Anna Kleine, Managing Director of HiQ's subsidiary in Skåne, has chosen to move on for a new job as CEO of a non-competing company in the IT industry. Anna will continue to lead the operations in Skåne during her period of notice until she leaves HiQ towards the end of Q3. “Anna has since the beginning been involved in building a strong and successful business in Skåne. I would like to send a big thanks to Anna for all the commitment she has given to HiQ and wish her luck when she leaves us this fall. And look forward to working together as a client or partner", says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ.

HiQ has for more than 15 years successfully built a business in Öresund with its main location in Malmö. The company has gone from being focused on the telecom industry in Lund to spanning the entire HiQ service offering in tech, IT, integration and digital services together with large international companies as clients.

With amazing consultants, salespeople and leaders as well as all forward-thinking clients in the region, HiQ has a solid foundation for continuing the development in the region with a new leadership.

“I am extremely proud of our entire team in Skåne. Together we have built Öresund’s best team of engineers, developers, strategists and creators. With new management and together with our brave clients, we will continue to use technology development to build a simpler, better, more sustainable and more fun world”, says Lars Stugemo.

HiQ is selected by Gothenburg & Co to develop a digital knowledge hub for the tourism industry in Gothenburg. “This is a perfect example of how digital technology can be used to develop and improve the tourism industry. And a project where we are a perfect partner. Really fun”, says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO of HiQ.

The European Union has appointed the city of Gothenburg as European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020. One of the focus areas is digitalisation. The knowledge hub that HiQ is commissioned to develop will make it possible to collect data from tourism, analyse it and provide knowledge for decision making about future development for the tourism industry.

”Digitalisation affects all parts of the society. This applies equally well to the tourism industry as well as to the automotive industry, the public sector and the retail segment. Gothenburg & Co is brave and forward-looking, and by taking advantage of the great benefits that technology development brings, we will be able to develop solutions that open up Gothenburg in a sustainable way for even more people, says Jerker Lindsten, Managing Director of HiQ Gothenburg.

HiQ has extensive experience in digital projects and platforms and wins the assignment after a procurement. The plan is to have a concept in place after the summer, and then test and further develop the solution.

“HiQ’s technical know-how combined with their extensive experience in user-centric solutions and digital experiences make them a perfect partner for us for this. I am really looking forward to this collaboration and to jointly building the Sweden’s first digital knowledge hub for the tourism industry,” says Niklas Masuch, Project Manager at Gothenburg & Co.

HiQ’s design team from Great Apes wins another gold in European Design Awards. This time for the multiple award-winning project Nemus Futurum for Metsä Group. “We are very ha­ppy about gold especially when having our work recognised on an international stage as big as the European Design Awards”, says Constantin Freche, Lead Designer at HiQ Great Apes.

Nemus Futurum is Metsä Group’s interactive visitor experience showcasing sustainable forest management and the Finnish forests in a completely new way through the latest technology on site in the forest. At Nemus Futurum the visitors are guided through sustainable Finnish forest management, sustainable use of forests, forest nature and bioproducts trough an iPad with a customized app. The app uses various methods such as GPS tracking and Augmented Reality to provide a curated digital experience in the awe-inspiring forest setting of Nemus Futurum. After the tour, the visitors can revisit the main themes of the exhibition at a website.

“This is truly an exciting project that describes the lifecycle of the forest and provides an exceptional user experience in a way that would not have been possible without modern technology”, says Erik Ridman, Director of Communications at HiQ.

The European Design Awards, or ED Awards, have been recognising talented designers since 2007. It differs from other design competitions since the jury is composed of journalists and critics – and not the creators themselves. The jury consists of a variety of design magazines from across Europe.

HiQ’s Great Apes is one of the most internationally acclaimed digital agencies in Finland, with previous golds in the European Design Awards, including one for the concept and prototype for the digital driving license for Finnish Transport Safety Agency, Trafi. Great Apes also has a track record of recognition in leading competitions like the Webby Awards, Red Dot Design Awards and Eurobest, as well as Nordic awards like the Grand One and Grafia’s “Best of the year”.

Read more about Nemus Futurum at HiQ.fi

Net sales in the first quarter amounted to SEK 478.4 (488.3) million. Operating profit for the same period amounts to SEK 54.6 (55.1) million. Our financial position is good with a strong cash flow which during the period amounts to SEK 59.3 (61.5) million and a cash balance of SEK 243.5 million in liquid funds.

JANUARY – MARCH 2020

Net sales total SEK 478.4 (488.3) million
Operating profit (EBIT) of SEK 54.6 (55.1) million
Operating margin increases to 11.4 (11.3) per cent
Pre-tax profit increases to SEK 55.5 (54.7) million
Profit after tax increases to SEK 43.5 (43.4) million
Earnings per share, before dilution SEK 0.78 (0.78)
Cash flow from operations SEK 59.3 (61.5) million
Liquid assets increases to SEK 243.5 (232.8) million

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER

HiQ lands new contract and ramps up partnership with Epiroc.
HiQ delivers several development teams to leading players in the telecoms industry.
HiQ wins several assignments in the public sector that include Västmanlands local public transport, Swedish Data Inspection Board, Swedish eHealth Agency, Mälardalen University, Swedish Tax Agency, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), Inera, Region Västra Götaland, and the cities of Helsinki, Seinäjoki and Järvenpää in Finland.
HiQ does business with leading e-commerce players in the Nordics.
HiQ initiates collaboration with major European consumer product company, delivering consulting services and FRENDS platform.
HiQ initiates collaboration with global pharmaceutical company, delivering consulting services and FRENDS platform.
HiQ initiates collaboration with leading Finnish energy company, delivering consulting services and FRENDS platform.
HiQ FRENDS wins 21 new customers during the quarter.
HiQ is chosen as digital agency by children’s cultural centre Funnys Äventyr in Malmö.
Johan Dozzi and Katarina Axelsson Lindgren elected to HiQ’s Board.
HiQ as an employer ranked as most attractive IT consulting company by market insight company Universum.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

HiQ starts collaboration with Finnish Savings Banks’ Union COOP.