Since 2008, the administration and logistics center of Tokmanni has been located in Mäntsälä, southern Finland. To increase capacity, a new logistics center was built next to the existing facility in 2023. During spring 2024, all logistics operations will be moved to Mäntsälä.

Truck traffic in the logistics centers will be heavy: 150-200 daily vehicle visits set strict requirements for an access control system. “The whole transaction process has to be smooth and quick, and information about vehicles and cargo has to be instantly conveyed between different systems,” says Jarkko Jousmäki from Tokmanni logistics.

During the last few years, unprecedented challenges in the supply chain have set strict demands for planning logistics operations. Specifically, this means requiring better visibility and control of the arriving flow of cargo.

“For the new logistics center, we wanted an automated gate that can be remotely controlled from the manned gatehouse in the existing facility. This process would enable us to close the freight office that was used previously,” Jousmäki tells. Developing the supply chain together with the new access control model set the need for acquiring a suitable and modern system.

Distribution center access control system requirements

Tokmanni began defining their requirements for the new distribution center access control system well ahead of the project; factoring in not just current operational needs, but the changes that would come with their new logistics center under construction.

“We defined our own vision of how the system should work and what it needed to do. We also took into account the evolving supply chain environment and started actively surveying potential suppliers and solutions,” says Jousmäki.

The search quickly revealed that experienced suppliers in this space are few. For Tokmanni, the supplier’s background mattered.

“We felt that the supplier’s nationality was a particularly important factor for the success of the project, especially when it comes to support, maintenance and the long-term development of the solution. But the most important factor for us was that the chosen system was already in use by significant domestic operators.”

Visy stood out from the first contact.

“After we found Visy, things moved quickly. There was already a solution that largely matched our needs, already running in several locations in Finland. Right from the start, Visy’s experience in access control was clear – we spoke the same language. Our wishes and customization requirements didn’t seem impossible. A solution was found for everything.”

Visy Access Gate connects directly with Tokmanni’s ERP system, linking shipments and system references automatically. Drivers register shipments through Visy’s web portal using a valid reference number – that reference is managed in the ERP and transferred to Visy’s system, where an appointment is created once all information matches across both platforms.

Transportation history data flows back from Visy to Tokmanni, giving the team accurate records of realized unloading times and a clear comparison between scheduled and actual vehicle arrivals.

The delivery and commissioning progressed smoothly, built on close collaboration with Tokmanni from the start. Weekly follow-up meetings throughout the project kept the system precisely aligned with Tokmanni’s needs as requirements evolved.

“Visy has a really good understanding of what we want from the system, as well as the expertise and equipment that comprehensive traffic automation demands. Installations and project management have also been handled with professionalism,” Jousmäki says.