Data-Driven Forestry: How SVEZA Is Digitizing Russia’s Timber Industry
The timber group SVEZA not only develops its own IT solutions but also shares best practices with other industry players, supporting the development of digital skills and the adoption of Russian technologies.
One example is the rollout of a suite of digital tools at SVEZA’s mill in the settlement of Uralsky in Perm Krai. The system combines machine vision, automated raw-material intake and satellite monitoring of logging operations.
Among the most advanced technologies is a veneer peeling defect scanner developed and patented by SVEZA. Cameras detect deviations at an early stage and transmit data to operators. The system processes veneer sheets at speeds of up to 250 meters per minute. Digitalization has increased the share of premium-grade finished products by up to 15 percent, while the selection rate of face veneer layers can exceed 30 percent. Machine-vision systems have also been installed on drying lines, helping the mill increase the share of higher-grade output by more than 20 percent in 2025.
The new technologies have also strengthened workplace safety by reducing human error and the risks associated with it. Infrared cameras monitor hazardous zones around cooking vats and eliminate blind spots for cranes during loading operations. At the raw-material intake area, an automated scanning frame equipped with cameras and laser sensors inspects incoming timber deliveries.
The system scans every batch of wood, determining length, width, thickness and volume before automatically sending the data to accounting systems. Previously, a controller spent about half an hour measuring a single truckload. Now the process takes only a few minutes. Logging operations are monitored through GLONASS sensors installed on equipment used by Sveza Resurs. The system tracks routes, loading levels and harvesting volumes in real time. These data streams are integrated with the Federal State Information System of the Forest Complex, allowing companies and regulators to trace timber from the logging site to the final product.
Transforming a Traditional Industry into a High-Tech Business
The SVEZA Group is one of the leading companies in Russia’s wood-processing sector. In 2024 the group established a new division called SvezaSmartLine, which focuses on developing machine-vision technologies, automation tools and digital systems for manufacturing.
As the business expanded and operational complexity increased, the group consolidated several internal projects into a single program built around three systems: customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise content management (ECM) and supplier relationship management (SRM). All three operate on the ELMA 365 platform.
The company also built a full low-code development cycle, reducing the time required to launch new modules from two months to one. Particular attention has been paid to data quality and information security.
One of the most notable tools is a digital decision board based on ELMA 365. The system records and analyzes production deviations, identifies recurring problems and facilitates the exchange of best practices between facilities. It has become an important component of SVEZA’s continuous-improvement framework, where accumulated data supports forecasting and management decisions.
A unified procurement platform now connects all stages of purchasing, from the initial request to final delivery. This approach accelerates procedures and improves collaboration with suppliers. All these technological initiatives are combined within a strategic program aimed at transitioning the company to data-driven decisionmaking.
After evaluating the effectiveness of its ECM modules, SVEZA’s IT team began developing a digital version of the problem-solving board used in lean manufacturing. The system will be connected to the SAP platform to monitor equipment conditions. Integration with a corporate knowledge-sharing system is also planned, where best practices will be stored once operational issues have been resolved.
Russian Software for the Timber Industry
The practical experience gained from SVEZA’s technology deployments has become the foundation for new digital services in Russia’s forestry sector. In 2025 SvezaSmartLine launched its own industrial site, which now houses the company’s main project capacities and development center. The next stage will involve deploying and scaling new technologies in robotics and modernization of automated control systems across SVEZA’s production facilities.
In the longer term SvezaSmartLine plans to strengthen its position in the Russian market and expand abroad, primarily to Belarus and Kazakhstan. The company is moving beyond experimental development and building a potential export portfolio of digital solutions and engineering services.
