Husqvarna Group Boosts Operational Efficiency with Azure Adaptive Cloud

Husqvarna Group faced increasing pressure to modernize its fragmented global infrastructure, gain real-time operational insights, and improve efficiency across its supply chain to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital and manufacturing landscape.

Husqvarna Group implemented a suite of Microsoft Azure solutions—including Azure Arc, Azure IoT Operations, and Azure OpenAI—to unify cloud and on-premises systems, enable real-time data insights, and drive innovation across global manufacturing operations.

With Azure, Husqvarna Group achieved 98% faster data deployment and 50% lower infrastructure imaging costs, while improving productivity, reducing downtime, and enabling real-time insights across a growing network of smart, connected factories.

Founded in 1689, Husqvarna Group is one of the world’s oldest continuously operating companies. Known for its innovative spirit, the Swedish-based brand has evolved across centuries, manufacturing everything from rifles and sewing machines to motorcycles. It now makes world-class outdoor products for forest, park, and garden care, as well as equipment and diamond tools for the construction industry. That breadth of experience is more than just history — it’s a defining part of Husqvarna Group today.

“We have a proud tradition of innovation across many different product areas, and that legacy really shapes our culture,” says Daniel Johansson, Sr. Global Process & Digitization Lead at Husqvarna Forest and Garden Division. “It’s created an environment where people are curious, forward-thinking, and have the freedom to explore new ideas."

Yet for a global giant like Husqvarna Group, operations remain complex. Running a sprawling network of factories, supply chains, and distribution channels, the company needed a technology infrastructure capable of keeping pace. Legacy systems, once robust, had become fragmented and unable to deliver the real-time data insights and responsiveness required to thrive in today’s hyper-connected marketplace. Every step in the production process, from raw materials to final products, needed to be aligned for maximum efficiency and precision.

“To digitally transform operations at scale, we needed to overcome hurdles like disconnected systems and siloed data," says Johansson. "We needed technology solutions powerful and robust enough to manage our global complexity while flexible enough to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure."

The company’s spirit of collaboration and ingenuity is now guiding it into its next chapter. Amid a digital era defined by rapid innovation and intense competition, Husqvarna Group has embarked on a transformative cloud journey—reshaping its operations into a more agile, connected digital ecosystem. With Azure, Husqvarna Group found a platform capable of supporting them in the journey to digital transform operations from the factory floor to the customer’s doorstep. Azure’s scalable, integrated ecosystem enabled rapid collection, analysis, and actionable insights, empowering Husqvarna Group to boost productivity, optimize its global supply chain, and drive significant cost savings.

A Unified Approach Across Cloud and On-Premises

One of Husqvarna Group´s first challenges was uniting its fragmented technology landscape. Spanning public cloud, hybrid, and edge environments, the company’s infrastructure required more cohesion. Azure’s adaptive cloud approach ensured that Husqvarna Group didn’t need to rip and replace existing systems—preserving investments while accelerating innovation.

"We didn't just want incremental improvements," Johansson explains. "We aimed for transformative change—building a technology backbone that could support growth and innovation far into the future."

Husqvarna Group has partnered closely with Microsoft, adopting technologies such as Azure Arc, Azure IoT Operations, and Azure OpenAI Service. Azure Arc, in particular, enabling Husqvarna Group to extend Azure services to any infrastructure, breaking down traditional silos and harmonizing cloud-based and on-premises operations. This approach is not just unifying systems—it is fostering greater collaboration across teams.

Yet technology alone isn’t enough. Johansson noted the necessity of cultural alignment: “Integrating advanced solutions requires teams across the globe to adopt new ways of working. Clear communication and collaboration are just as vital as the technology itself.”

The transformation wasn’t simply about deploying the latest cloud technologies. It required fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability within the organization. Workshops, training sessions, and strategic consultations became essential tools in ensuring Husqvarna Group’s workforce could maximize the potential of its new Azure-powered infrastructure. Johansson adds, "You can have the best technology in the world, but if your teams aren’t on board, it’s not going to work."

Unlocking Real-Time Efficiency with IoT and AI

Azure IoT Operations played a pivotal role in Husqvarna Group’s transformation. Initially launched in two factories, the system is now poised for global deployment. The move illustrates the company’s aggressive ambition to harness the full potential of IoT and AI, providing unprecedented visibility into operational performance.

With Azure IoT Operations, Husqvarna Group can analyze data right at the edge—in real-time—transforming the way they approach problems and efficiency.

In addition to IoT Operations, services like Azure Machine Learning, and Azure Databricks enable predictive analytics and decision-making that are improving manufacturing productivity and reducing downtime. Factories will no longer simply react to issues—they will anticipate them, dramatically boosting operational agility. "When you can identify potential issues before they become problems, you’re not just saving money—you’re changing the entire dynamic of how we operate," adds Johansson.

“We needed technology solutions powerful and robust enough to manage our global complexity while flexible enough to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.”

Daniel Johansson, Sr. Global Process & Digitization Lead, Husqvarna Group

Factory Companion Reinventing Workplace Efficiency

Perhaps the most illustrative example of Husqvarna Group’s new digital capabilities is the Factory Companion powered by Azure OpenAI Service. This AI-driven chatbot serves as an essential tool for all teams at the factory, delivering instant troubleshooting guidance based on historical maintenance data as well as machine documentation and instructions. The Factory Companion exemplifies the proactive approach enabled by Azure, moving Husqvarna Group from reactive maintenance toward predictive care.

“If a machine stops working, the Factory companion can immediately provide detailed guidance,” Johansson explains. "Soon, it will anticipate potential failures before they even occur, transforming operational efficiency across our entire network."

The Factory Companion will significantly reduce downtime and increase productivity. The company plans to further enhance the bot’s capabilities, that will allow it to improve its troubleshooting skills over time.

Collaboration as a Catalyst

Central to Husqvarna Group’s success has been its collaborative partnership with Microsoft. Azure's flexible approach allowed Husqvarna Group to tailor solutions specifically to their needs, ensuring technology enhancements directly aligned with real-world operational challenges.

"Many features of the Azure ecosystem were developed directly from feedback provided," says Johansson. "The close partnership allowed them to shape the technology around our actual operational challenges.

The collaboration aimed to co-create solutions. Regular feedback loops between Husqvarna Group’s operational teams and Microsoft’s experts ensured that Azure’s tools were customized to fit the unique needs of any manufacturing powerhouse.

In terms of future use of autonomous agents, Husqvarna Group looks forward to Factory Companion eventually moving beyond its “reactive” current state and communicating with the machinery on the shopfloor, proactively supporting their operational personnel to accomplish tasks and goals.

“We didn’t just want incremental improvements. We aimed for transformative change—building a technology backbone that could support growth and innovation far into the future.”

Daniel Johansson, Sr. Global Process & Digitization Lead, Husqvarna Group

Future-Proofing with Azure

The benefits Husqvarna Group has already realized from its Azure journey—enhanced supply chain management, reduced costs, increased agility, and building cloud-native apps and modern AI apps in Azure and deploying them to the edge in their facility—are just the beginning.

According to Johansson, this partnership extends beyond immediate operational improvements. "We're laying the groundwork not only to address current challenges but also to remain innovative in the future. Azure provides the foundation we need for long-term growth."

Husqvarna Group’s ambitious transformation is a testament to how strategic, integrated technology investments can redefine operational excellence. From real-time IoT analytics on factory floors to intelligent AI-driven support bots, Azure is supporting Husqvarna Group to achieve continuous innovation. As the pace of manufacturing accelerates, this foundation ensures the company can adapt faster, experiment more boldly, and remain ahead of the curve.

At its core, Husqvarna Group’s innovation strategy is about better serving its customers. By driving greater operational efficiency through cutting-edge technologies, the company can efficiently deliver the right products. Azure plays a key role in enabling this vision—providing a secure, agile environment for innovation and global collaboration, which ultimately facilitates Husqvarna Group to deliver a better customer experience.

Just as it has for over 300 years, Husqvarna Group continues to evolve—this time, with Azure as its catalyst for its next industrial revolution.

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