Meet Ilari Neitola, the CEO and Founder of QOCO Systems. In 2009, he started QOCO, driven by his love for aviation and software engineering. Ilari's unwavering commitment to enhancing efficiency in aviation's technical operations drives him to constantly explore innovative solutions, all with the goal of delivering a positive impact to QOCO's present and future clients. His technical skill and entrepreneurial drive fuel an ongoing curiosity and excitement, reflecting his dedication to the combined worlds of aviation, IT, and a software business.

Your name, your job title, and the name of the business?

Ilari Neitola, CEO & Founder of QOCO Systems Ltd.

How did QOCO get started?

QOCO emerged from my passion for aviation and technology. Founded in 2009, our original mission centered on providing excellent user experience through software solutions for aviation professionals. As we’ve grown, we’ve maintained that focus while embracing the goal of enhancing collaboration and efficiency in maintenance processes through digitalization. This shift reflects our deep understanding of the aviation industry’s needs and our commitment to innovation. Our start with consulting projects allowed us to identify unique challenges and transition to creating SaaS (Software as a Service) products tailored to the industry. This blend of passion, vision, and hands-on experience has been the driving force behind QOCO.

“Our start with consulting projects allowed us to identify unique challenges and transition to creating SaaS (Software as a Service) products tailored to the industry.”

What is the guiding business principle that drives QOCO?

Our guiding principle is a commitment to our customers. We always strive to understand their needs and delight them with our solutions. This relationship drives everything we do, from product development to daily interactions. Emphasizing agility, especially in a regulated environment, allows us to adapt quickly to internal and external changes, ensuring our customers benefit from our skills. Our focus is not only on the present but also on the future. We aim to stay on top of new technological developments to help our customers benefit from the latest innovations. This means constantly improving our operations and creating products that set new standards for quality and innovation. Collaboration, productivity, and efficiency are at the heart of our business, and we uphold these values through continuous learning and a solid commitment to diversity.

What has QOCO’s greatest business achievement been to date, and why?

To date, QOCO’s most significant business achievement has been starting the collaboration with Rolls-Royce, becoming their trusted partner for integrating their airline customers. Our ability to maintain extremely high customer satisfaction, consistently exceeding expectations, sets this relationship apart. This collaboration has proven our capability and reliability as a service provider and validated our vision of a more connected industry ecosystem through digital data exchange. It’s a practical demonstration of how our solutions and approach can make a tangible difference in the aviation industry.

“QOCO’s most significant business achievement has been starting the collaboration with Rolls-Royce, becoming their trusted partner for integrating their airline customers.”

What have been your disappointments and what have you learned from them?

In our early days at QOCO, we believed that good products would naturally find their market, so we didn’t give enough attention to sales and marketing. As we aimed to impact the industry positively, we learned the importance of communicating more about what we do and how we can help. That realization highlighted the need to balance our focus on product innovation with telling our story and connecting with the market strategically. This valuable insight continues to shape our approach and has been a key factor in our success.

In a sentence, how would you summarize what QOCO does for aircraft maintenance customers?

With MROTools.io, we enable our aviation maintenance customers to digitalize and streamline tool management processes, while Aviadex.io enhances collaboration and facilitates seamless and digital communication between airlines, OEMs, and MROs.

What do you feel will be the next big thing in maintenance Aviation IT?

The critical concern of workforce availability is driving the push for innovative solutions. Among the approaches I see as most promising is digitalization, for its capacity to automate routine tasks and free skilled personnel for more complex work: also, the use of advanced AI in resource planning, which leads to optimal scheduling and resource allocation. A further focus must be on enhancing collaboration among industry players, allowing for smooth data exchange and coordination. This interconnected approach could revolutionize maintenance practices in aviation IT, breaking down traditional barriers and opening new avenues for growth.

“With MROTools.io, we enable our aviation maintenance customers to digitalize and streamline tool management processes…”

What do you want your customers to say about QOCO?

I want our customers to recognize QOCO as a trusted partner that understands their unique challenges and delivers innovative, reliable solutions that make their daily operations more efficient, productive, and enjoyable.

Ilari, thank you for your time.