Creating an intelligent measurement infrastructure - a Vaisala Echo interview

The newly launched Vaisala Echo is an intelligent measurement infrastructure that solves the main challenges of indoor environmental and process measurements. It’s designed for easy installation, integration and operation. Echo gives you easy, reliable, always-on access to data and alerts, so you can stay in control.

The Vaisala blog team recently spoke with Vaisala’s Software Product Manager, Mr. Jarno Mitjonen to discover how Vaisala is making life easier through simpler access to measurement data and insights. 

Question: So could you open up the Echo philosophy a bit, how did it all get started?

Jarno Mitjonen: “We believe you should have access to all the measurement data you need, when and where you need it, including on the move. We believe your focus should be on your business, not on setting up or managing measurement systems. 

That’s why we designed Echo to be both robust and flexible, so that it is in tune with industrial manufacturing needs, pharma and laboratories, museums and archives, indoor and vertical farming, and more – virtually any business with critical assets.”

Q: So what is Vaisala Echo, really? 

J.M.: “In fact, you might want to think of Echo like you think about Bluetooth™ — a system that guarantees that all compatible devices can talk to one another. You wouldn't simply go online to buy "buy an Echo" just like you wouldn't "buy a Bluetooth". Instead, you pick what you need based on your measurement, oversight and reporting needs — and Vaisala guarantees all instruments talk to one another, securely, without glitches. That's the Echo philosophy.

With Echo the days of manually setting up indoor monitoring systems are over. It's time to enjoy peace of mind and get connected, securely.”

Q: What about ESG goals, how can Echo help with those? 

J.M.: “Building an infrastructure that enables reporting environmental data without excess hassle has been a key requirement for us from the get-go. When your reporting duties include ESG issues – and which company’s duties wouldn’t – Vaisala Echo is your friend. 

A major benefit of Echo is the easy and convenient access to comprehensive reporting – current and historic. And that’s critical for ESG. So, if you need to check if you actually reached your sustainability targets last year or this year, Echo can help. 

Echo’s reporting on ambient conditions is also real-time and proactive, so you won’t have to go back and find excuses on why a facility under your control spent too much on e.g. heating or cooling.”

Q: What about sustainability in general?

J.M.: “Vaisala as a company has one purpose – to take every measure for the planet. That’s at the heart of Echo as well. We can help global enterprises compare and benchmark geographically separated sites whether warehouses, factories or other. This makes it easy not just to spot anomalies, but also to take appropriate action to meet corporate targets. Whether through training and education or making technical changes at your locations and premises.

Also, having your data remotely accessible online conveniently cuts down on wasting resources, not the least being the travel time between multiple sites to check measurement data and verifying it for insights. Minutes or hours per day really adds to days and weeks over a year.“

Q: And who is Echo for, could you elaborate a bit?

J.M.: “Any business or facility can ensure the efficiency, safety, traceability and even sustainability of their operation easily with Echo. It’s a complete solution, where all compatible Vaisala products operate easily together, are easy to set up with guaranteed plug-and-play connectivity to deliver the measurement data that you need. 

Although what’s measured may vary, the very critical needs of businesses in vastly different fields are quite close to each other. What is necessary for large industrial manufacturers is also necessary for archives, museums. And what’s important for, say, calibration laboratories is also important for next-generation agriculture. Because of how flexible Echo is, we confidently cater to all these – and more.

All users will enjoy improved productivity, easier set-up and installation, and the peace of mind that comes from always knowing what is happening. This leads to better engagement with the actual work, monitoring, and reporting that you need to carry out.”

Q: What about security? How secure is the Echo infrastructure?

J.M.: “We’ve built Echo to be secure from the get-go. All data is encrypted in transit and rest and secured with authenticated certificates. Echo also includes remote firmware updates for all connected devices. And one wouldn’t think of it as a security feature – but that’s what it is. In today’s world, you have to be able to update your connected devices when the need arises. The result is upgraded security over the whole lifecycle of your infrastructure. 

This is really also the point when you need to consider that your infrastructure partner, whomever you choose, can guarantee the security of your devices and that they will run the way you need them to run over their entire operational life. I would say that with our almost 90 years of experience in the field, we do have an edge there. “

Q: Any last words? 

J.M.: “I think that’s the short and sweet of it. Just to conclude, I think it’s worthwhile to reiterate that we believe you should be able to pick the measurement devices you need and trust them to work out of the box. 

That's why Echo is made to deliver you the instruments and intelligence you need in one package. No complicated setups, no heavy IT work. Just plug-and-play.”

Q: ”Thank you.”

JM: “Thank you.”