Avidly’s Return to Severa Boosted Employee Satisfaction and Restored Control of Daily Workflows

Avidly and Severa share a long history — one that has supported the agency’s growth and operational development for decades. But when Avidly decided to experiment with other systems, the impact was immediate. The organization quickly realized just how essential Severa was to their everyday work. Returning to Severa significantly improved employee satisfaction, strengthened control over work, and brought back the smooth daily flow the team relied on.

Avidly is a leading marketing technology and creative agency helping customers succeed in a digital world. Globally, the company is known for deep HubSpot expertise as well as its innovative, strategic approach to marketing and business development. In Finland, Avidly employs over one hundred experts, with nearly four hundred more across other markets.

The story between Avidly and Severa is exceptionally long — Severa has been part of Avidly’s journey through multiple growth stages.

“I’m probably one of the longest active Severa users in Finland — I was already using it in 2002,” says Sanna Rautio, Head of Revenue Operations at Avidly.

For Sanna, Severa has become a trusted and central tool.

“I’m proud to have been one of the first Severa users. I’ve even been able to influence the interface development from the early days, and I know the system like the back of my hand. It’s easy to build your own views and track exactly the metrics that matter for business development. It has supported both small companies and growing ones,” Sanna explains.

Returning to Severa increased our eNPS by 20 points.

Switching Systems — and the Return to Severa

As Avidly expanded into a global organization, the company sought a unified system for all markets.

“There was a desire for one shared system across international Avidly. But in Finland, we started experiencing challenges — the new common system reduced visibility into project and customer profitability,”
Sanna recalls.

Eventually, the company made an important decision: in Finland, Avidly would return to Severa.

“After one year on the other system, returning to Severa increased our eNPS by 20 points. The sense of control and satisfaction grew immediately,” Sanna says.

“Severa wasn’t something everyone loved unconditionally before — but once we had to use another system, its strengths became crystal clear,” she laughs.

Thanks to Severa, the sense of control returned.

From Lost Control to Relief — Severa Brought Back Flow to Everyday Work

The experience with the alternative system made Severa’s strengths more visible than ever. Coming back to Severa felt like a major relief for the entire team. Across roles, people describe the same impact: “I regained my sense of control, and my work started to flow again.”

Accuracy improved, reporting became easier, and following invoicing was once again straightforward.

Here’s how the team describes the value of Severa in their own work:

Mari Varpenius, Account Manager

“The whole organization missed Severa, even those who might have complained about time tracking before. When we had to record hours in the other system for a year, everyone started longing for Severa. The appreciation for the system rose to a completely new level. I literally shed a tear of joy when I heard we were returning — that’s how big of a relief it was.”

Mirka Ylitalo, Account Manager

“Severa is like a daily work companion. Everything I need is in one view. When we returned to Severa, everyday work became easier again — it felt like I got back the control over my own work.”

Sirpa Tuovinen, Project Manager

“I was shocked when we stopped using Severa — and I was extremely happy when we came back. Life with Severa is simply easier. The accuracy of time tracking and resourcing is on a completely different level compared to other systems. More precise resource management is especially helpful when running complex projects.”

For the whole team, Severa’s ease of use, logical interface, accurate resourcing tools, and all-in-one visibility are essential for smooth work.

“Thanks to Severa, the sense of control returned. I know exactly how a project is doing — and that’s the key measure of successful work,”
Mari and Mirka summarize.

Why Severa? Avidly’s Team Highlights Their Everyday Benefits

Those who work in Severa daily share the most concrete advantages:

• Reporting & transparency: All essential information available in one view.
• Resourcing: Assign work at the right time and place; absence and vacation management are simple.
• Time tracking: Fast, intuitive, and allows precise limits for which projects hours can be logged to.
• Pricing & historical data: Past project profitability helps in setting accurate pricing.
• Smooth collaboration: Clear visibility supports both independent work and teamwork across the agency.
  

“In Severa, everything is in one place — and the ease of use is unmatched. I always know where things stand and can plan my own and the team’s time effortlessly,” Sirpa highlights.

I’ve recommended Severa to many organizations — especially growing professional services companies where smooth work, transparency, and ease are essential.

Looking Ahead — What Avidly Hopes to See in Severa’s Future

Both Sanna and the wider team look forward to Severa’s ongoing development.

“We’re hoping to see more automation and especially AI — for example, suggestions for time entries based on calendar bookings or messages. Automating routine entries would make everyday work even smoother.”

“Severa grows with us. It enables more agile leadership and business development. I’ve recommended Severa to many organizations — especially growing professional services companies where smooth work, transparency, and ease are essential,” Sanna says.

A Tool That Truly Helps Earns Commitment

Avidly’s journey with Severa shows how long-term partnership drives growth, results — and in this case, remarkable success.

When a system genuinely makes everyday work easier, people naturally commit to it, and the collaboration keeps evolving. For Avidly, returning to Severa wasn’t just a system decision.
It restored control, efficiency, and satisfaction at the heart of daily work.

What if your everyday work felt this smooth too?

For Avidly, returning to Severa meant better visibility, smoother collaboration, and a stronger sense of control over projects and profitability.

If you’re curious how Severa could support your team’s work, you can start exploring it yourself with a 30-day free trial that includes all Platinum features — no credit card or invoicing information required. Or, if you’d prefer to talk things through first, feel free to get in touch with our team.

Minna Hirvonen is a Content Marketing Specialist at Visma Solutions. With a strong appreciation for clear, informative, and value-driven content, Minna began her career in content creation in 2004. Her passion lies in helping information seekers find meaningful answers through digital channels.