At Voyantic, the People and Culture team builds the foundation for success by fostering a workplace where employees feel valued and supported. As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024, its people-first approach remains at the heart of its growth journey.

Päivi Nikkinen, Voyantic’s HR Director, reflects on the company’s evolution. “I joined when there were only 17 of us, and today, we’re a team of 50,” she says. Since its acquisition by an American public company, Voyantic has continued its impressive growth journey. 

Päivi and her colleague Jennie Laine built the HR function from the ground up, creating an environment where people thrive professionally and personally. “We aim to be a workplace where everyone has a chance to grow,” Päivi shares.

Jennie, who was drawn to Voyantic’s strong work culture, explains: “After experiencing unhealthy workplaces, I truly appreciate how this company values its people.”  Voyantic’s investment in its employees shows. The organization earned the Great Place to Work certification in 2022, reflecting its dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. 

Employees are encouraged to participate in different projects, with an open-door policy enabling them to learn across teams. “Professional growth is a top priority here,” Jennie adds. “No title stays the same for long; we evolve alongside the company.”

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are integral to Voyantic’s culture. They ensure that every employee feels valued and supported. The company actively promotes initiatives to celebrate individuality while fostering community.

In anonymous surveys, employees rate Voyantic’s leadership highly, pointing to strong trust in their leaders and CEO. Päivi highlights the importance of inclusivity: “Our working language is English, and we maintain this standard to ensure accessibility for everyone.” Beyond language, the organization’s diversity approach is visible in daily practices and strategic initiatives.

Voyantic’s women’s group exemplifies its commitment to inclusion. “It provides a safe space to share experiences and offers peer support,” says Jennie. Recruitment practices also reflect these values, with diverse panels ensuring fairness and representation. 

“Even small changes can make a big difference,” she notes. The company’s alignment with its parent organization has further strengthened its DEI efforts. Initiatives such as support groups for women in tech, Black employees, and LGBTQ+ communities highlight its progressive stance.

The company’s culture connection group ensures that values remain strong during growth. “We celebrate diversity,” Päivi says. “Measuring the experiences of minority employees helps us create an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.”

Looking Ahead with Finnish Roots

As Voyantic celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary, it remains deeply connected to its Finnish heritage while growing as an international leader.

Voyantic’s celebrations in 2024 will feature partnerships with local, eco-friendly businesses, such as Finnish craft breweries, reflecting its commitment to sustainability. While proud of its roots, the company embraces change as it transitions from a small, close-knit team to a global organization. HR plays a central role in this evolution. “We focus on guiding people through change while keeping communication open,” Jennie explains.

Päivi emphasizes the importance of shared creation during this journey: “Together, we’re building something meaningful. When our people succeed, the company succeeds.” Voyantic’s story is one of continuous growth, blending Finnish values with global ambitions. With a focus on its employees and culture, it’s well-positioned to thrive for decades to come.

HR plays a pivotal role in guiding the company through growth and change. “Adaptability and open communication keep us on track,” Jennie emphasizes. For Päivi, HR’s mission is simple: “We’re here to help people thrive because when our people grow, so does Voyantic.”

Voyantic is celebrating 20 years of innovation and success this year, marking two decades since its founding. To commemorate this milestone, one of the company’s founders, Jukka Voutilainen, tells the story behind Voyantic’s growth, the challenges overcome, and the vision that has guided the company to where it stands today.

In 2004, two researchers, Jukka Voutilainen and Juho Partanen, had an idea that would change their lives and the field of RFID technology. Working at Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University), the researchers discussed smart packaging and RF sensors when a spontaneous coffee table conversation sparked the idea for a system supporting RFID tag development. 

“We came up with the idea of starting a company over coffee in 2004. Coming from a research background, I found it relatively easy to decide to start the company. I thought the worst that could happen was that I’d learn a lot in the process,” Jukka recalls smiling.

Early Challenges and Strategic Shifts

In the early stages, challenges emerged quickly, and many issues needed to be solved before the company could take off.

“We thought the first challenge would be securing funding to get things started, but it turned out that clarifying the business idea was the most important task,” Jukka remembers. 

Jukka and Juho focused on crystallizing their business idea, and the hard work paid off: They secured funding from Business Finland, which was a crucial step in starting a new company.

The first years at Voyantic were full of learning and strategic shifts. One of the most significant turning points came in 2008-2009 when the company experienced a eureka moment and began to broaden its product offerings to larger markets. 

“Initially, our devices were intended for engineers and RFID tag developers, but we realized that the market for production testing was much larger. Indeed, production testing makes the most of our business today,” Jukka explains.

Leadership Lessons and Giving Up on Control

One of the most crucial lessons was understanding that a company needs different types of expertise at various stages. Jukka says understanding this was essential for the company’s growth and thriving.

“New types of expertise are continuously needed as the company grows. Leadership and the organization need to be renewed, and we’ve been successful in finding new roles for people within the company,” he explains. 

Jukka emphasizes that a leader must recognize when organizational changes are needed and be ready to make them, even if challenging. He admits that it never becomes easy; making changes is still as challenging as it used to be in the company’s early stages. Nevertheless, it needs to be done.

“Often, in hindsight, it seems obvious that a certain change was necessary, but at the moment, it can feel difficult,” Jukka says.

However, it wasn’t the only important lesson Jukka learned as a CEO. Reflecting on his learning experiences, Jukka shares that he initially felt a strong need for control. 

“At first, control felt extremely important, but over time, I’ve learned to delegate more responsibility to people. Micromanaging is not the path to a successful outcome. Finding the right people and giving them responsibility is key to success,” he notes. 

This shift in mindset has helped Jukka grow as a leader and focus on strategic core areas like fostering company culture and ensuring strong leadership throughout the organization.

A Culture of Customer Care

According to Jukka, the company’s success is rooted in its team and commitment to customer care. Without these two elements, the company wouldn’t be one of the industry’s frontrunners.

“We have a strong culture of always looking after our customers. This is critical, especially in an industry where everyone knows everyone,” he highlights. 

This team and customer-centric approach has been a distinguishing factor for Voyantic in the competitive landscape. One of Jukka’s most memorable moments was when the company was recognized as one of the top workplaces in Finland for small businesses. 

“Developing company culture has been a passion of mine for a long time, and this achievement was significant to me,” Jukka shares proudly.

Looking ahead, Jukka envisions exciting prospects on the horizon. The merger with a leading American company has opened the door to even greater possibilities.

“We are now part of the American company Impinj, which brings us many opportunities. We’re just at the beginning of where this industry is heading, and we are in a prime position to be part of it,” he concludes.

This year marks a significant milestone for Voyantic, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Founded two decades ago, Voyantic has become a pioneer in its field, driving innovation and excellence. To honour this special occasion, one of the company’s founders, Juho Partanen, shares insights into the company’s journey, achievements, and lessons learned along the way.

The essential GS1 UHF Gen2 protocol was published in 2004, launching the RFID industry practically. Juho Partanen and Jukka Voutilainen, two researchers collaborating at the Laboratory of Applied Electronics at the Helsinki University of Technology, recognized the immense potential of their expertise.

“We established  Voyantic because we saw an opportunity to turn research-driven knowledge into a scalable and profitable business,” Juho recalls.

This began Voyantic’s journey — from academic research to a thriving global business.

Early Stages: From Research to Business

In the early 2000s, RFID technology was still in its infancy. At the Helsinki University of Technology, Juho and Jukka were deeply involved in corporate collaboration projects that explored smart packaging technologies, with RFID as a central focus. 

“It was an exciting time for us young researchers, being part of projects that put us at the forefront of new technology,” Juho reminisces.

As these projects concluded, partnering companies started asking questions about the measurement technology applied during the research phase. 

“That was when Jukka and I looked at each other, realizing we had stumbled on a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Juho notes. 

They spent the next few years studying the market and refining their business plan. In late 2004, they established their company, secured funding, and launched the business. 

“It was truly a leap from research to business — a moment where we decided to put all our knowledge and energy on the line,” Juho says.

Company Culture and Competitive Edge

A strong focus on technology initially drove the company’s growth, but as Juho points out, the real competitive advantage lies in its corporate culture. 

“We’ve always strongly committed to staying close to our customers and listening to their evolving needs. That’s what sets us apart,” he explains. 

The company has operated globally from the beginning, with scalability as a core principle. 

“It should not make a difference if our client is in China, the U.S., or Finland — the quality of the customer experience is always the same.”

Voyantic’s innovation can be seen in its adaptability to shifting customer demands. 

“Initially, our products were engineered to meet the requirements of RFID tag designers. But as our customers became more skilled with the technology, they started requesting solutions for production processes. This led us to develop a production quality tester and thus expand our footprint in the industry,” Juho shares.

Commitment to Sustainability and Emerging Trends

Sustainability and responsibility are integral to the company’s strategy. 

“We aim to be an environmentally responsible corporation, providing solutions that boost productivity and reduce waste,” Juho emphasizes. 

Company management closely monitors market trends such as circular economy practices and increased automation. 

“We must stay alert because our customers’ needs and operational environments constantly evolve. RFID technology, prevalent in the B2B space, might soon expand into consumer markets as digital product passports become ubiquitous. This will open up entirely new opportunities,” he envisions.

“We must stay alert because our customers’ needs and operational environments constantly evolve.”

A Future Driven by Innovation

At Voyantic, the innovation process is flexible and involves the entire team. 

“We don’t have a dedicated innovation team, but we do have a process that captures and evaluates new ideas. Anyone can make an invention disclosure, and that’s where it all starts,” Juho explains. 

This approach has led to numerous significant innovations over the years.

Looking ahead, Juho foresees significant changes, such as the growing importance of cybersecurity and the expansion of RFID into consumer markets. 

“The future is full of possibilities. We must develop new solutions to meet these changing needs, leading our business and company to grow. That’s what keeps us moving and inspired every day,” he concludes.