In an increasingly digital world, companies are also facing digital challenges. The automotive company KGK has now turned to HiQ’s Frends as its new integration platform supplier for the group. Frends will help the organisation simplify and streamline by standardising integrations, with the ultimate goal of having Frends, in addition to APIs, as KGK’s sole solution for integrations. “It’s fantastic that Frends are continuing to grow in Sweden and on the Swedish market! The team has done a tremendous job, and partnering up with KGK shows how integration platforms can help organisations become more efficient and see ROI at an early stage. Great work and go HiQ!”, says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ. 

It is hard to ignore the advance of digitisation. Digitisation makes life easier in many ways, both for individuals and companies, but it also creates challenges in some cases. KGK is a company founded in 1946 by Knut-Göran Knutsson that operates in the automotive sector. The number of integrations being run increases by the day, and developments are happening at an extremely fast pace. Even hybrid environments, cloud versus on-prem, pose a challenge, and being a company in the automotive sector means having to contend with a widespread presence of legacy systems makes it more challenging to achieve simplification. Furthermore, for the work to become less person-dependent, it is necessary to work in a repeatable way. KGK needs a partner that can bring integrations together and provide quick and easy solutions to meet new customer needs and enable a faster time to market. KGK selects HiQ’s Frends as the new integration platform for the entire group. The platform supports hybrid environments and can assist with many of the challenges that occur.

“In some cases where there is no need to rely on legacy systems, we might be able to tell two systems to talk to each other, but if that is not possible, Frends will be KGK’s only option. That is our absolute goal with Frends. There is so much to do; as a company, we have many suppliers and partners with different circumstances and very different IT capabilities. Frends will enable us to modernise with minimal impact on our customers. It will be a lot better for our customers without them needing to do a lot of work. We feel confident with the team as well as the platform, and we are looking forward to what the future will bring,” says Johan Haack, CIO at KGK.

“We are delighted that KGK has chosen us. Frends is an amazing platform that can make things easier for and help organisations. The fact that KGK has chosen us after a pilot implementation shows just how good the platform is. A platform like Frends offers enormous opportunities for companies to simplify and streamline their operations,” says Jukka Rautio, Head of HiQ’s Frends.

Initially, KGK will focus mainly on different types of file movers, build APIs customised to their customers both for internal use and partners and clients, and internally modernise specific legacy systems. It is already possible to foresee major effects from decommissioning systems, reducing the load on systems and free up expensive licences, which could result in ROI on the platform relatively immediately. KGK will initially use the system at the group level in Sweden, Norway and Finland, similar businesses with similar needs. The future vision for KGK is to grow into the platform and its enormous opportunities. Frends will be used in a way that suits the business and its current and future strategies. Hyper-automation is also on the agenda, and in this regard, the platform is very much in line with the company’s future strategy. In the long term, KGK intends to automate the processes that they want to integrate today, using RPA tools and, by extension, AI. The goal is to standardise all integrations and for Frends to become KGK’s only integration solution, apart from APIs.

“We are facing some real challenges in terms of needing to act quickly and efficiently as a company, with the climate becoming more difficult to navigate as the world becomes increasingly digital. We have also seen a challenge working in the automotive industry. We need to deal with several legacy systems, including systems used both internally and by our partners, which are perhaps not of the most modern variety. We chose Frends because we recognised that our work could be drastically simplified and because we gained a great deal of confidence in them as a partner during the pilot implementation. They listened to us throughout the process, we felt very supported, and they answered all our questions. As a result, there was always a plan for how to move forward. Another positive is that the platform is relatively simple and user-friendly, with endless possibilities in terms of how far the platform can be developed,” says Urban Zetterström, IT architect at KGK. 

About KGK:
KG Knutsson AB has been moving people forwards since 1946, and it is a company that believes in long-term relationships. That is why we work with strong brands and do business that benefits all parties.

We provide our suppliers with our distribution network while our customers have the best brands, all wrapped up in our product knowledge and precise distribution. We have the widest range in the sector, and on our e-commerce website autokatalogen.se our partners can find more than half a million products. 

In addition to Sweden, KGK is also present in Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The tech consulting company HiQ is taking yet another step to strengthen its position as a full-stack partner in digital transformation. Erik Ridman, former Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Head of Communications at HiQ, is appointed new Head of Region Stockholm at HiQ. ”At HiQ, we have a pretty much unique position in being able to build advanced systems, products and services, and at the same time discuss digital strategies, usability and the repositioning of brands. With background and experience in brand development and recruitment as well as solutions and commitments, Erik Ridman will play an important role in our continued success. And with Erik at the helm of our operations in Stockholm, I’m confident that we will further strengthen our position,” says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

Erik Ridman is appointed new Head of Region Stockholm. Previously, Ridman was Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Head of Communications at HiQ, which he has held for the past five years. Prior to that, he has a background in the advertising and communications industry and has worked with brand development and digital innovation at several agencies. Erik Ridman joins as leader of HiQ in Stockholm and receives the title Head of Region Stockholm, Vice President HiQ, and is still part of HiQ’s group management. 

“Jihaaa! I think that’s the only way to comment on this. Naturally, I have great respect for the task at hand, but I am also very excited about the assignment. Stockholm is the epicenter of the Nordic region’s tech and brand markets, and to further capitalize on HiQ’s development here is a dream position! I have worked closely with our team in Stockholm since I started at HiQ and know the potential here. We have fantastic employees and leaders, an inclusive culture out of this world, a tremendously strong brand, and a completely boiling market with future thinking. And we will deliver more of everything, I can promise you that,” says Erik Ridman, Head of Region Stockholm & VP at HiQ.

Erik Ridman replaces Patrik Holm, who leaves HiQ on his own initiative.
“We want to thank Patrik for a long and successful career at HiQ and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” says Sven Ivar Mørch.

HiQ has a clear growth strategy. The goal is to continue to build HiQ’s strong brand, unique corporate culture, deep expertise, strategic platforms, and broad customer base to become northern Europe’s leading consulting company in Tech, IT, Integration, Design and Communication. HiQ is involved in creating the technology solutions of the future in most sectors – and in Stockholm, HiQ, through its cutting-edge expertise in several areas and collaborations with leading companies in the Nordic region, is a solid contributor to the Nordic countries’ global competitiveness. The team in Stockholm is, among other things, behind Swish – a solution that has simplified everyday life for virtually the entire population of Sweden since its launch.

Recently, we have seen a lot of news from HiQ. Among other things, several acquisitions that add significant expertise to HiQ’s offering. The launch of the trainee program, HiQ Leap, a gateway for newly graduated tech students. A completely new, growing investment in Cyber Security – the goal is to make societies, companies, and organizations able to meet the cyber threats that arise and secure their continued digitization journey. Expansion to new cities – first out Jönköping. Several international awards in design and innovation competitions as well as a large number of new businesses, agreements and customers.

“With tech, we build a simpler, better, more fun and more sustainable world. I urge everyone who wants to work at one of the most exciting and dynamic environments to get in touch – newly graduated and people with long experience in tech, IT, innovation, design, or communication. Or, maybe you want to work with Sweden’s most amazing sales team? Get in touch! Email, Linkedin, phone or whatever, I’m everywhere. Let’s go!” Erik Ridman concludes.

HiQ announces today that Magnus Meyer, current member of the board of directors, has been appointed by the board to serve as the chairman of the board effective October 21. Thomas Hofvenstam, who acts as chairman today, will remain on the board as a member. “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Magnus Meyer as the new chairman of the board. Magnus is considered one of Sweden's most influential technology consultants, and his solid experience is of great value for HiQ,” says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO at HiQ.

The appointment of Magnus Meyer marks the first change to the board of directors of HiQ since it’s constitution on 30 October 2020, following Triton’s acquisition and subsequent delisting of HiQ. 

“I am very happy to take over the responsibility as chairman and looking forward to continue to foster the collaboration in the board. HiQ remains on an exiting trajectory, marked by recent geographical expansion and continuous excellence and innovation rewarded by new assignments and creative awards. We will continue on this path, putting emphasis on further expansion and new recruitments” says Magnus Meyer, chairman of the Board, HiQ. 

Magnus Meyer (born in 1967) was previously CEO of WSP in Sweden and most recently president and CEO of WSP Europe. Prior to that, he was the CEO of the architectural firm Tengbomgruppen AB for several years. He has also held various senior positions at the GE Real Estate and Ljungberggruppen AB and worked as a technical scientific attaché in the USA. He sits on the board of several companies in addition to HiQ, including Goodbye Kansas, Kinnarps AB, Slättö Förvaltning AB, Coor Service Management and Vasakronan AB. He holds an M.Sc. in Engineering and Licentiate of Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm.

HiQ wins the Swedish Armed Forces’ procurement of an end-to-end solution for administration and technical development of the armed forces’ websites, applications, and other digital media. HiQ is the only supplier that wins the assignment. “We look forward to contributing to the armed forces’ crucial work and digital development with our expertise and years of experience in digitalization,” says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ. 

The ultimate responsibility of the Swedish Armed Forces is to protect Sweden and defend its liberty, but it also helps maintain peace and security in other parts of the world. With that said, there are high demands on digital systems, services, and applications to function well. Therefore, digital channels covered by the framework agreement are systems and services for everything from recruitment and crisis information to social media and websites. 

“The Swedish Armed Forces has rigorous security requirements when it comes to applications and infrastructure as well as its tendering suppliers. We are proud to be selected as their supplier and see it as proof that we are a trustworthy partner that can deliver high-quality, technologically advanced solutions,” says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ. 

The framework agreement covers technical development and administration of external digital channels and implementation and administration of digital media. It applies to both existing websites and any digital channels that will be created in the future. 

The areas included in the framework agreement are development, analysis and assessment, project management and consultation, security audits, purchasing support, information architecture, training, design and accessibility conformance. 

The procurement also includes maintenance and support. The support will be handled by HiQ’s support and administration teams, who currently serve many customers with ongoing support and maintenance of applications and services. 

“As digital systems become more and more operation critical, we see increased demand for support. Our Application Management units now serve more than a hundred digital services through support agreements, and some also cover this type of arrangement. The Swedish Armed Forces will be well taken care of by us, and we look forward to starting our collaboration,” concludes Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ. 

After HiQ won the procurement in 2019, the decision was appealed by a competing consulting company to the Administrative Court and then to the Administrative Court of Appeal. The Administrative Court of Appeal subsequently dismissed the appeal. The framework agreement with HiQ runs for two years, with the option of extending it for an additional two years.