenance or development.
- Continuity was at risk without proper documentation.
– We had to move to a centralized environment that does not rely on specific systems or people. We strive for a strong reputation in integrations, which means that all the integrations are reliable, controlled and well-documented. We needed support on how to build the architecture and integrations meeting these requirements says Katja Koponen, Integration Architect and Technical Project Manager at HSY.
Photographer/Valokuvaaja: Hannu Bask
SOLUTION
New integration platform operates effectively with multiple technologies
Epical has supported HSY in architectural work and project work, offering comprehensive end-to-end service. The collaboration covers everything from development and implementation of integrations, to monitoring the current service.
- The journey began with a few quick file-based integrations using open-source Mule Community Edition platform.
- New technologies have been implemented as needed, and the platform has evolved constantly creating a flexible foundation for HSY’s integration services.
- HSY upgraded to Mule Enterprise Edition and later to API-based integrations, enabling nearly real-time data transfers and aligning with modern IT architecture practices.
- Apache ActiveMQ was introduced to the platform to improve reliability.
- The platform now relies on multiple technologies including MQ, database, ETL, and API-based integrations.
- Integration logs are analyzed using Splunk, alerts are routed to Jira, and AI is used for the initial phase of ticket analysis.
– Operations within the platform rely on proactive monitoring and maintenance. Issues are often handled before they are visible to HSY, resulting in a smooth and low-effort operating model for the customer, says Matti Kaikkonen, Integration Architect and Project Manager at Epical.
PARTNERSHIP – WHY EPICAL?
Value for money with Epical’s experienced team of experts
Epical is HSY’s sole partner for delivering integrations, and of paramount importance in this role.
- Epical’s experienced integration experts master large portfolio of technologies.
- Epical has shown flexibility as cooperation has grown from a few integrations to massive amounts.
- Communication is open and direct, Epical always listens to HSY’s wishes for development.
- A trusted partner capable of delivering solutions has been a key success factor for HSY.
– On Epical’s side, we rely on our team of professionals who are all together responsible for the status of the collaboration. Communication with the customer has been excellent, and it feels like we are all in the same team. It has been very rewarding and motivating for us to work with HSY, Kaikkonen states.
BUSINESS IMPACT & OUTCOMES
A critical backbone for core business processes
The integration platform has evolved into a large, business-critical ecosystem supporting around 140 integration applications across financial services, HR, billing, the customer portal, and service production.
- Different industries and user groups can choose the systems that best fit their needs while still ensuring seamless integration.
- The platform enables flexible system architecture with managed intermediate layers, removing technical restrictions and acting as a strong enabler for business innovation.
- The organization now has strong governance and visibility over integrations. Integrations are well-documented and managed through clear rules, a catalog, and structured oversight.
- Continuity is guaranteed even when personnel change. This reduces reliance on individual tacit knowledge and ensures that services remain stable and future-proof.
- Good documentation and monitoring give clear insight into data flows, dependencies, and operational status.
- Operational agility has significantly improved. When business units request new integrations or changes, teams can respond quickly and reliably, consistently delivering as scheduled.
- Stakeholders describe the cooperation as smooth and accessible, with a low threshold for daily communication and fast progress without unnecessary delays.
The platform has become a mission-critical backbone for HSY’s core business processes, particularly in financial operations and billing. The collaboration has produced cost-effective, functional integrations, improved service reliability, and greater operational confidence, enabling HSY to scale its digital capabilities efficiently.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Staying at the forefront
The collaboration keeps evolving, as HSY and Epical are currently implementing a large-scale cloud migration to MuleSoft CloudHub. Despite the project’s complexity and scope, it has remained on schedule and within budget. This reinforces confidence in the platform and delivery model.
– I hope that the cooperation with Epical continues as good as so far. When the cloud transformation is over, we will maintain the roadmap and stay at the forefront. The development curve may be fast, and it is exciting to build modern, lasting solutions. We are staying aligned with modern practices and definitely looking into the future together with curiosity and confidence, Koponen concludes.
Epical empowers organizations to build resilient, modern integration platforms that scale with business needs.
