{"id":1029280,"date":"2025-04-08T08:46:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T07:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/?p=1029280"},"modified":"2025-04-08T10:07:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T09:07:28","slug":"the-cloud-as-an-engine-more-innovation-at-lower-cost-for-afry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/work-productivity-sv-se\/na\/the-cloud-as-an-engine-more-innovation-at-lower-cost-for-afry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cloud as an Engine: More Innovation at Lower Cost for AFRY"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"intro\">Two years ago, AFRY set out with a vision to create the world\u2019s most optimized cloud platform in Azure. Today, AFRY saves up to several weeks of time and can measure its carbon emissions down to the service level without higher costs.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Cloud as an Engine: More Innovation at Lower Cost for AFRY\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/LtfzdPieZbw?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:%2F%2Fpulse.microsoft.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>How do you scale a global IT platform without the cost and climate impact spiraling out of control? The answer for AFRY, an engineering and design company with 18,000 employees in over 50 countries, was a strategic investment in Microsoft Azure.<\/p>\n<p>As a leading industry, energy, and infrastructure player, the company sees digitalization and the green transition as inseparable.<br \/>\n\u201cWe have a mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society,\u201d says Sara Lindstrand, AFRY\u2019s Director of Sustainability.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u201cThe World\u2019s Most Optimized Platform\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>To succeed, AFRY set a clear vision for its cloud platform.<br \/>\n\u201cWe aimed to build the world\u2019s most optimized platform. We started measuring carbon emissions and costs down to the service level. We developed a strategy focused on continuously optimizing and retiring unnecessary services,\u201d says Victor Lysell, Director of IT Architecture &amp; Platform.<\/p>\n<p>AFRY has been using Azure for several years, but the company has only recently adopted a more structured approach.<br \/>\n\u201cWe started by looking at our development platform, which we\u2019ve always strived to keep efficient and modern. We then expanded that mindset across the organization,\u201d says Lysell.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1029338\" src=\"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-1820x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1024\" data-contrast=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-1820x1024.jpg 1820w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-300x169.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-768x432.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_2-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Lower Emissions and Greater Cost Efficiency<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The result has been both reduced carbon emissions and significant cost savings.<br \/>\n\u201cIt\u2019s about doing things right from the start. We need a sustainable platform to deliver sustainable solutions to our customers and colleagues,\u201d he says, and continues,<br \/>\n\u201cThe math is simple. The more technical resources used in a cloud platform, the more expensive and environmentally impactful it becomes. Cost-efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand, and only using resources when needed contributes to our success.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sara Lindstrand sees AFRY\u2019s IT department as taking essential steps toward AFRY\u2019s overarching climate target of halving its CO\u2082 emissions by 2030.<br \/>\n\u201cIT has been a forerunner in integrating climate into the areas they manage. The work provides valuable insights that help us make informed decisions in our client projects,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Azure Enables Flexibility and Scalability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Peter Wallberg, cloud architect at AFRY, develops the technical aspects of AFRY\u2019s cloud platform in Microsoft Azure. He sees flexibility as one of Azure\u2019s most significant advantages.<br \/>\n\u201cWe need a solution that can scale and adapt to our needs. Azure enables us to grow without costs spiraling,\u201d says Wallberg.<\/p>\n<p>Today, AFRY runs internal systems and customer projects in Azure.<br \/>\n\u201cWe have everything from development and test environments to full production environments,\u201d Wallberg says.<\/p>\n<p>The company is also developing commercial solutions in which Azure plays a central role.<br \/>\n\u201cWe sell products through the Azure Marketplace. Much of our AI investment is also tied to Azure,\u201d says Lysell.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1029383\" src=\"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-1820x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1024\" data-contrast=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-1820x1024.jpg 1820w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-300x169.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-768x432.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_3-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Cloud-First Evaluation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Currently, about half of AFRY\u2019s IT infrastructure is cloud-based. However, the company follows a clear cloud-first strategy, meaning it evaluates cloud solutions before anything else.<br \/>\n\u201cWe always consider using cloud solutions first unless there are legal or customer-specific reasons to do otherwise,\u201d says Lysell.<\/p>\n<p>Two years have passed since AFRY set its vision to create the world\u2019s most optimized cloud platform. The benefits are already apparent.<br \/>\n\u201cWe managed to grow 20\u201330% in Azure without costs increasing. At one point, we even reduced them,\u201d says Lysell.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Accurate Climate Data Creates Business Value<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>AFRY now measures carbon emissions at the service level in Azure to get better insight into its IT environment\u2019s climate performance.<br \/>\n\u201cIf we are working on an integration or a storage solution, we can technically see its climate impact,\u201d says Lysell.<\/p>\n<p>The ability to assess precise climate data is becoming increasingly important in customer relationships.<br \/>\n\u201cIn our client pre-qualifications, we hear growing demands to demonstrate how we work with sustainability, and this is where our carbon footprint and proven emission reductions are crucial,\u201d says Lindstrand.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1029604\" src=\"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-1820x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1024\" data-contrast=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-1820x1024.jpg 1820w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-300x169.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-768x432.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/25_03_AFRY_8-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Faster Implementation with Azure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The time savings enabled by the new cloud platform are also substantial.<br \/>\n\u201cSetting up a new system in Azure now takes hours instead of the days or weeks it used to,\u201d says Wallberg.<\/p>\n<p>The gains are already significant, but Lysell sees continued potential for improvement.<br \/>\n\u201cThe future is about further optimization\u2014better analysis, more gamification of CO\u2082 data, and getting everyone to understand their climate impact,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u201cOur Expertise and Digital Business Are Our Business\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Sara Lindstrand emphasizes how AFRY\u2019s digital strategy supports its business development and sustainability goals.<br \/>\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have factories or physical products. Our expertise and digital environments are our business. Our work with the cloud platform is a clear example of how sustainability efforts create business value,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Lysell also offers advice to other organizations on similar digital transformation journeys.<br \/>\n\u201cDon\u2019t overcomplicate things. Do the fundamentals right and automate as much as possible. That will take you far,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two years ago, AFRY set out with a vision to create the world\u2019s most optimized cloud platform in Azure. Today, AFRY saves up to several weeks of time and can measure its carbon emissions down to the service level without higher costs. How do you scale a global IT platform without the cost and climate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":889,"featured_media":1029293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1814],"class_list":["post-1029280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-customer-stories-sv-se","specials-work-productivity-sv-se","stories-hur-hittar-jag-mina-dokument","stories-access-everywhere-sv-se","businessPriorities-applications-infrastructure-sv-se"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029280"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/889"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1029280"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1030897,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029280\/revisions\/1030897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1029293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1029280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1029280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}