Gothenburg
Since the turn of the year, Mikael Zachrisson has been the new consulting manager at ForestX.
– The company has a clear vision. It’s not just talk; things actually happen, says Mikael Zachrisson.
As a newly graduated forester in the 1990s, Mikael Zachrisson immediately began working with the emerging technologies of the time, such as early digital maps. He has continued that path ever since, working at the intersection of forestry and IT. Over the years, he has been employed by companies such as VMData, Skogssällskapet – where he served as both timber manager and CEO – and TietoEvry.
Now, Mikael Zachrisson will lead ForestX’s business developers and project managers. His responsibilities include supporting and developing the team’s work, recruiting new employees, and contributing to ongoing projects.
– I really enjoy following a project from start to finish—being involved early to capture customer value and then seeing how our work benefits them and leads to an efficient process, says Mikael Zachrisson.
ForestX: Right for the times
He is also joining the management team, where he will collaborate with other executives on the business development of ForestX.
– ForestX is spot on for the industry right now. We work very close to operations, focusing on forestry, IT, and the processes I am passionate about and have worked with extensively.
– The company also has a clear vision. It’s not just talk; things actually happen. ForestX delivers tangible benefits to the forestry sector, and that’s what I want to contribute to. It’s both exciting and important.
Challenges and future issues
He sees that the forestry industry is currently facing major challenges, with raw material availability becoming an increasingly critical issue.
– The entire industry is competing for raw materials. Politics, the EU, and public opinion also play a big role and impose demands.
How the industry plans for and manages future challenges will be crucial:
– There will be greater demands for data collection and reporting. We need to have a more detailed understanding of what is in the forest already at the planning stage and how the industry can optimize resource utilization. There will also be increased requirements to document and report all of this.
He sees digitalization as a key enabler but emphasizes the need for a strategic approach and deep knowledge of forestry and industry-specific issues.
– What benefits do our efforts provide, and what is the quality of the underlying data? We also need to be able to assess the value of what we do.
Fact box:
Name:
Mikael Zachrisson
Title:
Consulting Manager (and Business Consultant)
Favorite tree:
Beech – such a beautiful tree from sapling to fully grown. An old oak is impressive, but honestly quite ugly when young.
Best nature experience:
Having a cup of coffee on some challenging mountain peak in Sarek, together with a like-minded adventurer.
Most-used apps:
Omni News, Instagram, Camera
Three bookmarks in my browser:
Unfortunately, nothing more exciting than a bunch of work-related bookmarks.
