At the heart of our fight against food waste is our data team. They help us make smarter choices, ensuring every decision is backed by solid and insightful data. Curious about how they make this happen? Let's hear from our Chief Data Officer, Henri Saksi.
"Data has always appealed to me because it allows us to make informed decisions and solve real problems", says Chief Data Officer Henri Saksi when asked about his interests in data.
Henri leads our data team with enthusiasm and deep expertise. He joined us in 2018, at a time when most of our data work revolved around Excel spreadsheets. "It was an exciting opportunity for me to start and build data systems from scratch," he remembers.
"A data-led approach is essential for reducing food waste. Without data, we wouldn't even know where our challenges are, let alone how to address them."
Now, six years later, Henri and his team have elevated our data capabilities to new heights. "When I joined, it was all about building systems that we could scale as our business grows," he explains. Thanks to these foundations, we're now well-equipped to tackle food waste with a data-led approach.
"A data-led approach is essential for reducing food waste. Without data, we wouldn't even know where our challenges are, let alone how to address them," Henri points out.
The purpose of the data team, as Henri puts it, is simple yet impactful: “Our goal is to enable data-driven decision-making across the company.” From building and maintaining sophisticated data systems to delivering actionable insights through dashboards, the team ensures that our data is not only accessible but ready to be transformed into better decisions.
In the fight against food waste, data helps us to:
It’s safe to say that everyone in our Foodello-Fiksuruoka team takes pride in how we use data – thanks to Henri and his team! "We have a wide coverage of the data we use. All our data resides in one place, giving us a complete view of our business and its various functions. This holistic approach allows us to base most decisions firmly on data," Henri explains.
One example of a challenge and a highlight for Henri and the data team was our expansion into the Netherlands in 2022. "Internationalization demanded a whole new approach to our datasets. We had to redesign and scale our data systems for multiple markets, which was an exciting and rewarding challenge”, Henri explains.
Henri and his team of three talented individuals are the backbone of our data-driven decision-making, supporting teams across all our markets. "Each member brings their unique expertise to the table, and together, we make data work for the entire company,” says Henri.
Here’s a quick look at the key roles within the data team:
These experts specialize in their own area, working independently while solving bigger challenges together. "I completely trust my team’s expertise,” says Henri. With their combined expertise, the team tackles data quality, availability, and analytics, ensuring all decisions are informed by solid data. "Having a dedicated data team isn't just a nice-to-have – it’s a game-changer. It's what sets us apart and helps reduce food waste”, Henri says.
"Having a dedicated data team isn't just a nice-to-have – it’s a game-changer.”
“We operate with a clear structure, holding weekly meetings to discuss progress and priorities. Each team member has a short one-on-one session with me every week to review their tasks and any challenges they might face”, Henri explains. In addition, the team uses the OKR model to align their focus with company goals, ensuring precision in decision-making – just like every other team at Foodello–Fiksuruoka!
To ensure accuracy and reliability in their data operations, the team uses a variety of modern tools:
"We make sure to stay ahead with the right tools to meet changing needs," Henri adds, emphasizing the team's commitment to innovation and adaptability.
#1 Making logistics run smoother
The logistics department leverages data to enhance their processes, supported by data and dashboards from the data team. "If they notice, for example, an increase in customer complaints about damaged products during delivery, they take action and improve packaging and handling process, which means less waste," Henri says.
#2 Helping procurement make smart purchases
By providing the procurement team with access to detailed data on product demand, the data team helps them make better decisions. “ This way, the procurement team knows how to optimize purchases,” Henri explains.
#3 Working together across different teams
The data team collaborates with every part of the company to make the biggest impact. “Our work matters to everyone, from leadership to team members. We aren’t just providing data somewhere in the background – we are at the core of the fight against food waste.”
"We aren’t just providing data somewhere in the background – we are at the core of the fight against food waste.”